Stunning of pigs with different gas mixtures: Behavioural and physiological reactions

Abstract

The present study used thirty-one pigs to investigate induction of unconsciousness and behavioural reactions in different gas mixtures: 80% CO₂/air, 90 s; 40% CO₂/30% O₂/air, 180 s; 70% N₂O/30% CO₂, 90 s. All pigs lost consciousness. All presented respiratory difficulties and most pigs involuntary muscle contractions, often before loss of standing posture. Between mixtures, average latencies of certain behaviours and delays between behaviours differed. Following immersion, blood pH was lower than normal. The low pH induced by the CO₂/O₂/air mixture was physiologically associated with hyperoxemia. Relationships between blood gases, different behavioural and heart rate responses are discussed. In conclusion, all mixtures caused discomfort due to respiratory difficulties and the addition of O₂ or N₂O to the CO₂ mixture did not present an advantage.

Keywords: Behaviour; Gas stunning; Physiology; Pigs; Stress.