System and method for treating live cargo such as poultry with gas

Abstract

Animals such as poultry are stunned while still caged and on a vehicle or stationary platform prior to processing the animal by isolating the atmosphere surrounding the animal, adjusting the composition of the isolated atmosphere by introducing a gaseous mixture that brings the animal to the desired state, and evacuating or exhausting the gaseous mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating live cargo with a gaseous mixture comprising the steps of:
 (i) placing the live cargo on a platform;   (ii) shrouding the cargo on the platform to isolate the atmosphere proximate the cargo; and   (iii) introducing the gaseous mixture to the shrouded cargo to alter the composition of the isolated atmosphere and impart a desired effect on the live cargo.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps of monitoring the isolated atmosphere and adjusting the gaseous mixture in response thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of shrouding the cargo further comprises disposing a moveable enclosure around the cargo on the platform to sealably isolate the atmosphere proximate the cargo. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the platform is a trailer adapted to be transported by a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the platform is stationary. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of shrouding the cargo further comprises shrouding only a portion of the cargo on the platform to isolate the atmosphere proximate the portion of the cargo area. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of placing the live cargo on the platform further comprises off-loading the live cargo from a vehicle adapted to transport the live cargo to the platform in a cargo treatment area. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of shrouding the cargo further comprises laterally moving a moveable enclosure adjacent to the cargo on the platform to isolate the atmosphere proximate the cargo. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of shrouding the cargo further comprises lowering an enclosure around the cargo on the platform to sealably isolate the atmosphere proximate the cargo. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of introducing a gaseous mixture to the shrouded cargo further comprises injecting gas into the isolated atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the live cargo is poultry disposed in cages. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous mixture is an oxygen-depleted gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of introducing the gaseous mixture to alter the composition of the isolated atmosphere further comprises:
 introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a first concentration sufficient to bring the live cargo to a state of lethargy; 
 further introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a second concentration sufficient to bring the live cargo to a state of unconsciousness; and 
 still further introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a third concentration sufficient to asphyxiating the cargo or bring the cargo to an unrecoverable state. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the gas injected into the isolated atmosphere comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         15 . A method for batch treatment of live cargo on a vehicle having a cargo area adapted to transport live cargo, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) shrouding a portion of the cargo area to isolate the atmosphere proximate the portion of the cargo area;   (ii) introducing a gaseous mixture to the shrouded portion of the cargo area to alter the composition of the isolated atmosphere and impart a desired effect on the live cargo.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of monitoring the isolated atmosphere and adjusting the introduction of the gaseous mixture in response thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of shrouding a portion of the cargo area further comprises sealably disposing a moveable enclosure adjacent to the portion of the cargo area thereby isolating the atmosphere proximate the portion of the cargo area. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of shrouding a portion of the cargo area further comprises moving the vehicle through an enclosure structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of shrouding a portion of the cargo area further comprises moving the vehicle into a pit area and placing a cover or barrier around the portion of the cargo area while the vehicle remains in the pit area. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of introducing a gaseous mixture to the shrouded portion of the cargo area further comprises injecting gas into the isolated atmosphere. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the live cargo is poultry. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 (iii) exhausting the gaseous mixture within the isolated atmosphere proximate the shrouded portion of the cargo area; 
 (iv) shrouding a second portion of the cargo area to isolate the atmosphere proximate the second portion of the cargo area; 
 (v) introducing a gaseous mixture to the shrouded second portion of the cargo area to alter the composition of the isolated atmosphere. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the gaseous mixture is an oxygen-depleted gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of introducing the gaseous mixture to alter the composition of the isolated atmosphere further comprises:
 introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a first concentration sufficient to bring the live cargo to a state of lethargy; 
 further introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a second concentration sufficient to bring the live cargo to a state of unconsciousness; and 
 still further introducing the gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere at a third concentration sufficient to asphyxiating the cargo or bring the cargo to an unrecoverable state. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the gas injected into the isolated atmosphere comprises nitrogen. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the gas injected into the isolated atmosphere comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         27 . A method for batch treatment of live cargo confined to one or more cages with a gas comprising the steps of:
 (i) isolating the atmosphere proximate the confined live cargo in a manner that allows a flow through the one or more cages;   (ii) introducing the gas to the isolated atmosphere;   (iii) forcibly circulating the gas entrained in the isolated atmosphere through the cages to treat the live cargo; and   (iv) evacuating the gas within the isolated atmosphere when the treatment is completed.