CO2 trial is a success at Peats Ridge
From the December 2006 edition of Agriculture Today.
Animal health authorities regard as a success a trial to euthanase poultry more effectively and humanely using carbon dioxide gas.
They say the trial has substantially boosted Australia’s capacity to manage an outbreak of Avian influenza.
No live birds were used in the trial, on a poultry farm at Peats Ridge on the NSW Central Coast, attended by representatives of the RSPCA.
Two sheds were sealed and a tanker pumped in carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.
“This trial was designed to test our ability to euthanase large numbers of birds as humanely as possible,” Dr Mike Bond, from Animal Health Australia said.
The trial showed the mass destruction of birds in sheds is a viable alternative to methods used in the past.
“Levels of CO2 lethal to chickens were reached throughout each shed in a very short time,” Kevin Cooper, NSW Department of Primary Industries’ animal health emergency response leader said.
Gas levels were carefully monitored to ensure they were both adequate to kill birds humanely but safe for personnel conducting the trial.
“The reduced need for labour with this technique also means less risk of exposure to the disease, in a real event,” Mr Cooper said.
He said a wide range of measurement devices were placed in each shed - accurate instruments linked to real-time computer analysis outside, balloons with lighter than air gas, hurricane lamps and candles.
NSW Rural Fire Service personnel checked inside the sheds during the gas infusion and took photos.
One shed was a relatively new tunnel design (but typically in a minority throughout the industry) and the other an older style standard shed with metal side blinds.
The tunnel shed required little preparation, the other needed wrapping with heavy black plastic on the inside to make it leak-proof (there were too may steel wires to wrap the outside).
“As far as we know, it’s the first time a shed has been wrapped this way,” Mr Cooper said.
The wrapping process took half a dozen people 90 minutes to complete.
In the preceding weeks, DPI also informed local poultry farmers and the Peats Ridge community that the trial would occur.
The trial was conducted with the logistics of a real operation, with on-site inductions, ID cards and all standard on site procedures.
Animal Health Australia and the poultry industry organised and cosponsored the trial.
Agencies and industry groups from around Australia observed the event – agriculture and emergency management organisations from all states except Western Australia, the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the RSPCA.
NSW Department of Primary Industries staff, supported by Animal Health Australia, NSW Department of Commerce, NSW Rural Fire Service and a small number from the poultry industry planned and performed the field operations.
