The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely slaughtering animals, and more particularly to a method for slaughtering animals using a low atmospheric pressure system with or without the addition of inert gas. In particular, the animals are placed into a chamber, the chamber is sealed, and the pressure in the chamber is reduced along a predetermined pressure curve to a target decompression pressure, and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until the animal achieves a state of death. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques, and results in excellent meat quality.

This disclosure provides methods and compounds for pH controlled anticoagulant materials using phosphates. At least one phosphate and at least one alkalizing processing aid are combined in an anticoagulant compound that may be applied in an aqueous solution to acidifying animal blood to substantially neutralize the animal blood for further processing, such as fractionization.

The system for managing bird populations includes a drone; a disruptor comprising an extension arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being operatively coupled with the drone, and the distal end comprising a tool portion, where the tool portion comprises a piercing element constructed for engagement with one or more eggs in a nest; and a remote control system. The remote control system may comprise one or more remote control units and a monitor.

The system for managing bird populations includes a drone; a disruptor comprising an extension arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being operatively coupled with the drone, and the distal end comprising a tool portion, where the tool portion comprises a piercing element constructed for engagement with one or more eggs in a nest; and a remote control system. The remote control system may comprise one or more remote control units and a monitor.

A portable pneumatic stunner for stunning or euthanizing an animal has a piston slideable within an inner chamber, a housing with a front portion being moveable toward and away from its rear portion, a stunning rod driven by the piston forward towards the front end of the housing, a catch system for alternately holding and releasing the stunning rod, and a regulator for regulating the pressure received from a fluid container for operating the stunner. The stunning rod is driven along a longitudinal axis upon exposure of a pressurized fluid to the piston, and the stunning rod is retracted back into the stunner after firing by exerting a manual inward force on the stunning rod and housing. The catch system comprises a plurality of arcuate sections substantially forming a cylinder. The regulator determines the allowable pressure levels of the fluid the stunner is subjected to.

The invention relates to a method for anaesthetizing animals before slaughter, by the anaesthetic action of gases or gas mixtures, method operating in batch mode in which the live animals, preferably put together in one or more cages, are placed in a lock chamber for treatment where the animals are brought into contact with anaesthetic gas, following a cycle comprising several steps characterized by different contents of anaesthetic gas, characterized in that at least one of the steps is carried out using gas recovered from the lock chamber and stored in at least one capacity (2, No. 1, No. 2 etc.) for temporary storage having a variable volume.

The invention relates to a method for anaesthetizing animals before slaughter, by the anaesthetic action of gases or gas mixtures, method operating in batch mode in which the live animals, preferably put together in one or more cages, are placed in a lock chamber for treatment where the animals are brought into contact with anaesthetic gas, following a cycle comprising several steps characterized by different contents of anaesthetic gas, characterized in that at least one of the steps is carried out using gas recovered from the lock chamber and stored in at least one capacity (2, No. 1, No. 2 etc.) for temporary storage having a variable volume.

A pneumatic stunner for stunning an animal has a piston slideable within an inner chamber, and a stunning rod driven by the piston forward and rearward towards and away from the front end of the housing. The stunning rod has an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and a detachable hardened tip. The density of the material comprising the elongated body is less than the density of the material comprising the detachable hardened tip.

Method and apparatus for processing slaughtered poultry that is conveyed in a slaughter line of a slaughter house, in order to establish at the start of said slaughter line whether the poultry was alive or dead on arrival at the slaughter house. Such can include the detection of a body parameter of the slaughtered poultry when the poultry is suspended by the legs in the slaughter line after stunning said poultry, and wherein an absorption spectrum of blood of the slaughtered poultry is determined.

A poultry stunning apparatus including a trough for containing water through which the poultry is carried for stunning. The apparatus also including an electrical control module configured to apply a DC current to the poultry at a voltage sufficient to stun the poultry and to apply AC current to the stunned poultry at a voltage and for a period of time sufficient to immobilize and relax the muscles of the stunned poultry, while at the same time avoiding or minimizing damage to the poultry tissue. The apparatus further including a stunning electrode positioned within the trough, the stunning electrode including a metal plate adapted and positioned within the trough to be contacted in a contact zone by the poultry as the poultry are carried along, the contact zone of the metal plate being substantially smooth and uninterrupted.