[Carbon dioxide stunning for the slaughter of turkeys]

In an experimental study on stunning of 460 turkeys in a CO2 enriched atmosphere (60-70% CO2 in air), as a more animal protecting and more economic alternative to conventional electrical stunning, the following results are obtained: all animals show respiratory arrest within 100 seconds. After being dipped in a CO2 enriched atmosphere for a few seconds the turkeys show head shaking and forced respiration which has to be considered as a strain the animals are conscious of. The meat hygienic results after CO2 stunning are much better than after electrical stunning.