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Identifying Process Variables for a Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning-Killing System

J. L. Purswell^*,1, J. P. Thaxton and S. L. Branton^*

^* USDA-ARS Poultry Research Unit, and Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: jpurswell{at}msa-msstate.ars.usda.gov

Current systems for preslaughter gas stunning and killing of broilers use process gases such as CO₂, N₂, Ar, or a mixture of these gases with air or O₂. These systems, known as controlled-atmosphere stunning-killing systems, work by displacing O₂, ultimately to induce hypoxia in the bird, leading to unconsciousness and death. In this study, mechanical removal of O₂ by rapidly reducing air pressure was investigated as an alternative to controlled-atmosphere stunning-killing systems. Low atmospheric pressure systems could offer advantages in worker safety and operational gas cost because they operate solely with atmospheric air. This study comprised 2 experiments, one to define the initial range of effective pressures, and the second to determine a recommended process pressure. In experiment 1, 48 female broilers, aged 63 d, were subjected to 6 different pressure treatments, ranging from 70.9 to 17.8 kPa. In experiment 2, 56 male broilers, aged 60 d, were subjected to 7 different pressure treatments, ranging from 35.3 to 17.8 kPa. Birds were individually placed in an airtight vessel and exposed to a pressure treatment for 2 min after the final pressure was attained. Results from experiment 1 showed that the effective range of pressure was between 29.5 and 17.8 kPa, with only 25% of the birds exposed to 29.5 kPa surviving and none of the birds exposed to 17.8 kPa surviving. Experiment 2 used a finer resolution of pressure increments, and the estimated pressure level lethal for 99.99% of the birds was determined to be 19.4 kPa.

Key Words: broiler • gas stunning • slaughter

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