Cow Slaughter

Under law, slaughtered cattle and hogs first must be "stunned" -- rendered insensible to pain -- with a blow to the head or an electric shock. But on most plants this stunning doesn't always work properly, with cruel consequences for the animals. Enforcement records, interviews, videos and worker affidavits describe repeated not well stunned animals at dozens of slaughterhouses, ranging from the smallest, custom butcheries to modern, automated establishments.