LPT 312: Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology (1+1)

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages

The advantages claimed for CO₂ anaesthesia include:

• Meat and offal are free from harmful residues.
• Carcasses are relaxed allowing easier dehairing and dressing.
• There are less noise and reduced labour requirements.
• It has also been contended that the yield of blood from pigs stunned by this method is 0.75% better because CO₂ stimulates respiration and thus favours blood circulation and consequent bleeding.
• Muscular haemorrhages are avoided.
• The pH of the meat is lower.
• The gas is non-inflammable
• The gas has a higher specific gravity than air sinking to the bottom of any container
• When properly used it presents no hazard to the operator
• The efficiency of this method is higher thus reduces costs.
• This method is not only humane but superior to the other forms of stunning.

Disadvantages

• It is questionable whether this system is labour saving. It needs more space. 
• It is not more rapid than other methods although it does ensure a steady throughput.
• It causes convulsive struggling.
• Varying degrees of excitement and even cardiac arrest, especially if the exposure period exceeds 45 seconds
• It is too expensive for smaller slaughterhouses.
• Only pigs are stunned by this method.