METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TASTERING BIRDS

Description

[0001] The presented invention relates to a method and a device for stunning birds according to the attached claims.

[0002] Automated slaughterhouses are well-known for the cost-effective slaughter of large quantities of poultry. In these systems, birds are suspended in a moving device, such as a conveyor belt, which moves continuously through various stations of a slaughtering machine to carry out the respective steps of the slaughtering and processing process. Such slaughterhouses achieve a high throughput of animals per unit of time and exhibit a high degree of automation.

[0003] EP 3 066 931 B1 describes a slaughtering device for small animals, in which a large number of small animals are stunned by applying a stunning voltage. A predetermined stunning voltage is used.

[0004] DE 692 15 690 T2 describes a device for passing electric current through a series of objects with varying electrical resistance, wherein each object closes its own circuit and is supplied with the same electric current.

[0005] WO 97 / 01284 describes a stunning device for poultry. The individual birds are pulled upside down through a water bath and subjected to an electric current, which causes stunning.

[0006] In NL 2 002 318 C2, an apparatus for applying an electric current to a number of birds is described. A water bath and an electrically conductive rod are subjected to a voltage, with the circuit being completed by the bird.

[0007] EP 0 680 260 B1 describes a device for stunning poultry, which determines the optimal stunning parameters for individual birds in an ensemble of birds to be stunned in a water stunning device and achieves these by means of current regulation.

[0008] DE 20 2015 101 312 U1 defines an electronic slaughtering device in which animals to be slaughtered close an electrical circuit between a frame and a vertically movable basin.

[0009] DE 40 02 266 A1 describes a stunning device for pigs, whereby a measurement of the body resistance ensures that the individual stunning current is achieved in all slaughter animals.

[0010] When using a predetermined stunning voltage, situations can arise in which a particular small animal becomes cramped and, as a result, cannot be consumed or ends up as reject.

[0011] Furthermore, a predetermined or non-specific anesthetic voltage, especially in small animals or animals with low electrical resistance, results in an unnecessarily high energy consumption for providing the anesthetic voltage.

[0012] Against this background, one of the tasks of the presented invention is to provide an energy-efficient, reliable and animal-friendly method for stunning a large number of birds.

[0013] Thus, according to a first aspect of the presented invention, a method for stunning a large number of birds according to claim 1 is presented.

[0014] The presented method involves arranging a large number of birds on a moving device, wherein the moving device is configured to move the large number of birds along a predetermined path.

[0015] Furthermore, the presented method comprises moving the multitude of birds into a liquid bath such that each bird of the multitude is simultaneously in the liquid bath, applying a predetermined electrical current to each bird of the multitude by setting a specific stunning voltage on the respective bird, wherein the stunning voltage is set such that the respective bird is stunning with the predetermined electrical current within a predetermined period, and wherein the stunning voltage is continuously adjusted within the predetermined period.

[0016] According to the invention, the method includes validating whether the head of each bird is safely covered with liquid in the liquid bath after moving the plurality of birds into the liquid bath, and releasing the application of the stunning voltage or the target current to the respective bird only if the validation leads to a positive result.

[0017] The validation is designed to yield a positive result if a position sensor detects that a fastening element, to which the respective bird is connected to the movement device, is in a predetermined position relative to the liquid bath.

[0018] The presented method is carried out fully automatically, in particular by means of one possible embodiment of the presented device.

[0019] The presented invention is based on the principle that a large number of birds are stunned simultaneously, with a specific stunning voltage being set for each individual bird in order to regulate a predetermined stunning current, i.e. a target current, so that each individual bird is stunned individually and reliably without convulsing due to excessive voltage.

[0020] The inventive adjustment of the stunning voltage is carried out continuously over a predetermined period, such as one second, so that, for example, starting from a predetermined lower starting voltage, the stunning voltage is successively increased until the predetermined target current is reached. Accordingly, the stunning voltage is used as a control variable for setting the target current at an electrical resistance determined by a particular bird.

[0021] It may be provided that the procedure continues to include documenting the anesthetic voltage applied to each individual bird.

[0022] By documenting the applied anesthetic voltage or the progression of the anesthetic voltage in, for example, a file or the memory of a computing unit, the anesthetizing process of the bird can be traced.

[0023] It may further be provided that the procedure includes applying a measuring voltage to each bird of the multitude of birds and determining a specific electrical resistance of each bird based on the measuring voltage applied to that bird, wherein the specific electrical resistance is continuously determined during a stunning process and used to set the stunning voltage.

[0024] To determine the specific electrical resistance of the respective bird, Ohm's law can be used with a known measuring voltage and known electric current, so that formula (1) applies, where "R spec " corresponds to the specific electrical resistance of the bird, "U measuring" to the given measuring voltage and "I" to a respective current. R spez = U Mess / I

[0025] It may also be provided that the measuring voltage is between 2 volts and 12 volts, in particular 4 volts.

[0026] In experiments, a measuring voltage of 4 volts has proven to be particularly suitable for determining the specific electrical resistance of a bird.

[0027] For example, the position sensor can be an ultrasonic sensor or an induction sensor.

[0028] For example, an induction sensor can be used to detect the position of an inductive element on the movement device, which provides an indication of the position of a particular bird.

[0029] Using an ultrasonic sensor, for example, an echo signal of an ultrasonic signal can be evaluated, so that a distinction can be made between a first state in which the ultrasonic signal has a long transit time due to a missing bird or a second state in which the ultrasonic signal has a short transit time due to a reflecting bird.

[0030] Alternatively, it can be provided that the validation leads to a positive result if a specific electrical resistance of a respective bird, which is determined on the basis of a specified measuring current applied to the respective bird with the specified measuring voltage, is below or above a specified threshold value.

[0031] It may also be provided that an anesthetic current applied to a particular bird is set with an anesthetic frequency that is reduced from a starting value during an anesthetic process.

[0032] Lowering the frequency of the stunning current during the stunning process of a particular bird results in the target current being set quickly, i.e., at a high frequency, so that the bird is quickly stunned and then held for a long time to ensure the stunning effect. Consequently, the period in which the bird can perceive the stunning current is minimized.

[0033] It may also be provided that an electric current is applied to each bird by applying an electric current to the movement device in a contact area with the bird.

[0034] An electrical conductor, such as a metallic contact, can be brought into direct electrical contact with a bird, or it can be brought into electrical contact with the bird via an electrical conductor, such as a metal rail or a liquid. The electrical conductor can be designed to be movable, for example, to control the flow of current through the bird, particularly to limit its duration.

[0035] It may also be provided that the electrical conductor is first brought into electrical contact with the bird and then the bird is moved into the liquid bath.

[0036] It may also be provided that the electrical conductor is brought into contact with the bird while the bird is moved into the liquid bath.

[0037] It may also be provided that the bird is first moved into the liquid bath and then the electrical conductor is brought into electrical contact with the bird.

[0038] The electrical contact between the electrical conductor and the bird can occur before, after, or during the movement of the bird into the liquid bath, ensuring that a current flow through the bird's head is always maintained.

[0039] It may also be provided that the moving device is used to introduce electric current and a respective bird or liquid bath is used to discharge the electric current.

[0040] The use of the movement device for introducing electric current allows the liquid bath to be grounded, so that it can be safely touched by a user.

[0041] Alternatively, it can be provided that the moving device is used to dissipate electric current and a respective bird or liquid bath is used to introduce the electric current.

[0042] Using the motion device to dissipate electrical current allows the motion device to be grounded, so that it can be safely touched by a user.

[0043] The procedure may include the slaughter of the bird within a specified period after the stunning voltage has been applied to the bird.

[0044] To prevent a bird from waking up after being stunned by the stunning voltage, the bird can be slaughtered within a specified period of, for example, 15 seconds, by, for example, placing the bird in a slaughtering device.

[0045] It may also be provided that the respective birds are electrically isolated from each other at the movement device.

[0046] Electrical insulation between different birds ensures that each stunning voltage is applied only to that specific bird. This prevents the stunning current from flowing to another bird.

[0047] It may also be provided that the anesthetic voltage is repeatedly adjusted with a frequency of the anesthetic current.

[0048] By quickly adjusting or regulating the anesthetic voltage with each sine wave of an anesthetic current using alternating current, the specified target current can be reached quickly.

[0049] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a device for stunning a bird with the technical features of independent claim 12.

[0050] The presented device comprises a liquid bath, a motion device configured to move a bird along a predetermined path such that at least one head of the bird is surrounded by liquid in the liquid bath, an electrical contacting device configured to apply a voltage to the bird, and a computing unit configured to execute a possible embodiment of the presented method.

[0051] In the context of the presented invention, a computing unit is to be understood as a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0052] The device may include an electrical contacting device configured to simultaneously apply a specific stunning voltage to each bird of the multitude arranged in the liquid bath, so that each bird of the multitude is subjected to an individual specific stunning voltage and the specific stunning voltage for each bird is documented.

[0053] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a possible embodiment of the presented method, Fig. 2 a possible embodiment of the presented device, Fig. 3 a further representation of the device according to Fig. 2 .

[0054] In Fig. 1A method 100 for stunning a bird is described. The method 100 comprises an arrangement step 101 in which a bird is arranged on a moving device, the moving device being configured to move the bird along a predetermined path; a movement step 103 in which the bird is moved into a liquid bath such that at least one head of the bird is covered with liquid in the liquid bath; and an application step 105 in which a predetermined electrical current is applied to each bird of the plurality of birds by setting a specific stunning voltage on the respective bird, the stunning voltage being set such that the respective bird is stunning with the predetermined electrical current for a predetermined period. The stunning voltage is continuously adjusted during the predetermined period.

[0055] Optionally, procedure 100 includes a documentation step 107, in which an anesthetic voltage applied to a particular bird is documented.

[0056] Optionally, the procedure 100 further comprises a measurement step 109, in which a measuring voltage is applied to each individual bird from among the multitude of birds, and a determination step 111, in which the specific electrical resistance of each bird is determined based on the measuring voltage applied to that bird. The specific electrical resistance is continuously determined during a stunning process and used to set the stunning voltage.

[0057] In Fig. 2A device 200 for stunning a bird is shown. The device 200 comprises a liquid bath 201, a movement device 203 configured to move a plurality of birds along a predetermined path such that the head of each bird is surrounded by liquid in the liquid bath 201, an electrical contacting device 205 configured to apply a voltage to each bird, and a control device 207 configured to execute the method 100 according to Fig. 1 to execute.

[0058] In the present case, the electrical contacting device 205 comprises a plurality of busbars 209, which are arranged in Figure 3The stunning modules 1' to 6' are shown in detail, each configured to apply a specific stunning voltage to a particular bird. For example, stunning modules 1' to 6' can be designed as voltage sources that supply a specific stunning voltage, determined by the processing unit 207, to a respective power rail leading to a particular bird keeper 1 to 6.

[0059] Accordingly, the processing unit 207 controls and regulates the stunning modules 1' to 6' to stunning birds arranged on bird holders 1 to 6 with a predetermined target current or stunning current within a predetermined period. A stunning voltage profile determined by the processing unit or provided by a respective stunning module 1' to 6' can be stored or documented by the processing unit 207, for example, in a memory.

[0060] Furthermore, the movement device 203 is designed as a carousel, so that birds can be continuously arranged on free bird holders and the stunning modules 1' to 6' energize the bird holders 1 to 6 accordingly when they are in their predetermined position.

[0061] In Fig. 3 The movement device 203 is shown in detail. The busbars 209 and insulators 211 for electrically isolating the respective birds 213 from each other can be seen here.

[0062] After stunning by device 200, the birds 213 are fed to a slaughtering device on the slaughtering conveyor belt 215.

[0063] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

[0064] Thus, a device 200 (not shown in detail) can have a movement device 203 which directs the birds 213 to be stunned to three separate tracks, each track having its own independent control device 207. Each track is also assigned a sensor and a trigger, so that three animals can be stunned individually at the same time.

[0065] Each track consists of two parallel metal rails into which a hook, each with a contact element, runs. The sensor detects whether a bird 213 is attached to a hook of the movement device 203.

[0066] The positive terminal (ground) is connected to the liquid bath 201, which is conveniently designed as a water basin. The negative terminal is connected to the metal rails.

[0067] The contact element on the hook acts as a "switch", with the contact element engaging the trigger of the respective control device 207. The animal species (chicken, duck, turkey, etc.) is preselected in the control device 207.

[0068] When the device 200 starts moving and birds are suspended from the hooks, the respective hook, with its contact element, moves between the metal rails of an assigned track, thus establishing contact. Simultaneously, the bird's head dips into the water.

[0069] The electrical contact is activated. The animal's actual resistance is individually measured using low voltage (preferably 4 V).

[0070] The hook then passes one of the (unspecified) sensors, which activate the corresponding control device 207. This device then executes the stunning process, now adapted to the specific animal, by applying a high voltage. Based on the measured actual resistance of the bird 213, the required current, frequency, and frequency profile of the high voltage are set. During the stunning process, the current is regulated to a setpoint (overvoltage), and the beginning and end of the frequency profile are defined. In this way, every bird is always stunned safely and reliably.

[0071] The electrical values ​​are detected and recorded by the control device 207 or an external device to verify a proper stunning process.

[0072] If no bird is caught in the hook in 2013, the resistance during the resistance measurement is infinitely high and the sensor does not trigger a stunning process.

[0073] The outlined setup allows three birds to be stunned simultaneously, with the stunning process preferably being triggered individually for each animal, e.g., at intervals of 1 to 2 seconds. However, the number of tracks can be adjusted as needed, e.g., to 6 to 9 or even more, depending on the available space.

[0074] An important aspect of the invention is therefore the individual measurement of the actual electrical resistance of each bird, which is stunned individually and in an animal-friendly manner.

[0075] Another important aspect of the invention is the multi-lane design of the device, which enables a high throughput. Reference symbol list

[0076] 1 to 6 Bird holder 1' to 6' Stunning module 100 Procedure 101 Arrangement step 103 Movement step 105 Application step 107 Documentation step 109 Measuring step 111 Determination step 200 Device 201 Liquid bath 203 Movement device 205 Contacting device 207 Control device 209 Busbar 211 Insulator 213 Bird 215 Slaughter belt

Claims

1. Method (100) for stunning a plurality of birds (213), the method (100) comprising: ▪ Positioning (101) a plurality of birds (213) on a movement device (203), wherein the movement device (203) is configured to transport the plurality of birds (213) along a predetermined path of movement, ▪ Transporting (103) the plurality of birds into a liquid bath (201) such that the plurality of birds (213) are in the liquid bath at the same time, ▪ applying (105) a predetermined electrical target current to a respective bird (213) of the plurality of birds (213), by adjusting a specific stunning voltage to the respective bird (213), wherein the stunning voltage is adjusted such that the respective bird (213) is stunned with the predetermined electrical target current during a predetermined period of time, and ▪ wherein the stunning voltage is continuously adjusted during the predetermined period of time, characterized in that the method (100) further comprises: ▪ validating whether the head of a respective bird (213) is securely covered with liquid located in the liquid bath (201) after transporting the plurality of birds (213) into the liquid bath (201) ▪ releasing the application of the stunning voltage to the respective bird (213) only if the validation yields a positive result, ▪ the validation results in a positive outcome when a position sensor detects that a fastening element connecting the respective bird (213) to the movement device (203) is in a predetermined position relative to the liquid bath (201).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the method (100) further comprises: ▪ documenting (107) a stunning voltage applied to a respective bird (213).

3. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the method (100) further comprises: ▪ applying (109) a measurement voltage to a respective bird (213) of the plurality of birds (213), ▪ determining (111) a specific electrical resistance of the respective bird (213) on the basis of the measurement voltage applied to the respective bird (213), wherein the specific electrical resistance is continuously determined during a stunning process and used to adjust the stunning voltage.

4. Method (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the measurement voltage is between 2 volts and 12 volts, in particular 4 volts.

5. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the validation results in a positive outcome if a specific electrical resistance of a respective bird (213), which is determined on the basis of a predetermined measurement current applied to the respective bird (213) with the predetermined measurement voltage, is below or above a predetermined threshold level.

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stunning current applied to a respective bird (213) is adjusted to a stunning frequency which is reduced during a stunning process on the basis of a start value.

7. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electric current is applied to a respective bird (213) by applying electric current to the movement device (203) in a contact area with the bird (213).

8. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electric current is first applied to a respective bird (213) and the respective bird (213) is then transported into the liquid bath (201) with the electric current applied.

9. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that while a respective bird (213) is transported into the liquid bath (201), an electric current is applied to the respective bird (213).

10. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a respective bird (213) is first transported into the liquid bath (201) and then an electric current is applied to the respective bird (213).

11. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement device (203) for introducing electric current and a respective bird (213) or the liquid bath (201) are used to discharge the electric current or that the movement device (203) for discharging electric current and a respective bird (213) or the liquid bath (201) are used to introduce the electric current.

12. Device (200) for stunning a plurality of birds, the device (200) comprising: ▪ a liquid bath (201), ▪ a movement device (203) configured to transport a plurality of birds (213) on a predetermined path of movement such that the head of a respective bird (213) of the plurality of birds (213) is surrounded by a liquid located in the liquid bath (201), ▪ an electrical contacting device (205) configured to apply an electric current to a respective bird (213), ▪ a computing unit (207) configured to execute a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Device (200) according to claim 12, characterized in that the device comprises an electrical contacting device (205) configured to simultaneously apply a specific stunning voltage intended for a respective bird (213) to respective birds (213) of the plurality of birds positioned in the liquid bath (201) so that an individual specific stunning voltage is applied to each individual bird (213) of the plurality of birds (213), and to document the specific stunning voltage for each individual bird.