UW–MADISON. GAS CHAMBERS.

I snuck into the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Building’s (MSABD) USDA slaughterhouse. Inside, I filmed pigs being lowered into a CO₂ gas chamber—and exposed the cruelty happening behind closed doors

I snuck into the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Building’s (MSABD) USDA slaughterhouse. Inside, I filmed pigs being lowered into a CO₂ gas chamber—and exposed the cruelty happening behind closed doors

See the Evidence Yourself

Pigs gasp, scream, and struggle to escape as they are exposed to high concentrations of CO₂ in UW–Madison’s gas chamber.

Pigs gasp, scream, and struggle to escape as they are exposed to high concentrations of CO₂ in UW–Madison’s gas chamber.

UW-Madison Professors claim it's a:

UW-Madison Professors claim it's a:

“It’s a very calm, very relaxing, very humane process”.

Does this look humane?

Does this look humane?

UW–Madison claims to be the only University in the country to operate a CO₂ stunner for pigs.

UW–Madison claims to be the only University in the country to operate a CO₂ stunner for pigs.

My story

THE INVESTIGATION

How it all started: On October 31, 2024, while walking on campus, I noticed liquid CO₂ tanks connected to the back of UW–Madison’s Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery Building (MSABD). I knew the building contained the university’s slaughter facility, and the tanks led me to investigate whether CO₂ was being used on animals inside. The University’s website confirmed that.

What began as that observation eventually became an investigation that I worked to develop a plan for more than a year.

What began as that observation eventually became an investigation that I worked to develop a plan for more than a year.

During the spring 2026 semester, I entered the slaughterhouse inside the MSABD and managed to briefly plant a camera to record pigs inside its CO₂ stunning system. I acted alone.

During the spring 2026 semester, I entered the slaughterhouse inside the MSABD and managed to briefly plant a camera to record pigs inside its CO₂ stunning system. I acted alone.

WHAT IS CO₂ STUNNING?

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ABOUT ME

ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST

I am an animal rights activist whose primary focus is education: what we don’t know, we can’t solve. My work in the movement has included street outreach, undercover investigations, animal rescues, protests, and writing. I have also interned in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

At UW–Madison, I studied science communication, food systems, global health, and political science. Since graduating, I have joined Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), where I focus on making animal rights impossible to ignore on college campuses.

Ryan Blum

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