Animal Slaughter
Controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) or controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) is a method for slaughtering animals such as chickens by placing the animals in a container in which the atmosphere lacks oxygen and consists of an asphyxiant gas (one or more of argon, nitrogen or carbon dioxide), causing the animals to lose consciousness. Argon and nitrogen are important components of a gassing process which seem to cause no pain, and for this reason many consider it more humane than other methods of killing.
Portable units are available. Controlled atmosphere stunning has been used both within processing plants and on-farm for euthanizing poultry. One portable unit type that costs US$2,500 can be pushed down the aisles of a barn, with 200–250 chickens per load being placed inside a CO2 enriched chamber. Chickens are unconscious within 30 seconds of being in the chamber.
Studies show that diving animals such as mink, and burrowing animals such as rodents and rats are sensitive to low-oxygen atmospheres and (unlike humans) will avoid them. For this reason, the use of inert gas hypoxic atmospheres for euthanasia is very species-specific.
Read more about this topic: Nitrogen Asphyxiation
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