GB2436431A

GB2436431A - An animal asphyxiation device

Info

Publication number: GB2436431A
Application number: GB0605679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivor Morrish; David Beckett
Original assignee: SEC DEP FOR ENVIRONMENT
Current assignee: SEC DEP FOR ENVIRONMENT
Priority date: 2006-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Also published as: GB0605679D0; WO2007107718A1; AU2007228602A1; EP1996026A1

Abstract

An animal asphyxiation device 5 comprising a housing 10 for containing an animal and a gas distribution means 28 arranged inside the housing to allow even distribution of gas throughout the housing. The device can contain a single animal or a module containing more than one animal. The device can be used to humanly cull large numbers of poultry in the event of a bird flu epidemic.

Description

a 2436431 P520149GB Animal Asphyxiation Device The invention relates to

a device for use in the asphyxiation of animals, especially birds.

There have been a number of episodes of severe animal diseases such as foot and mouth and swine fever being spread amongst populations of domestic or livestock animals.

Unfortunately, after the outbreak of such diseases, it is often necessary to destroy large populations of animals, that either have the disease or that are of great risk of catching the disease for example, those that have been in contact with animals carrying the disease. This is particularly true when the disease poses a risk to humans, for example, avian influenza. Avian flu is a strain of influenza affecting birds, but that occasionally may be transmitted from birds to other species, especially swine and humans. The disease may be fatal in all such species and, hence, it is important to be able to control the spread of this disease, and of other animal diseases, by culling animals where necessary.

Livestock animals, such as cattle, swine, sheep and poultry are often kept in large numbers. Occasionally, large numbers must be destroyed in a fast and humane manner.

When dealing with an outbreak of a rapidly spreading disease, like avian flu it may be necessary to destroy millions of animals very rapidly. This is often difficult to do, whilst maintaining a good welfare of the animal.

Birds are usually destroyed by asphyxiation. At present, the methods and devices available for asphyxiating birds are limited and have a number of problems. In particular, the methods require the birds to be handled repeatedly, being transferred from standard poultry containment modules to the asphyxiation containers. This is distressing for the birds and requires significant interaction between the handlers and potentially infected birds, causing a risk to the handlers' health.

The inventors have developed a device for asphyxiating animals, especially birds, that allows rapid asphyxiation of a large number of animals whilst maintaining the welfare of the animals and the health and safety of the handlers.

There is provided an animal asphyxiation device, for containing one or more animals, comprising a housing for containing an animal or a module of animals, the housing having an opening for allowing entry of an animal or a module of animals into the housing, a means for closing the opening, a gas distribution means arranged inside the housing, and a port to allow connection of the gas distribution means to a gas supply.

The housing preferably has two sides, a roof, a floor or base and two ends. The opening is preferably provided in one of the ends. The length of the sides is preferably longer than the length of the ends. The base is preferably a pallet style base allowing the housing to be lifted by a fork-lift vehicle. The housings are preferably stackable. The doors may be provided with a lock.

The device provides efficient culling of large numbers of animals and ease of use for the handlers. It has been designed to receive either uncontained animals, especially in the case of larger animals or to receive standard modules that contain animals.

A standard container or module is a container of dimensions usually used for containing animals. In particular, there is known in the art a standard module for transporting small animals, especially poultry. The housing has been designed to receive such a standard module. It is advantageous to be able to cull animals in standard modules because the animals are used to being placed in such modules and the handlers are used to placing the animals in such modules. Also, the animals may be placed into the modules from their usual containers, moved to the device of the invention and then destroyed without having to be transferred out of the module and into another container.

This means that the culling can be carried out efficiently. It also minimises the distress caused to the animals as they are handled as little as possible.

The housing preferably comprises a guide device to allow the animals or module to be guided into an appropriate position in the housing to aid even gas distribution. In particular, the animal or module is guided substantially into the centre of the housing.

The guide device may be any appropriate device, such as guide rails. In one embodiment, the guide device includes a rail or stopper to limit the entry of the animals or module into the housing, preventing the animals or modules from reaching or abutting the end of the housing. It may also include rails along the sides of the housing to space the animals or module from the sides. The guide rails may be parallel to the sides or may be angled to the sides. For example, the rails may be closer to the sides at the opening of the housing than at the other end of the housing. This allows the animals or modules to enter the housing through the entire width of the opening. The animals or module are then guided towards the centre of the housing by the rails which are angled away from the sides and towards the centre.

The device provides efficient distribution of gas to ensure a swift death for all of the animals within the device. In particular, the gas distribution means is arranged to allow even distribution of gas throughout the housing. Even distribution preferably means that the housing is filled with at substantially the same rate throughout its volume, or along the length of its longest side. Even distribution may also or alternatively mean that no part of the interior of the housing reaches an oxygen level low enough to cause unconsciousness of an animal substantially or significantly before another part of the housing. Preferably even distribution of gas means that all the animals in the housing become unconscious at substantially the same time or within a short time of each other.

The gas distribution means may be any suitable means for distributing gas throughout the housing. The gas distribution means may be connected to a gas supply means. In particular, the gas distribution means may comprise one or more pipes or hoses to distribute the gas throughout the housing. It preferably also comprises one or more exhausts to allow the gas to be released from the pipes or hoses into the housing. it preferably comprises a plurality of exhausts. The pipes or hoses and exhausts are preferably positioned so that gas may be released into different parts of the housing at once.

The device may be used to asphyxiate any animal, in particular animals for which asphyxiation is an appropriate form of destruction. In particular the animals may be livestock animals, especially swine or poultry. The device is preferably for asphyxiating birds, especially poultry. Poultry includes, but is not limited to, chickens, turkey, geese and ducks.

The gas used to asphyxiate animals is usually CO2 or a combination of CO2 and argon, both of which are higher in density than air. The gas distribution means is preferably positioned in the housing so that the gas is released into the lower part of the housing, displacing the air in the housing upwards, also the direction the air will be moved by its difference in density with the asphyxiation gas. The exhausts of the gas distribution means are preferably positioned near the floor of the housing.

The housing is preferably substantially gas tight. It is, though, preferably provided with vents. The vents are preferably positioned near to, or in the roof of the housing. The vents are in the housing to allow air to escape the housing as it is displaced by the gas entering the housing. The vents are preferably provided with moveable covers that may be opened allowing air to escape during filling of the housing with gas, that can cover and/or seal the vents once the housing is full of gas. The covers may be moveable in anyway, for example, they may be hinged to the housing. The covers may be biased towards the closed position, by, for example, a spring.

The housing is preferably also provided with a port, to allow an oxygen meter to be introduced into the interior of the, housing. This is to allow the oxygen level in the housing to be monitored to confirm when the level has been reduced to such a level that asphyxiation will be achieved.

The device may also comprise a gas supply means. Such a means may be any suitable means for supplying gas to the device. It may comprise a gas source, such as a gas cylinder, or may simply be a means for transferring gas from a gas source to the gas distribution means. It is preferable that the gas distribution means does not comprise the gas source, but is merely connectable to it. The gas source is preferably a gas cylinder.

In one embodiment, each manifold connects to two cylinders. The gas distribution means preferably comprises a manifold for connection to a gas source. it preferably also comprises a regulator for controlling andlor monitoring supply of gas to the gas distribution means.

When supplying gases, particularly CU2, there can he a problem of frosting in various parts of the gas distribution means, especially in the regulator. This can mean that it is difficult to tell how much gas is left in a gas source cormected to the gas distribution means. As a result, the gas source may run out of gas, without the regulator indicating that this is the case. This can result in gas supply stopping and the gas level in the housing being held at a level below that required for asphyxiation. This is clearly not desirable for a swift death for the animals. Hence, the device is preferably supplied with at least two gas supply means. As a result, alternate gas distribution means may be used each time the device is used. Each gas distribution means is generally only used a maximum of every other time the device is used. This reduces the likelihood of frosting and gives each gas distribution means a recovery time, so the gas distribution means may defrost between uses. Also, if supply through one gas distribution means is stopped because of frosting or exhaustion of supply, the other gas distribution means may be used immediately, to reduce the time during which supply is interrupted.

Further, when each manifold is connectable to two gas cylinders or other gas sources, the problem of frosting is reduced even more as the four cylinders may be used in rotation.

The device will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 shows a plan of the interior of the housing.

Figure 2 shows a view of the interior of the housing, from the opening.

Figure 3 shows an external view of the device.

The device 5 comprises a housing 10 of an appropriate size to receive the animals to be asphyxiated. In one embodiment, the housing is sized to receive a standard module of baskets for containing animals, especially poultry. An opening 12 is defined in the housing, such that the animals can enter the housing. The housing is provided with one or more doors 14 to cover the opening. The doors may have a seal, so that when closed, the housing is substantially air tight.

Inside the housing, there is provided a guidance means, in particular guide rails 16, to enable the animal or module to be positioned centrally within the housing. This helps to ensure an even circulation of gas around the animal or module.

The housing has a pallet-style base, having a number of feet 18 to raise the base of the housing off the ground. This allows a fork lift vehicle to be used to lift and move the housing. The housing is also arranged so that it may be stacked on top of another housing.

The housing is provided with vents 20 or other openings to allow air to be released when gas is introduced into the housing. The vents are, in one embodiment, in the roof of the housing. Each vent has a cover 22 arranged to lie over the vent. In one example, the cover is attached to the housing by a hinge on one side, allowing the cover to be forced off the vent by increasing the pressure inside the housing when gas is introduced, and hence allowing air to escape. The cover is arranged to seal the vent, unless gas pressure within the housing is sufficient to open the cover.

The housing is also provided with a port 24, through which an oxygen meter may be passed, to test the oxygen level in the housing.

The housing is provided with two brackets 26, one on the outside of the housing and one on the inside of the housing, on which a gas supply unit may be mounted.

The housing is also provided with a gas distribution means 28, comprising a port to allow connection of the means to a gas supply, piping 30 to transport the gas around the housing and one or more exhausts 32 to allow escape of the gas from the piping into the housing. In a particular embodiment, there are eight exhausts arranged at intervals along the piping to ensure even distribution of gas. The gas distribution means is mounted inside the housing, close to the floor of the housing.

The device may also comprise a gas supply means 34. n a particular embodiment, the gas supply means comprises a manifold 36, for connection to one or more gas cylinders, and a regulator 38 for monitoring and controlling the flow of gas. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises two such gas supply means.

The housing may be any appropriate size. In a particular embodiment it has the following dimensions: length is approximately 3m; width is approximately 1.5m, height is approximately 1.6m.

Claims

Claims 1. An animal asphyxiation device, for containing one or more

animals, comprising a housing for containing an animal or a module container, the housing having an opening for allowing entry of an animal or a module into the housing; a means for closing the opening; and a gas distribution means, the gas distribution means being arranged inside the housing, the housing also being provided with a port to allow connection of the gas distribution means to a gas supply.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gas distribution means is arranged to allow even distribution of gas throughout the housing.

3. A device according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the gas distribution means comprises one or more pipes and one or more exhausts.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the gas distribution means comprises a plurality of exhausts, spaced along the length of the housing.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the gas distribution means is positioned close to the floor of the container.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is provided with vents.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the housing is provided with moveable covers for the vents, the covers being able to move between a closed position, wherein the vent is closed, and an open position, wherein the vent is open.

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the vents are positioned in the roof of the housing, or in the upper half of the sides of the housing.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is provided with a testing port for introducing an oxygen meter into the interior of the housing.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a gas supply means, the gas supply means being suitable for connection to the gas distribution means, and comprising a manifold for connection to a gas source and a regulator.

11. A device according to claim 10, comprising two gas supply means.

12. A device substantially as described herein or as shown in the drawings.