Aversive reactions of turkeys to argon, carbon dioxide and a mixture of carbon dioxide and argon.
The reactions of turkeys to the presence of either 90 per cent argon in air (anoxia), 72 per cent carbon dioxide in air or a mixture of 30 per cent carbon dioxide and 60 per cent argon in air with 3 per cent residual oxygen were tested. The majority of the turkeys did not avoid a feeding chamber containing either argon or the mixture of carbon dioxide and argon, but 50 per cent of the turkeys avoided a feeding chamber containing 72 per cent carbon dioxide in air. It is concluded that from the point of view of welfare, either 90 per cent argon in air or a mixture of 30 per cent carbon dioxide and 60 per cent argon in air, would be preferable to a high concentration of carbon dioxide for stunning/killing turkeys.
Raj
A B
AB
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol. Langford.
D000003:Abattoirs; D000758:Anesthesia; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014422:Turkeys
D004338:Drug Combinations; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D001128:Argon