WO2022066092A1 - A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal - Google Patents

A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022066092A1
WO2022066092A1 PCT/SE2021/050937 SE2021050937W WO2022066092A1 WO 2022066092 A1 WO2022066092 A1 WO 2022066092A1 SE 2021050937 W SE2021050937 W SE 2021050937W WO 2022066092 A1 WO2022066092 A1 WO 2022066092A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
foam
medium
gas
animal
procedure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2021/050937
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Harm Kiezebrink
Original Assignee
Harm Kiezebrink
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from NL2026555A external-priority patent/NL2026555B1/en
Application filed by Harm Kiezebrink filed Critical Harm Kiezebrink
Publication of WO2022066092A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022066092A1/en

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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 i ) gas-based stunning, and ii ) gas-based killing; wherein the method comprises the steps of
  • a method according to the preamble is known in the art , for example for the sanitary slaughter of animals , something that may be necessary to contain the spread of highly pathogenic diseases .
  • the animals are covered with a foam containing a gas having a gas composition suitable for performing the procedure .
  • a problem with this method is that the foam breaks up . This happens in particular when the animal gets unconscious , and involuntary muscle contractions occur . As a result of the foam breaking up, the gas escapes and the animal may get access to air, causing the procedure to take longer than necessary or even to fail .
  • W02018 / 106115 discloses the use of a container that is provided with foam which is used to expel air from the container .
  • a disadvantage of the method is that it requires a container and is not suitable for use in a space such as a stable .
  • US 7 , 435 , 166 discloses methods for depopulating of avian species using a foam and euthani zing gases .
  • the problems with break up of foam and the resulting prolongation of the procedure are addressed .
  • the obj ect of the present invention is to provide a method that reduces the problem of the breaking up of foam and is suitable for a space that may be as desired a container or a room ( stable ) .
  • a method according to the preamble is characteri zed in that the animal is covered with a first medium, said first medium being a foam containing air, and subsequently a second medium is introduced below the foam, said second medium comprising the gas having composition suitable for performing the procedure .
  • the present invention also may reduce stress that the animal may experience during the procedure . Being exposed to foam may cause stress , but the simultaneous presence of the gas for the procedure may heighten that stress .
  • the events of being covered with ( first ) foam and being exposed to a gas composition for the procedure are not concomitant , so the peak of stress may be reduced .
  • the second medium is for example gas comprising a concentration of CO2 that is at least 40% by vol . which may be used to render the animal unconscious and is heavier than air which helps it to remain trapped below the foam .
  • the present invention allows for the use of foam with relatively large bubbles , which is less uncomfortable for the animals .
  • the method according to the present invention will typically be used in case of an emergency, such as to control the spread of a highly pathogenic disease . It may also be used in case of a fire , where currently animals may suf fer a serious death due to the exposure of noxious gas in their enclosure .
  • the foam will serve to both hinder the access of oxygen to the fire and to shield the animal from said noxious gas , and the animals may be culled using the second medium more humanely . This may be done locally, in particular in a part of the stable close to the seat of the fire , allowing the possibility to save other animals .
  • Gas-based stunning is any method of rendering an animal unconscious using gas , examples of which are disclosed in COUNCIL REGULATION (EC ) No 1099/2009 which details several methods within the scope of that term .
  • anaesthesia and its verb are used interchangeably with gas-based stunning .
  • 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 .
  • the second medium contains less than 2 % by vol . oxygen, preferably less than 1 % by vol . and more preferably less than 0 . 5% by vol .
  • the second medium contains gas with a carbon dioxide concentration of less than 2 % by vol .
  • the second medium 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 foam is a first foam
  • the second medium is a second foam containing gas having the gas composition suitable for performing the procedure .
  • the second medium is supplied at the floor of the space .
  • the first foam gets pushed up by newly introduced second medium (the animal will be covered with second medium from below, which will not or not signi ficantly add to the stress level of the animal ) .
  • the noz zle from which the second medium emanates is preferably facing the floor of the space , which also helps to ensure that the second medium spreads across the floor and more evenly li ft the first foam .
  • At least one foam chosen from the first foam and the second 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 volume of liquid from which the foam is formed .
  • a high 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, allowing the method according to the present invention to cause less discomfort to the animal .
  • the colour of the first foam and the second medium di f fer is a favourable embodiment.
  • This may be achieved by adding a colorant to at least one of the liquids used to prepare the first and the second medium . It may help to visually monitor the process , for example to observe any break through of second medium through the layer of first foam etc .
  • the density of the second medium is higher than the density of the foam .
  • the density of the second medium can be controlled by selecting the liquid detergent composition, the degree of expansion ( foam volume divided by volume of liquid used for creating the foam) and the gas composition .
  • a concentration of at least 10% by vol . , preferably at least 20% by vol . of CO2 may be used to render the gas in the second medium relatively heavy .
  • the second medium is heavier than air . According to a favourable embodiment, during and/or after providing the second medium, further foam containing air is supplied on top of the stack of foam and second medium.
  • any foam is subjected to a step of breaking up said any foam.
  • the foam may be broken up using an anti-foam agent sprayed on the foams, or fine jets of gas.
  • This gas may have a desired composition, for example the same composition as the gas of the second medium. After killing the gas may be air.
  • the following is used as a set up for testing the present method .
  • a first foam generator and a second foam generator are provided on the floor of a container.
  • An animal such as a chicken or piglet is placed inside the container.
  • High expansion foam is generated using a perforated bubble-forming plate in accordance with EP3473104.
  • Detergent comprising liquid is sprayed onto said plate using a pressure drop of 0.5 Bar and with a rate Rdetergent of 0, 0004 -0, 00055 m3/m2 surface area of the foam generator per second, while gas is supplied with a rate R gas 0, 0003-0, 0006 m3/m2 surface area of the foam generator per second.
  • the first foam generator is supplied with water containing 3 vol.% HTF1000 (Stahmer, Hamburg, Germany) as a detergent via a water hose and sprayed through a water nozzle against the plate.
  • the resulting first foam containing air leaves the first foam generator through the outlet opening.
  • the second foam generator is supplied with nitrogen at 3.5 Bar via a gas hose (R gas is expressed at ambient pressure) . Simultaneously, water containing 3 vol . % HTF1000 ( Stahmer, Hamburg, Germany) as a detergent is supplied via a water hose and sprayed through a water noz zle at a pressure of 0 . 5 bar .
  • the resulting second foam contains up to 99% nitrogen by volume and leaves the second foam generator through the second outlet opening . Because the second foam generator is located at the bottom of the container, the container is filled with the second foam from the bottom up, and the second foam will ef fectively li ft the first foam, while the first foam acts as a blanket shielding of f the area under the first foam . Once the animal is enveloped by the second foam it will quickly lose consciousness in the anoxic foam, and then die .
  • the animals lose their posture approximately within 15 to 30 seconds after the start of the second phase of the foaming process ( approx . 15 seconds after their head is covered by the second foam) , signalling the moment the animals render the unconscious status (the convulsions start after loss of consciousness ) . 1 to 1 . 5 minutes after the start of the stunning process , the convulsions stop leaving the animals in deep unconsciousness or dead . 5 Minutes after the start of the foaming process , the container can be opened, and the carcasses can be processed .
  • the above operating values are suitable operating parameters for performing the procedure , filling the container having a volume of 240 liter in less than hal f a minute with foam .
  • the container described above is for experimental purposes . In practice ( a stable ) or for high-through-put , the volume will be signi ficantly larger, but the time for filling the container will not be signi ficantly di f ferent , which can be achieved using a multitude of foam generators and/or foam generators of higher capacity . In this way, an entire barn can be filled with first foam within 3 - 4 minutes .

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)

Abstract

A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving i) gas-based stunning, and/or ii) gas-based killing, using a foam. The procedure is performed using a gas having a gas composition, such as pure nitrogen. To reduce any problem caused by the susceptibility of foam to break up, the animal is covered with a foam containing air, and subsequently a second medium comprising gas is introduced below the foam, said second medium comprising a gas composition suitable for performing the procedure.

Description

A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal
The present invention relates to a method of performing a procedure on an animal , said procedure being chosen from i ) gas-based stunning, and ii ) gas-based killing; wherein the method comprises the steps of
- covering the animal with a foam, and
- performing the procedure using a gas having a gas composition suitable for performing the procedure .
A method according to the preamble is known in the art , for example for the sanitary slaughter of animals , something that may be necessary to contain the spread of highly pathogenic diseases . The animals are covered with a foam containing a gas having a gas composition suitable for performing the procedure . A problem with this method is that the foam breaks up . This happens in particular when the animal gets unconscious , and involuntary muscle contractions occur . As a result of the foam breaking up, the gas escapes and the animal may get access to air, causing the procedure to take longer than necessary or even to fail .
W02018 / 106115 discloses the use of a container that is provided with foam which is used to expel air from the container .
A disadvantage of the method is that it requires a container and is not suitable for use in a space such as a stable .
US 7 , 435 , 166 discloses methods for depopulating of avian species using a foam and euthani zing gases . However, the problems with break up of foam and the resulting prolongation of the procedure are addressed .
The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a method that reduces the problem of the breaking up of foam and is suitable for a space that may be as desired a container or a room ( stable ) . To this end, a method according to the preamble is characteri zed in that the animal is covered with a first medium, said first medium being a foam containing air, and subsequently a second medium is introduced below the foam, said second medium comprising the gas having composition suitable for performing the procedure .
With the present invention, it no longer is a problem that the foam breaks up . The gas that is released upon break up from the foam mixes with the second medium and is trapped below the foam for the animal to breathe and the animal will not have free access to air .
The present invention also may reduce stress that the animal may experience during the procedure . Being exposed to foam may cause stress , but the simultaneous presence of the gas for the procedure may heighten that stress . In the present invention the events of being covered with ( first ) foam and being exposed to a gas composition for the procedure are not concomitant , so the peak of stress may be reduced .
The second medium is for example gas comprising a concentration of CO2 that is at least 40% by vol . which may be used to render the animal unconscious and is heavier than air which helps it to remain trapped below the foam .
The present invention allows for the use of foam with relatively large bubbles , which is less uncomfortable for the animals .
The method according to the present invention will typically be used in case of an emergency, such as to control the spread of a highly pathogenic disease . It may also be used in case of a fire , where currently animals may suf fer a horrible death due to the exposure of noxious gas in their enclosure . In the present invention, the foam will serve to both hinder the access of oxygen to the fire and to shield the animal from said noxious gas , and the animals may be culled using the second medium more humanely . This may be done locally, in particular in a part of the stable close to the seat of the fire , allowing the possibility to save other animals .
Gas-based stunning is any method of rendering an animal unconscious using gas , examples of which are disclosed in COUNCIL REGULATION (EC ) No 1099/2009 which details several methods within the scope of that term . For convenience only, in the present application the term anaesthesia and its verb are used interchangeably with gas-based stunning .
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 .
According to a favourable embodiment , the second medium contains less than 2 % by vol . oxygen, preferably less than 1 % by vol . and more preferably less than 0 . 5% by vol .
This helps to perform the procedure quickly .
According to a favourable embodiment , the second medium contains gas with a carbon dioxide concentration of less than 2 % by vol .
This helps to reduce stress and thus to reduce voluntary movements .
According to a favourable embodiment , the second medium 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 .
According to a favourable embodiment , the foam is a first foam, and the second medium is a second foam containing gas having the gas composition suitable for performing the procedure .
With this embodiment , it no longer is a problem that the second foam breaks up . The gas that is released upon break up from the second foam is trapped below the first foam for the animal to breathe and the animal will not have access to air or only in very limited amounts .
According to an especially preferred embodiment , the second medium is supplied at the floor of the space .
By providing the second medium at the bottom, the first foam gets pushed up by newly introduced second medium ( the animal will be covered with second medium from below, which will not or not signi ficantly add to the stress level of the animal ) . The noz zle from which the second medium emanates is preferably facing the floor of the space , which also helps to ensure that the second medium spreads across the floor and more evenly li ft the first foam .
According to a favourable embodiment , at least one foam chosen from the first foam and the second 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 volume of liquid from which the foam is formed . A high 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, allowing the method according to the present invention to cause less discomfort to the animal .
According to a favourable embodiment , the colour of the first foam and the second medium di f fer .
This may be achieved by adding a colorant to at least one of the liquids used to prepare the first and the second medium . It may help to visually monitor the process , for example to observe any break through of second medium through the layer of first foam etc .
According to a favourable embodiment , the density of the second medium is higher than the density of the foam .
This helps to ensure that the second medium will remain below the ( first ) foam . It also helps to raise the ( first ) foam more evenly so as to ensure that the animal will be enveloped by the second medium .
The density of the second medium can be controlled by selecting the liquid detergent composition, the degree of expansion ( foam volume divided by volume of liquid used for creating the foam) and the gas composition . For example , a concentration of at least 10% by vol . , preferably at least 20% by vol . of CO2 may be used to render the gas in the second medium relatively heavy .
Accordingly, in embodiments when the animal is covered with foam consisting essentially of air, the second medium is heavier than air . According to a favourable embodiment, during and/or after providing the second medium, further foam containing air is supplied on top of the stack of foam and second medium.
This helps to keep the second medium from breaking through the (first) foam, and ensuring that the animal will be subjected to the second medium.
According to a favourable embodiment, after subjecting the animal to the second medium for a desired period of time, any foam is subjected to a step of breaking up said any foam.
This will allow unimpeded access to the animal.
The foam may be broken up using an anti-foam agent sprayed on the foams, or fine jets of gas. This gas may have a desired composition, for example the same composition as the gas of the second medium. After killing the gas may be air.
The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the example section below.
The following is used as a set up for testing the present method .
A first foam generator and a second foam generator are provided on the floor of a container. An animal such as a chicken or piglet is placed inside the container. High expansion foam is generated using a perforated bubble-forming plate in accordance with EP3473104. Detergent comprising liquid is sprayed onto said plate using a pressure drop of 0.5 Bar and with a rate Rdetergent of 0, 0004 -0, 00055 m3/m2 surface area of the foam generator per second, while gas is supplied with a rate Rgas 0, 0003-0, 0006 m3/m2 surface area of the foam generator per second.
The first foam generator is supplied with water containing 3 vol.% HTF1000 (Stahmer, Hamburg, Germany) as a detergent via a water hose and sprayed through a water nozzle against the plate. The resulting first foam containing air leaves the first foam generator through the outlet opening.
The second foam generator is supplied with nitrogen at 3.5 Bar via a gas hose (Rgas is expressed at ambient pressure) . Simultaneously, water containing 3 vol . % HTF1000 ( Stahmer, Hamburg, Germany) as a detergent is supplied via a water hose and sprayed through a water noz zle at a pressure of 0 . 5 bar . The resulting second foam contains up to 99% nitrogen by volume and leaves the second foam generator through the second outlet opening . Because the second foam generator is located at the bottom of the container, the container is filled with the second foam from the bottom up, and the second foam will ef fectively li ft the first foam, while the first foam acts as a blanket shielding of f the area under the first foam . Once the animal is enveloped by the second foam it will quickly lose consciousness in the anoxic foam, and then die .
The animals lose their posture approximately within 15 to 30 seconds after the start of the second phase of the foaming process ( approx . 15 seconds after their head is covered by the second foam) , signalling the moment the animals render the unconscious status ( the convulsions start after loss of consciousness ) . 1 to 1 . 5 minutes after the start of the stunning process , the convulsions stop leaving the animals in deep unconsciousness or dead . 5 Minutes after the start of the foaming process , the container can be opened, and the carcasses can be processed .
The above operating values are suitable operating parameters for performing the procedure , filling the container having a volume of 240 liter in less than hal f a minute with foam . The container described above is for experimental purposes . In practice ( a stable ) or for high-through-put , the volume will be signi ficantly larger, but the time for filling the container will not be signi ficantly di f ferent , which can be achieved using a multitude of foam generators and/or foam generators of higher capacity . In this way, an entire barn can be filled with first foam within 3 - 4 minutes .
It is also possible to use a single foam generator and a valve to select and supply the desired gas composition for use in foam generation .

Claims

C L A I M S
1. A method of performing a procedure on an animal, said procedure being chosen from i) gas-based stunning, and ii) gas-based killing; wherein the method comprises the steps of
- covering the animal with a foam, and
- performing the procedure using a gas having a gas composition suitable for performing the procedure; characterized in that the animal is covered with a first medium, said first medium being a foam containing air, and subsequently a second medium is introduced below the foam, said second medium comprising the gas having composition suitable for performing the procedure.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second medium contains less than 2% by vol. oxygen, preferably less than 1% by vol. and more preferably less than 0.5% by vol.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second medium contains gas with a carbon dioxide concentration of less than 2% by vol.
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second medium contains at least 98% by volume of nitrogen .
5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foam is a first foam, and the second medium is a second foam containing gas having the gas composition suitable for performing the procedure.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second medium is supplied at the floor of the space.
7. The method according to any of the claims 5 or 6, wherein at least one foam chosen from the first foam and the second foam is foam having an expansion factor of at least 350, preferably at least 500, more preferably at least 750.
8. The method according to any of the claims 5 to 7, wherein the colour of the first foam and the second medium differ.
9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the density of the second medium is higher than the density of the foam.
10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein during and/or after providing the second medium, further foam containing air is supplied on top of the stack of foam and second medium.
11. The method according to any of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein after subjecting the animal to the second medium for a desired period of time, any foam is subjected to a step of breaking up said any foam.
8
PCT/SE2021/050937 2020-09-28 2021-09-27 A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal WO2022066092A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2026555 2020-09-28
NL2026555A NL2026555B1 (en) 2020-09-28 2020-09-28 A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal
NL2026647 2020-10-09
NL2026647 2020-10-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022066092A1 true WO2022066092A1 (en) 2022-03-31

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PCT/SE2021/050937 WO2022066092A1 (en) 2020-09-28 2021-09-27 A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007021178A1 (en) * 2005-08-12 2007-02-22 Harm Kiezebrink Method for the sanitary slaughter of an animal, and a bag for use with the said method.
WO2007129100A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-15 Rentokil Initial 1927 Plc Humane animal euthanasia method
WO2018106115A1 (en) * 2016-12-07 2018-06-14 Avt Innovation & Services Gmbh A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007021178A1 (en) * 2005-08-12 2007-02-22 Harm Kiezebrink Method for the sanitary slaughter of an animal, and a bag for use with the said method.
WO2007129100A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-15 Rentokil Initial 1927 Plc Humane animal euthanasia method
WO2018106115A1 (en) * 2016-12-07 2018-06-14 Avt Innovation & Services Gmbh A method of performing a procedure on an animal involving stunning and/or killing said animal

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