Carbon Dioxide Stunning of Pigs, by Temple Grandin Colorado State University

Carbon dioxide stunning is used for stunning pigs in many countries. There have been welfare concerns about CO2 because it is a pungent gas which is irritating to the respiratory tract (Gregory, 1994). One research lab reports that CO₂ is aversive to pigs (Raj et al, 1999). Another research team states that it is not aversive (Jong et al, 2000).

• Hoenderken (1982) reported that a motorific excitation phase occurs while the pig is still conscious.
• Forslid (1987) found that the excitation phase starts after the pig is unconscious in purebred Yorkshires.
• There is a large variation in a pig’s reaction to CO2 (Dodman, 1977; Grandin, 1988a). The reactions range from none when the pigs first sniff the gas, to violent attempts to escape.
• Halothane-positive pigs have more excitation (Troegerand Waltersdorf, 1991).
• Carbon dioxide stunning is a good method for certain genetic types of pigs and very stressful to others. Genetic differences probably explain differences in the reaction of pigs to CO₂. To determine if there is a welfare problem, the reaction of pigs before they fall over (loss of posture) should be observed.

Stress caused by forcing pigs to move through a single file race could be eliminated by stunning groups of pigs in CO2 gas. Barton Gade et al. (1993) has developed a low stress driving and lairage system for moving groups of five pigs onto an elevator which descends into CO2 gas. An entire system approach should be used for evaluating CO2 stunning. Some discomfort during the induction of anesthesia may be a small price to pay for great reductions in handling stress, but if the pigs violently attempt to escape when they first inhale the gas, this is not acceptable. The group handling systems that are now available really improve pig handling. These systems make it possible to totally eliminate electric prod use to move pigs into the CO₂ chamber because the single file race is now eliminated. When new CO₂ systems are installed, it is strongly recommended to purchase group systems, where a group of pigs are moved from a small pen into an elevator (gondola) which lowers them into the CO₂.

Effect of genetics on handling and CO2 stunning of pigs (with July 2008 updates)

Update September 2018)

Assessing the reaction of Pigs to CO₂ or Other Gasses

Both captive bolt and electrical stunning induce instantaneous unconsciousness. When CO₂ or other controlled atmosphere methods are used, 20 or more seconds may be required before the pigs have loss of posture (LOP) (Velarde et al., 2007). From an animal welfare standpoint, the most important part of the process is the induction phase before the pigs fall over and lose the ability to stand. The pigs will be unconscious either at the time of LOP or 2-10 seconds after LOP (Verhoeven et al., 2016a). Convulsions, kicking, and squealing that occur after LOP are less of a welfare concern.

Even though there is a possibility of some awareness after LOP, this measure is still useful for preventing the worst problems. Commercial abattoirs need assessment tools they can easily use. It is also possible that the pigs were in the transition zone between full consciousness and brain death in the Verhoeven et al. (2016) study. Verhoeven et al (2015) states “The exact moment when unconsciousness sets in, based on EEG, is difficult to determine as change is often gradual.” Benson et al. (2012) determined that chickens became unconscious when they fell over and lost posture. Why is Verhoeven et al. (2016) reporting differnt results in pigs? This may be due to differences in the methods used to evaluate the EEG. Benson et al. (2012) used medical software that assessed the alpha delta wave ratio and Verhoeven et al. (2016) used a more subjective visual appraisal method of the EEG patterns. When LOP occurs, it is the first step of becoming unconscious (Terlouw et al., 2016ab).

Another issue that has to be examined when assessing reactions to CO₂ or other controlled atmosphere stunning is the condition of the lungs. In commercial market weight pigs, observations by people working in the industry indicate that 7% to 8% may have severe lung lesions.

April 2021 Update

Animal welfare concerns about pig welfage during CO₂ stunning are increasing. On June 17, 2020, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) published a report on the welfare of pigs at slaughter. A panel of scientists concluded “Exposure to CO₂ at high concentrations (defined in their opinion as higher than 80% by volume) is considered a serious welfare concern because it is highly aversive and causes pain, fear, and respiratory distress.” The EFSA panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) recommends replacing CO₂ with other gas mixtures that are less aversive.

Recent research by Terlouw et al (2021) in France indicated that alternatives to CO₂, such as added oxygen or nitrous oxide are also aversive. Australian researches looked at the responses to CO₂ in five pork abattoirs. They found that there was a big variation on how pigs reacted to CO₂. The percentage of animals that attempted to escape from the gondola was affected by both farm of origin and the abattoir. When pigs attempt to escape from the gondola, their welfare is severly compromised. In the next section of the document, I have stated that genetic selection may solve the problem of aversiveness of CO₂. Jongman et al (2020) reported that reactions were highly variable.

LAPS causes ear damage in pigs

LAPS (Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning) is effective for poultry. The animal welfare community was hoping that it could be used as a more humane alternative for pigs. Dorothy McKeegan at the University of Glasgow did a large study on LAPS for pigs. She published a paper titled “LAPS in pigs is not a humane alternative to Carbon Dioxide” in the December 2020 issue of The Meat Hygenist. The study was fundedd by Defra (UK Government) and The Humane Slaughter Association. LAPS absolutely does not work. “The majority of the pigs had ruptured ear drums.” They also had prolonged behaviors that indicated that they were in pain. At this time a complete scientific report has not been publised in the scienctific literature. The author has learned that changing the air withdrawal speed also does not work (McKeegan 2020, personal communication).

In early 2021, a review of all the carbon dioxide scientific research published since 2004 was published by Sindhaj et al (2021). Before release of the McKeegan results, they were concerned about the possibility of LAPS causing physiological pain.

It is my opinion that genomic sequencing studies shold be conducted to determine the genetic differences in pigs that remain calm in CO₂ compared to pigs that have escape reactions. From my own experience, I have observed huge differences on how pigs react to CO₂. For certain genetic lines of pigs, CO₂ is highly aversive. Selective breeding may be a solution to reducng pig welfare concerns during CO₂ stunning.

It is important to remember that different species of animals have different reactions. In poultry, a stunning system where CO₂ concentrations are slowly increased from low to high is definitely a humane alternative to hanging birds on the line for electrical stunning.

Video Cameras Required to Evaluate Pig Reactions in Large CO₂ Machines

To assess the pig’s reaction in large commercial CO₂ machines will require the use of video cameras installed in the pit. In the large machine, the gondolas travel through the CO₂ on a continuous conveyor, which is like a skinny Ferris wheel. Viewing he pigs when they reach the bottom of the deep pit is impossible because the next gondola blocks the view. In small deep lift machines that have a single gondola, that goes up and down like an elevator (lift), it is possible to see the pigs through the entire process. Poultry systems are easier to evaluate through either windows or video cameras because all the equipment is in cabinets that are mounted on top of the abattoir floor.

Researchers have found that there is an excitation phase that occurs before the loss of consciousness (Hoenderken, 1978, 1983 and Rodrigues et al., 2008). Loss of posture or escape movements could not be assessed in Rodrigues et al (2008) because the pigs were held in a net sling. It is the author’s opinion that some discomfort, such as heaad shaking or gasping, may be an acceptable tradeoff to achieve low stress handling with no electric prods. It is also the author’s opinion that when escape attempts occur, the pig’s welfare is not acceptable. An escape attempt is scored if a pig attempts escape from the gondola or other container. After it is lowered into the gas, Verhoeven et al. (2016a) observed signs of pig aversion to CO₂ but 0% attempted to escape.

Genetic Differences in Pig Reaction to CO₂

A possible best way to improve animal welfare during induction of CO₂ anesthesia is genetic selection. Dodman (1977) reported that the reaction of pigs to CO₂ was high variable. Forslid (1987) used EEG to determine that in purebred Yorkshire pigs, the excitation phase occurred after loss of consciousness. Unfortunately, he never tested any other breeds of pigs.

Grandin (1988) observed pigs in small CO₂ machines where their reactions can be viewed. The observations were conducted before the large breeding companies had introduced large numbers of hybrid pigs. It would have been a genetically diverse population.

The pigs were a mixture of breeds and color. Some pigs struggled violently and others had a calm induction. The pigs were definitely having a reaction to the gas. The initial movement of the gondola had no effect on the pig’s behavior. Grandin (1988) concluded that genetic factors may have had an effect on the pig’s reaction. Pigs that were white and had Yorkshire breed characteristics had a calmer induction than pigs which were black with a white belt, which is characteristic of the Hampshire breed. The next study by Troeger and Wolsterdorf (1991) indicated that pigs with the Halothane stress gene had a worse reaction during induction. Velarde et al. (2007) were the first researchers to test pigs with a known halothane genotype. They evaluated Duroc x Yorkshire pigs that were homozygous Halothane stress gene free and carriers (heterozygotes) Pictrain x Large White pigs. A concentration of 70 to 90% CO₂ was used, which is low compared to properly operated commercial units. The carrier pigs had 67& that attempted to escape from the gondola and the pigs that were completely free of the stress gene had 46% of the animals attempting to escape (Velarde et al., 2007). In Yorkshire x Landrace pigs, being shocked by an electric prod was more aversive than CO₂ (Jongman et al., 2000).

The author’s own observation of pigs being induced into CO₂ have ranged from a very peaceful induction in Danish homozygous stress gene free pigs to the most vigorous escape attempts in another abattoir. These pigs likely carried the stress gene and were handled poorly with lots of electric prods. The Danish observations were made in a special research machine where a group of pigs entered the CO₂ very quietly. There was sufficient space for the pigs to walkaround. A few pigs sniffed the CO₂ and backed up. After LOP, the violent reaction occurred. The chamber had a concentration of 90% CO₂. Patricia Barton, a researcher at the Danish Meat Research Institute always maintained that it is really important to have a calm pig entering the CO₂ gondola.

More recent observations, in 2018, of U.S. Commercial hybred pigs indicated that 20% to 30% had a calm induction before loss of posture. Eleven percent had a definate escape reaction. The pigs were stunned with 90% CO₂ in a Butina machine with group handling. Determining the exact numbers of calm inductions was difficult due to the gondola being loaded to the standard commercial capactiy. All the pigs were quietly moved into the gondola and electric prods were used on none of the pigs.

The pigs were all commercially bred, hybreds with unknown genetics. All the animals were white with gray areas on their hind quarters or shoulders. They had partially floppy ears that may indicate both Yorkshire and Landrace genetics. The gray areas may indicate Hampshire genetics. The coloration of the pigs indicates that it is likely they were free of Duroc or Pictrain genetics. They had no black spots or brown coloration.

Operations Problems with CO₂ That can Compromise Animal Welfare

1. Undersized Machine: An overloaded, undersized machine is one of the worst problems with gas stunning (Grandin, 2015). As a plant increases production, the machine may become overloaded. Plant managers who are purchasing a gas stunning machine should purchase a large enough machine not handle future increases in production. An overloaded machine has to be replaced. Specific signs of an overloaded machine are: (i) animals are not rendered insensible because the exposure time has been decreased by speeding up the conveyor; ( ii) gondolas or containers are overloaded and pigs or birds do not have enough room to stand or lie down without being on top of each other. Pigs should never be forced to jump on top of other pigs when a gondola is being loaded. 
2. Problems with Maintaining The Correct Gas Concentration: Another problem that can occur is that gas is not distributed in the chamber. This may be due to a design fault in the chamber, or the ventilation system in the plant may be sucking the gas out of the chamber. Correcting this problem may require the expertise of an engineering professional skilled in ventilation systems. In open gas stunning systems, such as the CO₂ systems used for pigs and poultry, the following factors can cause problems: wind blowing around the plant building, changes in the number of ventilation fans turned on in the plant, or opening and closing doors near the chamber. These factors can cause “stack pressure” that may cause the gas to be sucked out (Grandin, 2015). Stack pressure is a common cause of a sudden appearance of conscious animals emerging from a chamber that has been operating effectively. This may occur when a certain specific sequence of either opening doors or turning on ventilator fans occurs. Doors that slam hard by themselves are moved by differences in air pressure between two rooms or between a room and the outdoors. Differences in pressure in rooms near the gas stunning may cause the stunner to fail. Stack pressure problems will have no effect on positive pressure (closed) systems where the gas is introduced into the chamber with a ventilation system.

Management Decisions about Electrical or CO₂ Stunning

Controlled atmosphere systems (CAS) are expensive to buy and maintain but require less oversight by management during day-to-day operations compared to electrical stunning. When CAS is working properly, problems with pigs or poultry regaining consciousness can almost be eliminated. Electrical stunning is economical to buy and much cheaper to operate than CAS. To prevent pigs from regaining consciousness, electric stunning requires a lot more attention to details of procedure such as electrode (tong) positioning and wetting the animals. Another disadvantage of electrical stunning is training people how to correctly evaluate unconsciousness is more difficult compared to CO₂. Pigs stunned in a large CO₂ machine with a long exposure time results in floppy pigs with all reflexes eliminated. The floppy carcasses are both easier and safer for the person who does the bleeding.

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