A constricting collar and method of use that provides for a means of humane end of life for a condemned individual or an individual making an end of life decision where it is legal to do so. The collar is openable and closeable to be fixed around a person's neck. The collar has a cushion at the back of the neck and a constricting member at the front. Various means can be employed to trigger the constricting member to move toward the cushion at the back of the neck, such as a screw, a screw gear, a rack and pinion gear, and an inflatable air cartridge. The method of use includes the administration of a tranquilizing agent after placement of the collar around a person's neck after which the constricting action can be activated either through a remote or a button on the collar itself or in the case of the inflatable mechanism, the application of air through a cylinder.

Slaughter installation including a conveyor line with carriers for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying the poultry in a conveying track. Head positioning means arranged for forcing the bill of the poultry in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the suspended poultry. Killing device having at least a first rotary knife positioned alongside of the conveying track for cutting into the neck of the suspended poultry while avoiding to cut a certain parts. A first guide wheel upstream and proximate to the first rotary knife, which first guide wheel is positioned alongside the conveying track. A passageway between the first rotary knife and the first guide wheel through which the poultry neck is able to pass.

Slaughter installation including a conveyor line with carriers for suspending poultry by the legs and conveying the poultry in a conveying track. Head positioning means arranged for forcing the bill of the poultry in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the suspended poultry. Killing device having at least a first rotary knife positioned alongside of the conveying track for cutting into the neck of the suspended poultry while avoiding to cut a certain parts. A first guide wheel upstream and proximate to the first rotary knife, which first guide wheel is positioned alongside the conveying track. A passageway between the first rotary knife and the first guide wheel through which the poultry neck is able to pass.

A poultry stunning apparatus and method, the apparatus 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 user-selectable voltage, current level, and/or frequency 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.

A method and system for receiving, processing, and stunning poultry in a poultry processing facility includes an receiving system for receiving and unloading live poultry from a transport vehicle, a controlled atmosphere stunning system, a stunned poultry hanging station for receiving and transferring stunned poultry to another facility for further processing, such as slaughtering the stunned poultry. Shuttle conveyors and cage pushers coordinate to unload cages of live poultry from the transport vehicle and begin conveying the cages toward the stunning system. Accumulators, cage de-stackers, cage stackers, cage washers, tilted conveyors, and other features may be included with the system.

Method and apparatus for a device used to euthanize poultry. The device restrains the animal via a head restraint which is placed to pull the head down while the legs are held upwardly in leg shackles. The head restraint is offset in order to contact the head at an angle that is not in line with the bird's spine which is important for proper cervical dislocation. The head restraint bar floats or moves on guide rods on either side to keep it from twisting. A ramrod runs vertically all the way to the top of the machine and past the legs of a chicken and an impact/stop is welded onto the rod with an approximate five pound slide hammer on top of the stop. With a chicken properly restrained in the device, the slide hammer is used to slam on the impact/stop which then causes complete and perfect cervical dislocation so that the animal is brain dead without any blood.

In accordance with example embodiments, a system may include a supply unit, a first transfer unit, a second transfer unit, and a gas chamber. In example embodiments, the supply unit may include a plurality of compartments and each compartment may have a moving device configured to move contents of the compartment from a first end of the compartment to a second end of the compartment. In example embodiments the first transfer unit may include a second moving device. In example embodiments, the second transfer unit may include a third moving device. In example embodiments the first transfer unit may be configured to receive contents from each compartment of the supply unit and move the contents to the second transfer unit, and the third moving device may be configured to move the contents to the gas chamber.

A method and system for stunning poultry with carbon dioxide gas includes initially establishing an initial elevated CO.sub.2 concentration in an initial stun chamber, and then lowering a cage for live poultry downwardly through an open top of the initial stun chamber. The cage is held there for an initial time period, after which the cage is moved into an intermediate stun chamber, where an intermediate elevated CO.sub.2 concentration is established. The cage is held in the intermediate stun chamber for an intermediate period of time, after which it is moved into a final stun chamber, where a final elevated CO.sub.2 concentration is established. The cage is held in the final stun chamber for a final period of time, and the cage is then raised upwardly through an open top of the final stun chamber and out into an ambient atmosphere.

A method, system, and apparatus for humanely dispatching wounded game in the field comprises a shank with a connecting end, a curved region, and a pointed end connected to a grip formed at the connecting end of the shank, and a finger loop. The grip can further comprise a series or flattened portions configured to engage the gaps in a choke tube in order to remove the choke tube.

A method, system, and apparatus for humanely dispatching wounded game in the field comprises a shank with a connecting end, a curved region, and a pointed end connected to a grip formed at the connecting end of the shank, and a finger loop. The grip can further comprise a series or flattened portions configured to engage the gaps in a choke tube in order to remove the choke tube.