CO₂ in slaughterhouses

As an alternative to the electric stunning of pigs for slaughter carbon dioxide (CO₂) is used since 1990 in slaughterhouses as an animal and user-friendly alternative, that also has a positive impact on the quality of meat.

Application scope

Pigs are placed in a cage per four or per six. This cage moves downwards and causes the animals to come into contact with a higher CO₂-concentration (80-85%). After 30 seconds the anaesthesia begins. The staying time in the stunning pit must be at least 90 seconds. When the cage comes back to the top the pigs will be ejected, hung to the Jacob Ladder and knifed.

Requirements

Per pig 300 to 350 grams of CO₂ is used.

IJsfabriek Strombeek can put the following items in your slaughterhouse:

• A CO₂-tank
• The necessary evaporators
• Pressure reducers
• If desired the CO₂-line up to the anaesthesia machine

We can also provide telemetry on the tank. This will ensure that the care for sufficient CO₂ will be with the gas supplier and the hourly consumption and possible leaks when not in use can be detected

When your slaughter house features its own cutting area, the branch can be provided to the packaging line for the supply of packaging gas. Here IJsfabriek Strombeek can also be of service to you.

Advantages

• less stress for animals in comparison with electric stunning
• less haemorrhages in the muscle tissue
• less fractures
• sensitive less Pale, Soft & Exudative (PSE) meat
• a better bleeding
• a small drop in the pH of the meat, which improves the preservation time
• for the workers in the slaughterhouse the conversion to CO₂-anesthesia means a safer knifing of the pigs

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