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Stunning pigs with different gas mixtures: gas stability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

A Dalmau ,
P Llonch ,
P Rodríguez ,
JL Ruíz-de-la-Torre ,
X Manteca  and
A Velarde
A Dalmau*
Affiliation:
IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Finca Camps i Armet s/n Monells, 17121, Girona, Spain
P Llonch
Affiliation:
IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Finca Camps i Armet s/n Monells, 17121, Girona, Spain
P Rodríguez
Affiliation:
IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Finca Camps i Armet s/n Monells, 17121, Girona, Spain
JL Ruíz-de-la-Torre
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, School of Veterinary Science, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Campus Bellaterra, edifici V, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
X Manteca
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, School of Veterinary Science, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Campus Bellaterra, edifici V, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
A Velarde
Affiliation:
IRTA, Animal Welfare Subprogram, Finca Camps i Armet s/n Monells, 17121, Girona, Spain
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: antoni.dalmau@irta.es
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Abstract

The stability and uniformity of the following gas mixtures: 90% argon; 85% argon and 15% carbon dioxide (CO2); 70% argon and 30% CO2; 98% nitrogen (N2); 92% N2 and 8% CO2; 90% N2 and 10% CO2; 85% N2 and 15% CO2; 80% N2 and 20% CO2; 70% N2 and 30% CO2; and 90% CO2 by volume in atmospheric air were assessed in a commercial dip-lift stunning system when the cradle was either stationary or in motion. The gas mixtures of 90% argon, 85% argon and 15% CO2, 70% argon and 30% CO2, 85% N2 and 15% CO2, 80% N2 and 20% CO2, 70% N2 and 30% CO2 and 90% CO2 by volume in atmospheric air could be sustained in a commercial dip-lift stunning system. The stability of the gas mixtures 92% N2 and 8% CO2, and 90% N2 and 10% CO2 by volume in atmospheric air were lower than in the previous cases. On the other hand, an N2 concentration higher than 94% by volume in atmospheric air could not be sustained in the stunning system. In addition, gas mixtures of argon and CO2 showed a higher stability than gas mixtures of N2 and CO2. The uniformity at different levels inside the pit (defined as the capacity of the gas to maintain its concentration constant at different levels inside the pit) was higher in 90% argon, or argon and CO2 mixtures and N2 and CO2 mixtures than in 90% CO2. This fact ensures that for the whole time the animals are inside the pit, the same conditions are applied, which is not the case for 90% CO2.

Keywords

animal welfareargoncarbon dioxidenitrogenstabilitystunning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , August 2010 , pp. 315 - 323
Copyright
© 2010 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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