Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely slaughtering animals, and more particularly to a method for slaughtering animals using a low atmospheric pressure system with or without the addition of inert gas. In particular, the animals are placed into a chamber, the chamber is sealed, and the pressure in the chamber is reduced along a predetermined pressure curve to a target decompression pressure, and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until the animal achieves a state of death. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques, and results in excellent meat quality.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely slaughtering animals, and more particularly to a method for slaughtering animals using a low atmospheric pressure system with or without the addition of inert gas. In particular, the animals are placed into a chamber, the chamber is sealed, and the pressure in the chamber is reduced along a predetermined pressure curve to a target decompression pressure, and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until the animal achieves a state of death. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques, and results in excellent meat quality.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely stunning and slaughtering poultry, and more particularly to a method for decreasing the spastic wing activity of poultry during slaughter. In particular, the birds are placed into a sealed chamber and the pressure in the chamber is reduced at a continuous rate to a target decompression pressure. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques and results in less spastic wing activity.

Abstract: A plant for the stunning and/or slaughter of animals for slaughter includes a hermetically sealable chamber with an entrance aperture for the introduction of live animals and an exit aperture for removal of stunned or slaughtered animals, closure devices to hermetically seal these apertures, and an extraction means to remove air from the chamber in order to stun or kill the animals.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely stunning and slaughtering poultry, and more particularly to a method for stunning and slaughtering poultry using a low atmospheric pressure system. In particular, the birds are placed into a sealed chamber and the pressure in the chamber is reduced at a continuous rate to a target decompression pressure and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until a state of death is obtained. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques and results in excellent meat quality.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely stunning and slaughtering poultry, and more particularly to a method for stunning and slaughtering poultry using a low atmospheric pressure system. In particular, the birds are placed into a sealed chamber and the pressure in the chamber is reduced at a continuous rate to a target decompression pressure and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until a state of death is obtained. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques and results in excellent meat quality.

Abstract: This invention consists of a plant for the stunning and/or slaughter of animals for slaughter, comprising a hermetically sealable chamber with an entrance aperture for the introduction of live animals and an exit aperture for removal of stunned or slaughtered animals, closure devices to hermetically seal these apertures, and an extraction means to remove air from the chamber in order to stun or slaughter the animals.

Abstract: Plant for the stunning and/or killing of animals for slaughter, comprising a hermetically sealable chamber with an entrance aperture for the introduction of live animals and an exit aperture for removal of stunned or killed animals, closure devices to hermetically seal these apertures, and an extraction means to remove air from the chamber in order to stun or kill the animals.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and loading fowl having a mobile frame to which a forward conveyor and a rearward conveyor are pivotally mounted. The forward conveyor has plurality of fingered drums that are rotated to engage the fowl and place them on the conveyor for movement to the frame. The forward and rearward conveyors are pivotally mounted for movement about a common vertical axis. Each conveyor may also be pivotal about a horizontal axis. The fowl are discharged from the forward conveyor onto the rearward conveyor which transports the fowl from the frame to storage cages. A rearward fingered drum is provided to engage the fowl and discharge the fowl from the conveyor and into a plurality of vertically stacked forming the cage compartments. The rearward conveyor includes a first rearward conveyor pivotally mounted to the frame and a second rearward conveyor slidibility connected to the first rearward conveyor.

Abstract: A transportation arrangement includes a closed track with a chain running along the closed track. A plurality of base frames are arranged on the chain and move along the track by the chain which is powered by a motor. A plurality of counter frames are each pivotally connected to a pivot edge of one of the base frames where the pivot edge of the base frames is arranged at a radially inside edge of the base frames with respect to the closed track. A lifting station is arranged at the closed track, with the chains moving the base frames into and away from the lifting station. A lifting jack in the lifting station raises a lifting edge of the counter frames located at the lifting station. The lifting jack pivots the counter frame about the pivot edge of the base frame. The base frames are attached to a portion of the chain, and are rotatable with respect to the portion of the chain to which the respective base frames are attached.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and loading fowl having a mobile frame to which a forward conveyor and a rearward conveyor are pivotally mounted. The forward conveyor has plurality of fingered drums that are rotated to engage the fowl and place them on the conveyor for movement to the frame. The forward and rearward conveyors are pivotally mounted for movement about a common vertical axis. Each conveyor may also be pivotal about a horizontal axis. The fowl are discharged from the forward conveyor onto the rearward conveyor which transports the fowl from the frame to storage cages. A rearward fingered drum is provided to engage the fowl and discharge the fowl from the conveyor and into a plurality of vertically stacked forming the cage compartments. The rearward conveyor includes a first rearward conveyor pivotally mounted to the frame and a second rearward conveyor slidibility connected to the first rearward conveyor.

Abstract: A transportation arrangement includes a closed track with a chain running along the closed track. A plurality of base frames are arranged on the chain and move along the track by the chain which is powered by a motor. A plurality of counter frames are each pivotally connected to a pivot edge of one of the base frames where the pivot edge of the base frames is arranged at a radially inside edge of the base frames with respect to the closed track. A lifting station is arranged at the closed track, with the chains moving the base frames into and away from the lifting station. A lifting jack in the lifting station raises a lifting edge of the counter frames located at the lifting station. The lifting jack pivots the counter frame about the pivot edge of the base frame. The base frames are attached to a portion of the chain, and are rotatable with respect to the portion of the chain to which the respective base frames are attached.

Abstract: A transportation arrangement includes a closed track with a chain running along the closed track. A plurality of base frames are arranged on the chain and move along the track by the chain which is powered by a motor. A plurality of counter frames are each pivotally connected to a pivot edge of one of the base frames where the pivot edge of the base frames is arranged at a radially inside edge of the base frames with respect to the closed track. A lifting station is arranged at the closed track, with the chains moving the base frames into and away from the lifting station. A lifting jack in the lifting station raises a lifting edge of the counter frames located at the lifting station. The lifting jack pivots the counter frame about the pivot edge of the base frame. The base frames are attached to a portion of the chain, and are rotatable with respect to the portion of the chain to which the respective base frames are attached.

Abstract: A trailer (10) for handling and rotating poultry cages (14,16) loaded by an automatic poultry catching device (12). The trailer (10) includes two rotating platforms (20,22) mounted to a chassis (18) for rotational movement about a single vertical axis extending through the chassis (18) and a turntable assembly (24) for rotating the platforms (20,22). The turntable assembly (24) rotates the rotating platforms (20,22) independently of one another so that one platform can be positioned in a poultry-loading position for loading poultry in the cages supported thereon and the other platform can be positioned in a cage-loading and unloading position for unloading the filled cages and replacing the filled cages with empty cages.