DE102018128205A1 - Device and method for stunning or killing an animal - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for stunning or killing an animal (2) by means of a gas, comprising: - a chamber (3) for receiving the animal (2), - at least one fumigation line (4) with a large number of pores (5) for introduction of the gas into the chamber (3), the at least one gassing line (4) being arranged in an upper region (6) of the chamber (3). With the described device (1) and with the described method, a laminar flow within the Chamber (3) of the device (1) can be obtained. As a result, the residual oxygen content in the chamber (3) can be kept uniformly low, so that the animal (2) in the chamber (3) can be anesthetized or killed by the gas in a particularly reliable manner and thus with particularly little suffering and with particularly little stress.

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for stunning or killing an animal, in particular a non-viable piglet in the context of pig breeding.

Killing animals can be necessary for a variety of reasons. This can be the case in pig breeding, for example, if it turns out that a piglet is not viable. It may also be necessary to kill terminally ill animals. Furthermore, in the case of epidemics to protect other animals and / or to protect humans, it may be necessary to kill sick animals. In all of these cases, animal welfare requires that the inevitable killing be designed in such a way that the animal concerned suffers as little as possible and is exposed to as little stress as possible.

In such cases it is known from the prior art to kill animals using different gases. The animals are either killed directly by the gas or initially only anesthetized by the gas and then killed in a different way when unconscious. With the known methods, however, it cannot be sufficiently ensured that the animals do not suffer. In particular, it happens that the gas does not sufficiently displace the atmospheric oxygen so that the animal can breathe in residual oxygen. This can lead to the animal slowly losing consciousness and suffering accordingly.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the technical problems described in connection with the prior art. In particular, a device and a method for stunning or killing an animal are to be presented, with which an animal can be anesthetized or killed with particularly little suffering.

These objects are achieved with a device and a method according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous refinements of the device and of the method are specified in the respective dependent claims. The features listed individually in the patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful manner and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description, further embodiment variants of the invention being shown.

• - eine Kammer zur Aufnahme des Tieres,
• - mindestens eine Begasungsleitung mit einer Vielzahl von Poren zum Einbringen des Gases in die Kammer, wobei die mindestens eine Begasungsleitung in einem oberen Bereich der Kammer angeordnet ist.

According to the invention, a device for stunning or killing an animal by means of a gas is presented, which comprises:

• - a chamber for receiving the animal,
• - At least one fumigation line with a plurality of pores for introducing the gas into the chamber, the at least one fumigation line being arranged in an upper region of the chamber.

The device described is preferably intended and set up for stunning or killing young animals, in particular piglets or chicks, in particular in the context of pig or poultry farming. However, the device described is not limited to this use. Any animal that can be anesthetized and / or killed by a gas can be considered as an animal.

The device described can be used in situations in which the killing of an animal is unavoidable. As described above in relation to the prior art, this can in particular be the case if an animal such as a piglet is not viable and / or terminally ill or if an epidemic has broken out. Animal welfare dictates that the device described is not used for the arbitrary killing of animals. In order to be able to do justice to animal welfare even when an animal is unavoidable, the device described opens up a possibility for particularly gentle stunning or killing of an animal, so that the suffering of the animal is limited as much as possible.

The device described is preferably designed and dimensioned such that only a single animal can be anesthetized or killed with it at a specific point in time. Alternatively, it is also possible that the device described is designed and dimensioned in such a way that several animals can be stunned or killed at the same time. The latter is particularly preferred in the case of an epidemic or also in animals with a strong herd instinct. A sufficiently large device can be used both for a single animal and for a plurality of animals.

The animal can be anesthetized or killed with the device described by placing the animal in the chamber of the device and flooding the chamber with the gas. The gas displaces the oxygen from the chamber, so that the animal loses consciousness after a certain time. Depending on how long the animal remains in the chamber flooded in this way, the animal may even die in the chamber. Alternatively, it is possible that the animal is only anesthetized in the chamber and then, without being aware of it, otherwise killed.

The chamber is preferably gastight. So it is possible that the chamber is flooded with the gas used for stunning or killing. In this case, gas-tight design means that the chamber is designed to be completely closed only with the exception of gas inlets and gas outlets for the gas used for stunning or killing. The chamber preferably has a flap or door via which the animal can be introduced into the chamber and removed from the chamber. The chamber is preferably formed from stainless steel, in particular at least on its inner surface. This can make cleaning the chamber easier and can prevent, for example, germs from settling on the inner surface of the chamber.

The gas can be introduced into the chamber via the at least one gas supply line. For this purpose, the at least one fumigation line has a large number of pores. The at least one fumigation line with the pores thus forms gas inlets for the gas which is used for stunning or killing the animal.

The at least one fumigation line is arranged in an upper region of the chamber. The upper area of the chamber is the upper third of the chamber. The at least one fumigation line is preferably provided in an upper fifth of the chamber.

The at least one fumigation line is preferably formed from a plastic. In particular, the fumigation line can be designed as a fumigation hose. This can facilitate the assembly of the at least one fumigation line within the chamber.

The pores are preferably openings with a diameter in the range from 0.01 mm [millimeters] to 0.5 mm, in particular in the range from 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm.

A particularly uniform flow of the gas can be achieved by such dimensioned pores. It is preferred that the pores all have the same size and / or shape and / or that the distances between adjacent pores are the same, that is to say that a pore density is constant over the entire at least one gassing line. Alternatively, it is preferred that the pores become larger in the course of the at least one gas supply line and / or are arranged at a smaller distance from one another, that is to say that the pore density increases in the course of the at least one gas supply line. Such a configuration of the pores can take into account the fact that a gas pressure within the at least one gas supply line decreases in the course of the at least one gas supply line. This can be counteracted by enlarging the pores and / or the pore density, so that an outlet pressure of the gas is the same at all points of the at least one gas supply line.

By arranging the at least one gas supply line in the upper region of the chamber, a flow of the gas can be generated from top to bottom. Such a flow can ensure that the gas is distributed particularly well throughout the chamber, so that a residual oxygen content within the chamber is particularly low. In particular, it can be prevented that the residual oxygen content varies locally and is so high in parts of the chamber that the animal cannot be stunned or killed reliably and quickly. A locally increased residual oxygen content can thus cause stress to the animal and cause suffering to the animal. Due to the top-down flow inside the chamber, the residual oxygen content can be kept particularly low. This is because the pressure conditions in the upper area of the chamber are particularly little influenced by the animal and / or by the movement of the animal. Due to the fact that each animal in particular has an individual shape and size and / or due to the fact that the animal moves individually, pressure conditions which are difficult to predict can occur in the lower region of the chamber in which the animal is located. If the gas were introduced in the lower region of the chamber, that is to say in the region in which the animal stands or lies, such difficult-to-predict pressure conditions could result in the residual oxygen content in the entire chamber not being below a desired maximum value.

This problem is avoided by the at least one fumigation line arranged in the upper region of the chamber. In this respect, a particularly gentle anesthetic or killing of the animal can be achieved with the device described. In particular, stress for the animal can be avoided.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the at least one fumigation line is arranged on a ceiling of the chamber.

In this embodiment, the described effect that the flow can be formed through the chamber from top to bottom can be achieved particularly well. The installation of the at least one fumigation line on the ceiling of the chamber can also be particularly favorable. The at least one fumigation line is preferably arranged uniformly distributed over the entire ceiling. This can be the case, for example be that several fumigation lines are arranged at the same distance from each other over the entire ceiling. A single fumigation line can also be arranged in a loop on the ceiling and divided into sections by deflection areas in which the fumigation line is deflected by 180 °, so that the individual sections run parallel to one another. The sections are preferably arranged at the same distance from one another and distributed over the entire ceiling.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that the animal can be introduced into the chamber via a door arranged on the side of the chamber. This means that there is no obstruction to the at least one fumigation line through the door.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the device, the at least one gassing line is arranged in the upper region of the chamber in such a way that a uniform flow of the gas can be generated over a chamber cross section.

The chamber cross section is defined perpendicular to a direction from top to bottom. This means that the chamber cross section is perpendicular to the flow of the gas, which preferably runs from top to bottom. The fact that the flow is uniform over the chamber cross section thus defined means that adjacent flow lines pass through the chamber cross section at a distance from one another which is the same for all flow lines. The flow lines are defined such that they indicate the local direction of the flow, the distance between adjacent flow lines indicating the local flow speed.

With such a uniform flow, the advantageous effect described above can be achieved particularly well in that the residual oxygen content is the same at every location in the chamber.

In this embodiment, it is particularly preferred that a plurality of fumigation lines are arranged in the upper region of the chamber, in particular on the ceiling.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the at least one gassing line is designed and arranged in the chamber and the chamber is designed such that a laminar flow of the gas can be generated within the chamber.

The laminar flow can further intensify the previously described effect that the residual oxygen content is the same at every location in the chamber, because the laminar flow in particular has the effect that no turbulence leads to disadvantageous local fluctuations in pressure and thus in the residual oxygen content.

A laminar flow is when the Reynolds number R _{e of} the flow is less than a critical value. The Reynolds number R _e is dependent on the flow rate V, a characteristic length 1 and the kinematic viscosity v from: $$R_e=\frac{V\cdot l}{\nu }$$

The flow velocity V is a property of the flow. The kinematic viscosity v is a property of the flowing gas. The characteristic length 1 and the critical value in the present case is influenced in particular by the size and shape of the animal around which it flows and by the size and shape of the chamber.

Against this background, the condition that a laminar flow can be generated must be understood to mean that the Reynolds number for the gas to be used, the animal to be anesthetized or killed and the flow rate to be used are below the corresponding critical value. Even if the device described can be used for any animal, this represents a restriction. For example, not every gas is suitable for stunning or killing animals, so that the gas-dependent dependence is only accessible to a limited extent. In addition, anesthesia or killing of an animal must fall below a certain residual oxygen content. This requires a minimum flow rate depending on the design of the chamber. Thus, a laminar flow can only be achieved if the chamber is designed in such a way that there are sufficiently few elements which promote or cause turbulence, such as, for example, projections or recesses on the inner surface of the chamber.

The at least one fumigation line is preferably designed and arranged in the chamber and the chamber is designed such that a laminar flow of the gas can be generated within the chamber if the animal is a piglet and / or if the gas is nitrogen. In the former case, the condition mentioned must be met for different sizes and shapes of piglets. However, the sizes and shapes of piglets vary relatively little, so that the condition mentioned represents a correspondingly greater restriction with regard to the design of the chamber. Due to the restriction to nitrogen, the possibility of variation due to gas dependency. This further limits the design options of the chamber.

In addition or alternatively to the use of the described device for piglets or chicks and / or for the use of nitrogen as gas, it is preferred that the flow rate is sufficiently high to have a residual oxygen content of less than within the chamber, in particular at any location in the chamber To achieve 2%. It is preferred that the flow velocity is at least 0.02 m / s, preferably even at least 0.04 m / s. The flow rate is preferably a maximum of 0.1 m / s, preferably even a maximum of 0.08 m / s. Due to the restriction to such a flow velocity, the dependency on the flow velocity is correspondingly restricted.

In particular, it is preferred that the described device for killing or anesthetizing a piglet is operated with nitrogen as the gas and using a flow velocity of at least 0.02 m / s and / or at most 0.1 m / s and under these conditions a laminar flow can be achieved. This condition can only be met if the chamber is constructed within relatively narrow limits.

For example, if a gas with a viscosity of 17 * 10 ^-6 Pa * s is used at a flow rate of 0.1 m / s and a characteristic length of 0.5 m, a Reynolds number of approximately is obtained 3000. The characteristic length preferably has a value in the range from 0.1 m to 1 m, in particular in the range from 0.2 to 0.5 m. The characteristic length is particularly preferably 0.3 m.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, a bottom element for receiving the animal is provided in a lower region of the chamber, the bottom element having a multiplicity of gas passages.

The lower area of the chamber is to be understood as the lower third of the chamber. The bottom element is preferably provided in a lower fifth of the chamber.

The bottom element is preferably arranged and formed parallel to a bottom of the chamber. The bottom of the chamber is the lower boundary of the chamber. An intermediate space formed between the floor element and the floor can be used to collect the gas after passing through the floor element via the gas passages and to guide it to one or more gas outlets. The gas can be led from the one or more gas outlets from the intermediate space and, in this respect, from the chamber.

It is also possible for the base element to form the lower boundary of the chamber. In this case, the bottom element is not only arranged in the lower area of the chamber, but even at the very bottom in the chamber. The gas passages in the base element then form respective gas outlets through which the gas can be guided out of the chamber.

On the one hand, the gas passages are preferably sufficiently large that the gas can pass through the base element with a particularly low counterpressure, in particular without being swirled. The gas passages are preferably sufficiently large that the flow velocity of the gas is reduced by at most 10%, in particular by at most 5%, when it passes through the base element. On the other hand, the gas passages are preferably sufficiently small so that the animal can stand or lie on the floor element despite the gas passages. This preferably refers to a piglet as the animal.

The gas passages preferably have an extent of less than 5 cm, in particular less than 2.5 cm, in at least one direction parallel to the base element, preferably in all directions parallel to the base element. The gas passages are preferably circular. In this case, the floor element can also be referred to as a perforated floor. Alternatively, it is preferred that the gas passages are designed in the form of columns. In this case, the floor element can also be referred to as a slatted floor.

The gas passages are preferably all of the same size and shape. The distances between adjacent gas passages are preferably all of the same size, so that the density of the gas passages is constant over the entire base element.

The bottom element is preferably made of stainless steel. This can make cleaning the floor element easier and can prevent, for example, germs from settling on the surface of the floor element.

As a further aspect, a method for stunning or killing an animal is presented, comprising introducing a gas into a chamber in which the animal is housed so that a laminar flow of the gas is generated within the chamber, the gas passing through at least one in a fumigation line arranged in an upper region of the chamber is introduced into the chamber.

The particular advantages and features of the device described above can be applied and transferred to the described method, and vice versa. In particular, it is preferred that the described device is operated according to the described method. It is also preferred that the described method is carried out with the described device. In particular, the above statements regarding laminar flow can be transferred to the described method.

The described method preferably stuns or kills a single animal at a specific time. Alternatively, it is preferred that several animals be stunned or killed at the same time.

It is preferred that the gas and the flow rate are selected such that the Reynolds number is at most 80%, in particular at most 60% of the corresponding critical value. This can ensure that the flow is laminar.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the animal is accommodated on a base element arranged within the chamber, the gas being passed through the base element via a multiplicity of gas passages.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method, a residual oxygen content at any location within the chamber is less than 2%.

The residual oxygen content is preferably measured with at least one sensor inside the chamber. Because it is difficult to measure the residual oxygen content individually at each location in the chamber, the value measured at one location in the chamber allows conclusions to be drawn about the residual oxygen content in the other areas of the chamber. This is particularly accurate in the context of the described method, because local fluctuations in the residual oxygen content are particularly slight.

• - Argon,
• - Stickstoff,
• - Kohlenmonoxid,
• - Kohlendioxid.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method, the gas comprises at least one of the following:

• - argon,
• - nitrogen,
• - carbon monoxide,
• - carbon dioxide.

Argon and nitrogen are non-toxic inert gases and are therefore particularly suitable for stunning or killing animals. As the gas, one of the gases mentioned can be used alone. Alternatively, it is possible to use a mixture of several of the gases mentioned or a mixture of one or more of the gases mentioned with one or more other gases. A mixture of argon and / or nitrogen with carbon monoxide and / or carbon dioxide is preferably used. The use of pure nitrogen is particularly preferred.

• 1: eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zur Betäubung oder Tötung eines Tieres,
• 2: eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß 1 in einer ersten Ausführungsform, und
• 3: eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß 1 in einer zweiten Ausführungsform .

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show particularly preferred exemplary embodiments, to which the invention is, however, not limited. In particular, it should be pointed out that the figures and in particular the proportions shown are only schematic. Show it:

• 1 : a side view of a device for stunning or killing an animal,
• 2nd : a plan view of the device according to 1 in a first embodiment, and
• 3rd : a plan view of the device according to 1 in a second embodiment.

1 shows a schematic side view of a device 1 to stun or kill an animal 2nd by means of a gas. The device 1 includes a chamber 3rd to accommodate the animal 2nd . The device 1 further comprises at least one fumigation line 4th with a variety of pores 5 for introducing the gas into the chamber 3rd . Both the fumigation line 4th as well as especially the pores 5 are in 1 shown enlarged for better visibility. In this respect in particular 1 only schematically. In the 1 The embodiment shown can be realized on the one hand in that five individual gassing lines 4th are provided. Is in 2nd shown. On the other hand, the in 1 shown embodiment can be realized in that a single fumigation line 4th with multiple sections 18th is provided. Is in 3rd shown. So far shows 1 the device 1 both according to the embodiment 2nd as well as according to that 3rd .

The at least one fumigation line 4th is like that on a ceiling 9 the chamber 3rd and so far in an upper area 6 the chamber 3rd arranged that one over a (in the 2nd and 3rd shown) chamber cross section 10th uniform flow of the gas can be generated. The at least one fumigation line 4th is designed and in the chamber 3rd arranged and the chamber 3rd is designed such that a laminar flow of the gas from top to bottom within the chamber 3rd can be generated. From top to bottom, this refers both to the representation in 1 as well as the actual orientation of the chamber 3rd when used as intended.

In a lower area 7 the chamber 3rd is a floor element 11 to accommodate the animal 2nd intended. The floor element 11 has a variety of gas passages 12th on, six of which are depicted in the 1 are recognizable.

Between the floor element 11 and a floor 8th the chamber 3rd is a space 13 educated. This can be done through the gas passages 12th passing gas collected and through gas outlets 14 out of the chamber 3rd be led out.

In the chamber 3rd are a first sensor 15 and a second sensor 16 arranged. These can be designed in particular as oxygen sensors for measuring the residual oxygen content.

• - Argon,
• - Stickstoff,
• - Kohlenmonoxid,
• - Kohlendioxid.

With the device shown 1 can the animal 2nd to be stunned or killed. For this purpose, a gas is passed through the at least one fumigation line 4th into the chamber 3rd initiated in the animal 2nd is included so that inside the chamber 3rd a laminar flow of the gas is generated from top to bottom. The animal 2nd is on the inside of the chamber 3rd arranged floor element 11 added, the gas through the plurality of gas passages 12th in the floor element 11 is passed through. There is a residual oxygen content at every location within the chamber 3rd less than 2%. The gas includes at least one of the following:

• - argon,
• - nitrogen,
• - carbon monoxide,
• - carbon dioxide.

2nd and 3rd each show a top view of the chamber 3rd the device 1 out 1 . Although the 2nd and 3rd relate to two different embodiments, both relate to 1 . This is possible because the two embodiments of the 2nd and 3rd are identical in side view. In the 2nd and 3rd is a chamber cross section 10th shown. This corresponds to the rectangular basic shape of the chamber 3rd .

In the embodiment according to 2nd are five individual fumigation lines 4th intended. In the embodiment according to 3rd is a single fumigation line 4th intended. This is loop-shaped and through deflection areas 17th in which the fumigation line 4th is diverted by 180 ° into sections 18th divided. The individual sections 18th run essentially parallel to each other.

With the device described 1 and with the method described, laminar flow can occur within the chamber 3rd the device 1 be preserved. This can result in the residual oxygen content in the chamber 3rd be kept evenly low so that the animal 2nd in the chamber 3rd can be anesthetized or killed by the gas particularly reliably and thus with particularly little suffering and under particularly little stress.

Reference symbol list

1

contraption

2nd

animal

3rd

chamber

4th

Fumigation management

5

pore

6

upper area

7

lower area

8th

ground

9

blanket

10th

Chamber cross section

11

Floor element

12

Gas passage

13

Space

14

Gas outlet

15

first sensor

16

second sensor

17th

Deflection area

18th

section

Claims (9)

Device (1) for stunning or killing an animal (2) using a gas, comprising: - a chamber (3) for receiving the animal (2), - At least one fumigation line (4) with a plurality of pores (5) for introducing the gas into the chamber (3), the at least one fumigation line (4) being arranged in an upper region (6) of the chamber (3). Device (1) after Claim 1 The at least one fumigation line (4) is arranged on a ceiling (9) of the chamber (3). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one gassing line (4) is arranged in the upper region (6) of the chamber (3) in such a way that a uniform flow of the gas can be generated over a chamber cross section (10). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one gassing line (4) is designed and arranged in the chamber (3) and the chamber (3) is designed such that a laminar flow of the gas within the chamber (3 ) can be generated. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom element (11) for receiving the animal (2) is provided in a lower region (7) of the chamber (3), and wherein the bottom element (11) has a plurality of gas passages ( 12). A method of stunning or killing an animal (2) comprising introducing a gas into a chamber (3) in which the animal (2) is housed so that a laminar flow of the gas is generated within the chamber (3), wherein the gas is introduced into the chamber (3) via at least one fumigation line (4) arranged in an upper region (6) of the chamber. Procedure according to Claim 6 , wherein the animal (2) is accommodated on a base element (11) arranged within the chamber (3), and wherein the gas is passed through the base element (11) via a plurality of gas passages (12). Procedure according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein a residual oxygen content at any location within the chamber (3) is less than 2%. Procedure according to one of the Claims 6 to 8th wherein the gas comprises at least one of the following: argon, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide.

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