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Killing of spent laying hens using CO2 in poultry barns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

C Berg ,
J Yngvesson ,
S Nimmermark ,
V Sandström  and
B Algers
C Berg
Affiliation:
Dept of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, POB 234, SE-53223 Skara, Sweden
J Yngvesson*
Affiliation:
Dept of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, POB 234, SE-53223 Skara, Sweden
S Nimmermark
Affiliation:
Dept of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, POB 103, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
V Sandström
Affiliation:
Dept of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, POB 234, SE-53223 Skara, Sweden
B Algers
Affiliation:
Dept of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, POB 234, SE-53223 Skara, Sweden
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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In Sweden, laying hens are killed using the following methods: i) traditional slaughter; ii) on-farm with CO2 in a mobile container combined with a grinder; or iii) with CO2 inside the barn. The number of hens killed using the latter method has increased. During these killings a veterinarian is required to be present and report to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Data were registered during four commercial killings and extracted from all official veterinary reports at CO2 whole-house killings in 2008-2010. On-farm monitoring showed that temperature decreased greatly and with high variability. The time until birds became unconscious after coming into contact with the gas, based on time until loss of balance, was 3-5 min. Veterinary reports show that 1.5 million laying hens were killed, in 150 separate instances. The most common non-compliance with legislation was failure to notify the regional animal welfare authorities prior to the killings. Six out of 150 killings were defined as animal welfare failures, eg delivery of insufficient CO2 or failure to seal buildings to achieve adequate gas concentration. Eleven were either potentially or completely unacceptable from the perspective of animal welfare. We conclude that, on the whole, the CO2 whole-house gas killing of spent hens was carried out in accordance with the appropriate legislation. Death was achieved reliably. However, there remain several risks to animal welfare and increased knowledge would appear vital in order to limit mistakes related to miscalculations of house volume, improper sealing or premature ventilation turn-off.

Keywords

animal welfarecarbon dioxidekillinglaying henon-farmwhole house
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , November 2014 , pp. 445 - 457
Copyright
© 2014 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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