Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
  • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
  • A22B3/00—Slaughtering or stunning
  • A22B3/005—Slaughtering or stunning by means of gas

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of performing a procedure on an animal, said procedure being chosen from
• foam having a gas composition suitable for
• a method according to the preamble is known in the art, for example from WO2007021178, which relates to the sanitary slaughter of animals, something that may be necessary to contain the spread of highly pathogenic diseases.
• This publication discloses a container with a lid having a hole allowing the passage of animals such as poultry.
• the container is provided with foam and chicken are
• the object of the present invention is to provide a method that is less susceptible to this problem.
• a method according to the preamble is characterized in that the animal is introduced in the container and subsequently th ⁇ foam is used to expel at least 90% of the air in the container from the container.
• the container will have an outlet opening in the top half of the container, more preferably in the roof or at the junction between the walls and the roof. Preferably at least 94% and more preferably at least 97% and most preferably at least 99% of all air in the container is expelled by the introducing of the foam. Most preferably foam is introduced until it leaves the outlet opening.
• Gas-based stunning is any method of rendering an animal
• the method according to the present invention may be used for stunning and/or killing various animals, such as poultry (chicken, turkeys etc.) and mammals, such as pigs.
• animals such as poultry (chicken, turkeys etc.) and mammals, such as pigs.
• Animals may be stunned and/or killed for the purpose of slaughter for consumption. If they are only stunned using the method according to the invention, they will be killed while stunned using other techniques, such as by bleeding or electrocution. It is also possible to render animals unconscious using a different technique and
• the method according to the present invention can also be used for both anaesthetising and killing (e.g. for culling, slaughter etc.) the animal .
• the animals may be restrained using for example a straight-jacket , held between bars or walls, or in a hammock, to ensure optimal conditions for the welfare of the animals.
• the container comprises an outlet opening for air, and once the air is expelled the outlet opening is blocked.
• the outlet opening is provided with a conduit .
• air is expelled by the foam from the lumen of the container via the conduit.
• foam will end up in the conduit.
• the conduit helps to make entry of atmospheric air (and hence oxygen) into the container harder. This is in particular true because the movement of the animal in the container may cause the flow of air and/or foam, which could facilitate the entry of air into the container.
• the conduit comprises a siphon and air is expelled from the container with foam entering the siphon .
• Foam in the siphon acts to block the outlet opening as it will remain in place in the siphon, even when foam in the container is broken up. If air is expelled until foam leaves the siphon, then one has a visual clue that the foam supply may be stopped. Also, it is not necessary to use a container with a valve or other means (such as a lid) to block the outlet opening. This simplifies the work to be done.
• the foam contains less than 2% by vol. oxygen, preferably less than 1% by vol. and more preferably less than 0.5% by vol.
• the foam contains gas with a carbon dioxide concentration of less than 2% by vol.
• the foam is supplied from bottom of the container towards the top of the foam
• the foam gets pushed up by newly introduced foam (the animal will be covered with foam from below, which causes less stress) . This reduces the risk of pockets of air remaining. It also reduces the discomfort for the animal; and reduces the desire to flee towards a particular part of the container.
• the nozzle from which the foam emanates is preferably facing the floor of the container, which also helps to ensure that air is expelled from the container to the desired extent.
• the foam contains at least 98% by volume of nitrogen.
• Nitrogen may be sequestered from the atmosphere, on location, obviating the need to lug around high pressure vessels or having to deal with cryogenic temperatures. An unlimited supply is available at any location, it is safe for workers and it is environmentally friendly .
• the air is expelled within 30 seconds after the nose of the animal is covered with foam, preferably within 20 seconds and more preferably within 10 seconds.
• the height of the nose For the height of the nose, the height of the nose during a normal (non-feeding) standing position of the animal can be taken.
• the foam is foam having an expansion factor of at least 350, preferably at least 500, more preferably at least 750.
• the expansion factor is equal to the volume of the foam divided by the amount of liquid from which the foam is formed.
• expansion factor means that the bubbles are relatively large. Such bubbles break more easily, which is a problem for the method according to the prior art, but less of a problem with the present invention, allov/ing the method according to the present invention to cause less discomfort to the animal.
• the foam is subjected to a step of breaking up the foam.
• the foam will not impede viewing of the animal, allowing it to be monitored, e.g. for animal welfare purposes.
• the foam may be broken up using an anti-foam agent sprayed on the foam or
• Breaking up the foam while the container remains closed allows the animal to be observed while the gas takes its effect. Also, discomfort for the animal due to the foam is reduced to a relatively short period of filing of the container with foam to expel air and until the amount of foam is sufficiently reduced by breaking it up so as not to cover sensitive parts of the animal.
• the container comprises a bottom, a roof and walls extending from the bottom to the roof.
• Such a container is in particular suitable for repeated use in the method according to the invention. It can be provided with sensors (e.g. for temperature, gas concentration etc.), a camera (for monitoring an animal in the lumen), etc. It is in particular also suitable for a method involving breaking up of the foam.
• the container is a bag
• the animal is introduced into the bag inside a further container
• the foam is introduced inside the bag and the animal is subjected to the foam until it is unconscious after which the container is opened and the bag is closed.
• the bag may be placed inside the further container with the circumferential edge section of the opening of the bag placed over the circumferential edge of the further container.
• the bag may be
• Fig. 1A shows a schematic overview of an apparatus for performing a stunning and/or killing procedure on an animal, with a container shown in top view;
• Fig. IB shows a schematic front view of the container shown in Fig. 1A;
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a foam generator suitable for use in the container of Fig. IB;
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view corresponding to Fig. IB of a different embodiment of the container shown in Fig. 1A.
• Fig. 1A shows a schematic overview of an apparatus 190 for performing a stunning and/or killing procedure on an animal, with a container 100 shown in top view.
• the apparatus comprises a source 170 of nitrogen (here a gas bottle) and a source 180 of water containing detergent in water.
• the nitrogen and the source 180 of water containing the detergent will be used to generate a foam.
• the container 100 is hermetically closed off from the ambient atmosphere, to the extent that the floor, walls and top will not let ambient air in or foam out in so far as this would adversely affect the procedure.
• Fig. IB shows a front view of the container 100 of Fig. 1A.
• the container comprises a bottom 110, upright walls 120 and a roof 130, here a lid 130 capable of pivoting about hinges 131 (Fig. 1A) .
• the lid 130 comprises a window 132 of plexiglass so as to be able to monitor lumen 101 of the container 100.
• the roof 130 of the container 100 is provided with a tube 140 comprising a U-shaped section 141 (siphon) , said U-shaped section defining an upwards facing outlet opening 142 for foam.
• a foam generator 150 is provided, fed via a flexible gas hose 171 and a flexible water hose 172 for the detergent solution.
• the supply is controlled by magnetic valve 173 and magnetic valve 183 respectively.
• the foam generator 150 is discussed in more detail below.
• Fig. 2 schematically depicts the foam generator 150 suitable for use in the method according to the invention. It is capable of generating foam with a high gas to liquid ratio (also known as expansion factor), such as of 350 and more.
• a high gas to liquid ratio also known as expansion factor
• the foam generator 150 comprises a cylindrical housing 250 with a radius of 20 cm and is provided on four legs 251 so as to allow foam generated to flow downward and sideways freely. Because the foam generator 150 is placed on the bottom of the container 100, the foam generated will rise upwards, expelling air from the container. The air is exhausted via the tube 140.
• Nitrogen is introduced via gas hose 171 into a hollow disk 270 having a perforated top, acting as a gas diffusor, from which the nitrogen flows into the lumen of the cylindrical housing 250 along the edges of the hollow disk 270 downward.
• the nitrogen is supplied at a pressure of 3.5 bar and with a rate of 600 liter per minute (expressed at ambient pressure) .
• Simultaneously water containing 3 vol.% HTF1000 (Stahmer, Hamburg, Germany) as a detergent supplied via water hose 172 is sprayed through a water nozzle 280 into the lumen and onto a conical sieve plate 230 having a plurality holes of 5 mm diameter.
• the water containing detergent is introduced at a rate of 1.2 liter/min at a pressure of 0.5 bar.
• the above operating values were found to be suitable operating parameters for performing the procedure, filling the container 100 having a volume of 240 liter in less than half a minute with foam.
• the container 100 described here was for experimental purposes. For high-through-put the volume will be significantly larger, but the time for filling the container will not be significantly different, which can be achieved using a multitude of foam generators and/or foam generators of higher capacity.
• the walls of such a container may have one or more closable doors to introduce and/or remove the animals subjected to the procedure.
• the high-expansion foam fills up the container 100, from the bottom, enclosing an animal that is placed in the container, until the foam quickly reaches the top of the container and flows through the siphon 141, connected to the top of the container 100.
• the method according to the present invention can be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims in several manners. For example, it is possible to introduce air top down and expel the foam from the container to a large extent via a closable opening at or near floor level.
• the heart distance to the floor is preferably at most 50 cm, preferably less than 30 cm.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view corresponding to Fig. IB of a different embodiment of the container 100 shown in Fig. 1A.
• a tube 320 is provided along a wall 120, and said tube 320 is provided with a fan 330.
• Foam will be sucked into the tube 320 (preferably from below) and forced down in the lumen 101 by the gas leaving the tube 320 downstream of the fan 330.
• the animal in the lumen 101 of the container 100 will no longer need to be covered with foam while the nitrogen atmosphere is maintained. This makes the process less uncomfortable for the animal.
• the animal can now be monitored easily, e.g. using a camera or via a window.
• the container may be transparent.
• the fan 330 for breaking up the foam may be provided in the lid or roof of a container 100, with a bypass providing an inlet and an outlet, both in open communication with the lumen.
• the fan will be provided in the bypass.
• this embodiment is suitable in case bags are used as a container, and the roof or lid is of the further container containing the bag.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)
• Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)

Priority Applications (12)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=60888573

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2016
  • 2016-12-07 NL NL2017948A patent/NL2017948B1/nl active
• 2017
  • 2017-12-07 WO PCT/NL2017/050823 patent/WO2018106115A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2017-12-07 US US16/467,217 patent/US10874110B2/en active Active
  • 2017-12-07 JP JP2019531253A patent/JP7092763B2/ja active Active
  • 2017-12-07 ES ES17822800T patent/ES2901390T3/es active Active
  • 2017-12-07 KR KR1020197019679A patent/KR102608869B1/ko active Active
  • 2017-12-07 EP EP17822800.3A patent/EP3550981B1/en active Active
  • 2017-12-07 PT PT178228003T patent/PT3550981T/pt unknown
  • 2017-12-07 DK DK17822800.3T patent/DK3550981T3/da active
  • 2017-12-07 AU AU2017371475A patent/AU2017371475B2/en active Active
  • 2017-12-07 CN CN201780076055.2A patent/CN110312427B/zh active Active
  • 2017-12-07 PL PL17822800T patent/PL3550981T3/pl unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-06-27 ZA ZA2019/04219A patent/ZA201904219B/en unknown

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

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