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Welfare Implications of the Gas Stunning of Pigs 2. Stress of Induction of Anaesthesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

ABM Raj  and
N G Gregory
ABM Raj*
Affiliation:
Division of Food Animal Science, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford Bristol BS18 7DY
N G Gregory
Affiliation:
Division of Food Animal Science, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford Bristol BS18 7DY Faculty of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
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Abstract

The severity of respiratory distress occurring prior to loss of posture during exposure to: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 per cent carbon dioxide in air; 2 or 5 per cent residual oxygen in argon; 30 per cent carbon dioxide in argon with either 2 or 5 per cent residual oxygen; or 40 per cent carbon dioxide in argon with either 2 or 5 per cent residual oxygen, was subjectively determined in pigs from their behaviour. The results indicated that exposure to 2 per cent oxygen in argon (anoxia) induced minimal respiratory distress, 30 per cent carbon dioxide in argon with 2 per cent residual oxygen induced a moderate distress and exposure to all the concentrations of carbon dioxide in air induced severe respiratory distress in the pigs. From the animal welfare point of view, using 2 per cent oxygen in argon (anoxia) appears to be the optimum choice for gas stunning pigs. Secondly, a mixture of 30 per cent carbon dioxide in argon with 2 per cent residual oxygen is preferred to 90 per cent carbon dioxide in air.

Keywords

animal welfareargonaversioncarbon dioxideinhalationpigsstunning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 71 - 78
Copyright
© 1996 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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References

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