Waste chicken disposal method

Abstract

Provided is a waste chicken disposal method capable of safely and appropriately treating chickens (chickens in a rigor mortis state) to be discarded as a result of culling or the like.　The waste chicken disposal method includes: a first arrangement step for arranging a superabsorbent polymer 2 on the bottom of a treatment vessel 1; and a loading step for loading waste chickens 3 into the treatment vessel 1. The disposal method includes a second arrangement step for further arranging the superabsorbent polymer 2 on the waste chickens 3 in the treatment vessel 1.

Description

How to dispose of discarded chickens

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for disposing of chickens that are to be disposed of by culling or the like.

[0002] When highly pathogenic avian influenza (hereafter simply referred to as "avian influenza") breaks out, prefectural governors issue orders to cull chickens at poultry farms. The culled chickens are sterilized with lime, packed into flexible container bags, and buried in the ground.

[0003] When chickens are slaughtered, rigor mortis sets in. Packing these rigor mortis-stricken chickens into flexible container bags poses the problem of the rigor mortis-stricken chicken carcasses tearing through the bags. While the potential problem of flexible container bag damage (not limited to damage caused by rigor mortis-stricken chickens) has been recognized, no specific countermeasures have been implemented. However, if a flexible container bag containing chicken carcasses breaks, there is a possibility that the chicken's body fluids will leak from the damaged area. In particular, the risk of body fluid leakage from the damaged area increases when flexible container bags are stacked two-tiered for transport, which places pressure on the bags. Furthermore, because chicken body fluids are infectious organic waste, there is concern that leakage of chicken body fluids into the external environment could lead to secondary contamination.

[0004] Known methods for treating liquid infectious organic waste such as body fluids include adjusting the moisture content by mixing sawdust or the like with the target to be treated, as described in Patent Document 1. The infectious organic waste treatment method of Patent Document 1 involves adjusting the moisture content of infectious organic waste mixed with sawdust or the like to 30-60%, mixing microorganisms with this to cause fermentation, and sterilizing the infectious organic waste with the heat of fermentation.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-153843

[0006] However, the infectious organic waste treatment method of Patent Document 1 is intended for treating blood generated in medical settings (donated blood that cannot be used for medical reasons) and medical waste contaminated with blood, and is not intended for use in non-medical settings such as poultry farms. Furthermore, because the components of body fluids exuded from chickens slaughtered at poultry farms are different from those of human blood, it is unclear whether they can be treated using the infectious organic waste treatment method of Patent Document 1. Even if the sawdust used in the infectious organic waste treatment method of Patent Document 1 were packed into a flexible container bag together with chicken carcasses, sawdust, while absorbent, has poor water retention, and so even if it were able to absorb the chicken's body fluids, it is expected that they would easily release them when pressure is applied.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a method for disposing of discarded chickens that can safely and appropriately dispose of chickens that have been disposed of due to slaughter or the like (chickens that have become rigor mortis).

[0008] The method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is characterized by comprising a first arranging step of arranging a highly water-absorbent polymer at the bottom of a treatment container, and a charging step of charging discarded chickens into the treatment container.

[0009] According to the present method for processing discarded chickens, a superabsorbent polymer is placed at the bottom of the processing container. Therefore, if body fluids leak from discarded chickens after they are placed in the processing container, the superabsorbent polymer placed at the bottom of the processing container can absorb the body fluids. Even if the processing container is ruptured due to rigor mortis of the chickens, the superabsorbent polymer can retain the absorbed body fluids of the chickens, preventing leakage of the body fluids outside the processing container. Furthermore, because the superabsorbent polymer has excellent water retention properties, there is no risk of body fluids leaking outside the processing container, even when pressure is applied, such as when two processing containers are stacked and transported.

[0010] The method for treating cull chickens according to the present invention preferably includes a second arranging step of further arranging a highly water-absorbent polymer on the cull chickens in the treatment container.

[0011] According to the method for treating cull chickens of this configuration, the superabsorbent polymer is placed at both the bottom and the top of the treatment container, so that the cull chickens are sandwiched between the superabsorbent polymers from above and below inside the treatment container. Therefore, the body fluids exuding from the cull chickens are reliably absorbed and retained by the superabsorbent polymers located above and below, and leakage of the body fluids outside the treatment container can be reliably prevented.

[0012] Another characteristic feature of the method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is that it includes a first arranging step of arranging a superabsorbent polymer at the bottom of a treatment container, and a simultaneous introducing step of simultaneously introducing the discarded chickens and the superabsorbent polymer into the treatment container.

[0013] According to the method for treating cull chickens of this configuration, a superabsorbent polymer is placed at the bottom of the treatment container, and when the cull chickens are placed into the treatment container, the cull chickens are placed at the same time as the superabsorbent polymer, so that the superabsorbent polymer adheres evenly to the cull chickens, and if body fluids ooze out from the cull chickens, the body fluids can be reliably absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer attached to the cull chickens and the superabsorbent polymer placed at the bottom of the treatment container. Furthermore, even if the treatment container should break due to rigor mortis of the chickens, the superabsorbent polymer can retain the absorbed chicken body fluids, preventing leakage of the body fluids outside the treatment container.

[0014] The method for treating cull chickens according to the present invention preferably includes a second arranging step of further arranging a highly water-absorbent polymer on the cull chickens in the treatment container.

[0015] According to the method for treating cull chickens of this configuration, the superabsorbent polymer is placed at two locations, the bottom and the top of the treatment container, so that the superabsorbent polymer adheres sufficiently to the cull chickens in the treatment container, and the cull chickens are sandwiched between the superabsorbent polymers from above and below. Therefore, the body fluids exuding from the cull chickens are more reliably absorbed and retained by the superabsorbent polymers attached to the cull chickens and the superabsorbent polymers located above and below, and leakage of the body fluids to the outside of the treatment container can be reliably prevented.

[0016] In the method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention, it is preferable that the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in each placing step is set so that the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the first placing step is greater than the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the second placing step.

[0017] According to the method for treating discarded chickens of this configuration, the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the first arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer placed at the bottom) is greater than the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the second arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer placed at the top). Therefore, even if a large amount of body fluids oozes out from the discarded chickens, the body fluids can be reliably absorbed and retained at the bottom of the treatment container.

[0018] In the method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention, the total amount of the superabsorbent polymer used is preferably 2% by weight or more based on the total weight of the discarded chickens.

[0019] According to the present method for treating discarded chickens, by using a total amount of highly absorbent polymer of 2% by weight or more of the total weight of discarded chickens, it is possible to reliably absorb and retain body fluids exuded from discarded chickens.

[0020] In the method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention, the water absorption capacity of the superabsorbent polymer is preferably 100 to 1000 times its own weight when absorbing pure water.

[0021] According to the method for treating cull chickens of this configuration, the water absorption capacity of the superabsorbent polymer is 100 to 1000 times its own weight when absorbing pure water, so that the superabsorbent polymer can reliably absorb body fluids exuded from cull chickens, and even if external moisture enters the treatment container, the polymer does not swell excessively due to absorption of the moisture, thereby preventing damage to the treatment container and making it easy to handle.

[0022] In the method for treating discarded chickens according to the present invention, the discarded chickens are preferably those that have been culled due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

[0023] The method for processing discarded chickens of this configuration can effectively address the problem of body fluids leaking from processing containers, particularly when chickens culled due to an outbreak of avian influenza damage the processing container due to rigor mortis.

[0024] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a method for treating discarded chickens according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The following describes embodiments of the method for treating discarded chickens of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0026] The present inventors have investigated various methods for treating chicken body fluids, and have noted that superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), which are used to treat muddy water in civil engineering works, can absorb water of various properties. They suspected that such superabsorbent polymers might be capable of absorbing and retaining chicken body fluids. As will be described in detail in the Examples below, they actually conducted absorption and retention tests (leakage tests) of simulated body fluids simulating chicken body fluids using superabsorbent polymers, and confirmed that superabsorbent polymers have the ability to absorb and retain chicken body fluids. The present inventors have discovered that chickens can be safely and appropriately treated by utilizing the properties of these superabsorbent polymers, and have thus completed the present invention. Specifically, the method for treating discarded chickens of the present invention involves treating chickens that are to be discarded with a superabsorbent polymer, and is particularly intended for the disposal of chickens that have been culled due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

[0027] <Superabsorbent polymer> Examples of the superabsorbent polymer used in the present invention include polyacrylic acid polymers, polymethacrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl acetate polymers, polyvinyl alcohol polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose polymers, etc. Among these, a preferred superabsorbent polymer is sodium polyacrylate, which is a typical polyacrylic acid polymer.

[0028] The water absorption capacity of the superabsorbent polymer is preferably 100 to 1,000 times, and more preferably 200 to 600 times, its own weight when absorbing pure water. If the water absorption capacity of the superabsorbent polymer is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the above range, it can reliably absorb body fluids exuded from cull chickens. Furthermore, if the water absorption capacity of the superabsorbent polymer is equal to or less than the upper limit of the above range, for example, when a flexible container bag filled with cull chickens and the superabsorbent polymer is buried in the ground, even if external moisture such as rainwater penetrates into the flexible container bag, the superabsorbent polymer will not swell excessively due to water absorption, thereby preventing damage to the flexible container bag and making it easier to handle.

[0029] The molecular weight of the highly absorbent polymer is 3.0 × 10 as a weight average molecular weight (Mw). ４ ~1.0 x 10 ６ When the molecular weight of the superabsorbent polymer is within the above range, the superabsorbent polymer can reliably absorb the body fluid exuded from the culled chickens without excessive swelling due to the absorption, making it easy to handle. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the superabsorbent polymer can be determined in terms of polystyrene by measurement using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

[0030] The total amount of the superabsorbent polymer used is preferably 2% by weight or more, more preferably 3% by weight or more, based on the total weight of the cull chickens. If the total amount of the superabsorbent polymer used is 2% by weight or more, based on the total weight of the cull chickens, the body fluids exuded from the cull chickens can be reliably absorbed and retained.

[0031] <Method for Disposing of Discarded Chickens> The basic principle of the method for disposing of discarded chickens of the present invention is that a highly absorbent polymer that has been brought into contact with discarded chickens in a processing container absorbs and retains body fluids exuded from the discarded chickens. A typical processing container is a flexible container bag (hereinafter abbreviated as "flexible container bag"). A typical cylindrical flexible container bag has a diameter of 1100 mm, a height of 1100 mm, and a capacity of 1000 L.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the method for treating discarded chickens of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the method for treating discarded chickens according to each embodiment.

[0033] 1(a) is an explanatory diagram of a method for treating cull chickens according to a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, first, a superabsorbent polymer 2 is placed in the bottom (lower part) of a flexible container bag 1, which is a treatment container (first placing step). The first placing step is performed by pouring the superabsorbent polymer 2 into the flexible container bag 1. Next, cull chickens 3 are poured into the flexible container bag 1 (putting step). The putting step is performed until the cull chickens 3 reach 50 to 90% of the capacity of the flexible container bag 2, and the putting of the cull chickens 3 may be performed all at once or in several steps.

[0034] According to the first embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer 2 is disposed at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1, and therefore, if body fluids seep out from the discarded chickens 3 after the throwing step of throwing discarded chickens 3 into the flexible container bag 1 is carried out, the superabsorbent polymer 2 disposed at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1 can absorb the body fluids. Even if the flexible container bag 1 is ruptured due to rigor mortis of the chickens, the superabsorbent polymer 2 can retain the absorbed chicken body fluids as they are, and therefore, leakage of the body fluids to the outside of the flexible container bag 1 can be prevented. Furthermore, because the superabsorbent polymer 2 has excellent water retention properties, there is no risk of body fluids leaking out of the flexible container bag 1 even when pressure is applied, such as when the flexible container bags 1 are transported in two layers.

[0035] 1(b) is an explanatory diagram of a method for treating cull chickens according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, in addition to the first placing step and the charging step described in the first embodiment, a superabsorbent polymer 2 is further placed on (the upper part of) the cull chickens in the flexible container bag 1 (a second placing step). The second placing step is preferably performed by evenly scattering the superabsorbent polymer 2 on the cull chickens 3.

[0036] According to the second embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer 2 is disposed at two locations, the bottom and the top of the flexible container bag 1, so that the cull chickens 3 are sandwiched from above and below by the superabsorbent polymer 2 within the flexible container bag 1. Therefore, the body fluids exuding from the cull chickens 3 are reliably absorbed and held by the superabsorbent polymers 2 positioned above and below, and leakage of the body fluids to the outside of the flexible container bag 1 can be reliably prevented.

[0037] In the second embodiment, it is preferable to set the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in each arrangement step so that the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in the first arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 placed at the bottom) is greater than the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in the second arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 placed at the top). By setting the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in this way, even if a large amount of body fluid oozes from the discarded chickens 3, the body fluid can be reliably absorbed and retained at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1.

[0038] Third Embodiment Figure 1(c) is an explanatory diagram of a method for treating cull chickens according to a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, first, a superabsorbent polymer 2 is placed at the bottom (lower part) of the flexible container bag 1 (first placing step). The first placing step is performed by pouring the superabsorbent polymer 2 into the flexible container bag 1. Next, the cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymer 2 are simultaneously poured into the flexible container bag 1 (simultaneous pouring step). Here, "concurrently" pouring does not necessarily mean pouring the cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymer 2 into the flexible container bag 1 at exactly the same time. For example, the cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymer 2 may be poured alternately into the flexible container bag 1, or the cull chickens 3 are coated with the superabsorbent polymer 2 before being poured into the flexible container bag 1. This can also be considered simultaneous pouring as long as the cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymer 2 are poured into the flexible container bag 1 throughout the simultaneous pouring step. The simultaneous charging step is carried out until the discarded chickens 3 reach 50 to 90% of the capacity of the flexible container bag 1, and the charging of the discarded chickens 3 may be carried out all at once or in several batches.

[0039] According to the third embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer 2 is placed at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1, and further, when the cull chickens 3 are placed into the flexible container bag 1, the cull chickens 3 are placed at the same time as the superabsorbent polymer 2, so that the superabsorbent polymer 2 adheres evenly to the entire surface of the cull chickens 3, and if body fluids seep out from the cull chickens 3, the body fluids can be reliably absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer 2 attached to the cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymer 2 placed at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1. Furthermore, even if the flexible container bag 1 should rupture due to rigor mortis of the chickens, the superabsorbent polymer 2 can retain the absorbed chicken body fluids, preventing leakage of the body fluids to the outside of the flexible container bag 1.

[0040] 1(d) is an explanatory diagram of a method for treating cull chickens according to a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, in addition to the first placing step and simultaneous charging step described in the third embodiment, a superabsorbent polymer 2 is further placed on (the upper part of) the cull chickens 3 in the flexible container bag 1 (a second placing step). The second placing step is preferably performed by evenly scattering the superabsorbent polymer 2 on the cull chickens 3.

[0041] According to the fourth embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer 2 is disposed in two locations, at the bottom and top of the flexible container bag 1, so that the superabsorbent polymer 2 is sufficiently attached to the cull chickens 3 in the flexible container bag 1, and the cull chickens 3 are sandwiched from above and below by the superabsorbent polymer 2. Therefore, the body fluids exuding from the cull chickens 3 are more reliably absorbed and held by the superabsorbent polymer 2 attached to the entire cull chickens 3 and the superabsorbent polymers 2 positioned above and below, and leakage of the body fluids to the outside of the flexible container bag 1 can be reliably prevented.

[0042] In the fourth embodiment, it is preferable to set the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in each arrangement step so that the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in the first arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 placed at the bottom) is greater than the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in the second arrangement step (i.e., the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 placed at the top). By setting the amount of superabsorbent polymer 2 used in this manner, even if a large amount of body fluid oozes from the discarded chickens 3, the body fluid can be reliably absorbed and retained at the bottom of the flexible container bag 1.

[0043] In order to confirm the effectiveness of the method for treating discarded chickens of the present invention, a chicken body fluid absorption confirmation test and a chicken body fluid leakage prevention confirmation test were carried out. Each test is described below.

[0044] [Chicken Body Fluid Absorption Confirmation Test] This test was conducted to confirm the extent to which the superabsorbent polymer used in the discarded chicken disposal method of the present invention can absorb chicken body fluids. However, obtaining body fluids from discarded chickens is difficult and poses safety and hygiene problems. On the other hand, killing live chickens to collect body fluids may be ethically problematic from the perspective of animal welfare. Therefore, as a last resort, the inventors decided to prepare simulated chicken body fluids and use them in the test.

[0045] <Preparation of simulated body fluid> The moisture content of chicken is estimated to be 65-75% by weight, in line with that of common birds. Furthermore, the amount of blood in chickens is estimated to be 10% by weight of body weight, equivalent to that of terrestrial mammals. Based on these estimates, the weight of chicken body fluids was assumed to be a maximum of 70% by weight of the chicken's body weight. The composition of chicken body fluids was assumed to be 15% by weight of blood and 85% by weight of other body components. The simulated chicken body fluid was prepared as follows: (1) Physiological saline was prepared as the component equivalent to blood (salt concentration: 0.9% by weight). (2) Edible chicken liver was placed in a food processor as the component equivalent to the components other than blood and pulverized for 1 minute to form a paste. (3) Physiological saline and chicken liver paste were mixed in a weight ratio of 15:85 to form the simulated blood.

[0046] <Simulated Body Fluid Absorption Test> A highly absorbent polymer (trade name "SAP High Spec", manufactured by Technica Godo Co., Ltd.) containing polyacrylic acid polymer as an absorbent was added to the simulated body fluid at 1 wt%, 2 wt%, and 3 wt%. The presence or absence of absorption of the simulated body fluid was determined based on the fluidity of the simulated body fluid when unstirred and when stirred. In other words, the simulated body fluid was determined to have been absorbed when the simulated body fluid lost its fluidity. For comparison, commercially available sawdust (trade name "Mini Animan Comfortable Fluffy Bed", manufactured by Doggyman Hayashi Co., Ltd.) was added to the simulated body fluid at 1 wt%, 2 wt%, and 3 wt%, and the presence or absence of absorption of the simulated body fluid was determined in the same manner as in the Examples.

[0047] The results of the simulated body fluid absorption test are shown in Table 1 below.

[0048]

[0049] When a superabsorbent polymer was used as the absorbent, fluidity of the simulated body fluid was confirmed when the amount of superabsorbent polymer added to the simulated body fluid was 1% by weight, both when unstirred and when stirred, but no fluidity was confirmed when the amount of superabsorbent polymer added was 2% by weight or 3% by weight. When sawdust was used as the absorbent, fluidity of the simulated body fluid was confirmed when the amount of sawdust added to the simulated body fluid was 1% by weight, both when unstirred and when stirred, but no fluidity was confirmed when the amount of sawdust added was 2% by weight or 3% by weight. These results indicate that the superabsorbent polymer exhibited absorbency for simulated body fluids equal to or greater than that of sawdust, which is known to have excellent absorbency. It was also found that the amount of superabsorbent polymer added to the simulated body fluid should preferably be 2% by weight or more.

[0050] [Chicken Body Fluid Leakage Prevention Confirmation Test] This test was conducted assuming that cull chickens were housed in a flexible container bag, which was a processing container, and was conducted to confirm whether the cull chicken processing method of the present invention could prevent leakage of body fluids exuding from cull chickens when the flexible container bag was ruptured by a chicken that had gone into rigor mortis. In this test, due to the difficulty in obtaining cull chickens and their body fluids, as well as ethical issues, a simulated model simulating a chicken that had gone into rigor mortis was used in addition to the simulated body fluid used in the chicken body fluid absorption confirmation test described above.

[0051] <Preparation of the Artificial Model> A chicken's body has internal organs inside the skeleton, muscles outside the skeleton, and feathers covering the surface. Chicken body fluids are primarily contained in the internal organs and muscles. Therefore, unlike a water-soaked sponge, chicken body fluids are not easily released by pressure from one direction. Furthermore, once a chicken's body fluids seep out of the chicken's body, they are retained to some extent by the feathers on the surface. The inventors searched for a structure similar to the chicken's body and discovered that a paint roller can effectively replicate the chicken's body. A paint roller has bristles arranged radially on its cylindrical surface. The roller has a moderate rigidity similar to that of a chicken in rigor mortis. Furthermore, when the paint roller is immersed in water, the bristles on the roller's surface retain moisture. Furthermore, the moisture retained in the bristles on the roller's surface is not completely released by pressure from one direction. In this way, the painting roller is suitable as a model that simulates the state of rigor mortis of a discarded chicken and the state of chicken body fluids oozing out.

[0052] <Leakage test of simulated body fluids> When a typical flexible container bag is filled to the brim with discarded chicken, its weight is approximately 1,000 kg. When two flexible container bags are stacked, a load of approximately 2,000 kg is applied to the entire bottom of the lower flexible container bag. This is 0.19 kg / cm ２This corresponds to a pressure of 1000 kJ / cm. Therefore, assuming these actual conditions, a simulated body fluid leakage test was conducted using the following procedure. (1) A commercially available painting roller (product name "Melon (registered trademark)", size 4 inches (approximately 100 mm), bristle length 20 mm, weight approximately 20 g, manufactured by PIA Corporation) was used to absorb 45 g of simulated body fluid to prepare a simulated cull chicken model (simulated body fluid content: approximately 70 wt%). (2) Four simulated cull chicken models were placed in each of two perforated polyethylene draining garbage bags (250 x 175 x 120 mm, thickness 0.036 mm, manufactured by Konan Shoji Co., Ltd.) (total of eight bags, simulated body fluid weight: 360 g), and absorbent (superabsorbent polymer, sawdust) was added. The absorbent was placed in the designated positions (bottom of the bag, top and bottom of the bag, and the entire bag). The amount of absorbent added was 2 wt% of the weight of the simulated cull chicken model. (3) Place the two draining garbage bags (2) into the sandbag. (4) Place absorbent paper on a flat surface, and then place a sandbag with a base area of ​​78.5 cm on top of it. ２ The tube was placed in place, the sandbag (3) was placed inside the tube, and a 15.1 kg weight was placed (pressure: 0.19 kg / cm ２ (5) After 30 seconds, the weight is removed and the weight (leakage amount) of the simulated body fluid absorbed by the absorbent paper is measured. The percentage of the amount of simulated body fluid that leaked out relative to the weight of simulated body fluid (360 g) contained in the simulated discarded chicken model is taken as the leakage rate (%). In addition, as a control, the leakage rate (%) of the simulated body fluid is determined in the same manner for a test specimen to which no absorbent was added.

[0053] The results of the simulated body fluid leakage test are shown in Table 2 below.

[0054]

[0055] The control (Test No. 6) with no absorbent added had a simulated body fluid leakage rate of 39.7%, while Tests Nos. 1 to 3, in which a superabsorbent polymer was added as an absorbent, had low leakage rates. In particular, when the absorbent was placed in the lower part of the bag (Test No. 1) and the entire bag (Test No. 3), leakage of the simulated body fluid was completely suppressed (leakage rate of 0%). As such, because superabsorbent polymers are excellent in both absorbing and retaining simulated body fluids, they can be said to be suitable for use in chicken waste disposal.

[0056] In contrast, in Tests Nos. 4 and 5, in which sawdust was added as an absorbent, leakage of simulated body fluid was observed, and the effect was not as good as that of the superabsorbent polymer. In other words, although sawdust has the ability to absorb simulated body fluid, it was unable to retain the absorbed simulated body fluid when subjected to pressure and instead released it. From these results, it can be said that it is difficult to use sawdust in chicken waste disposal.

[0057] From the above results of the simulated body fluid absorption test and the simulated body fluid leakage test, it was confirmed that if the method for disposing of discarded chickens of the present invention is carried out, even if the flexible container bag is ruptured by rigor mortis of the chicken, it is possible to prevent leakage of body fluids outside the flexible container bag, and that even if pressure is applied, such as when the flexible container bags are stacked two high for transportation, there is no risk of body fluids leaking outside the flexible container bag.

[0058] The method for disposing of discarded chickens of the present invention is used to dispose of chickens that have been culled due to an outbreak of avian influenza, but it can also be used to dispose of chickens that have been culled for other reasons.

[0059] 1. Flexible container bag (processing container) 2. Highly absorbent polymer 3. Discarded chicken

Claims

1. A method for treating cull chickens, comprising: a first placing step of placing a highly water-absorbent polymer at the bottom of a treatment container; and a charging step of charging cull chickens into the treatment container.

2. The method for treating discarded chickens according to claim 1, further comprising a second placing step of placing a highly water-absorbent polymer on top of the discarded chickens in the treatment container.

3. A method for treating cull chickens, comprising: a first placing step of placing a superabsorbent polymer at the bottom of a treatment container; and a simultaneous introduction step of simultaneously introducing cull chickens and the superabsorbent polymer into the treatment container.

4. The method for treating discarded chickens according to claim 3, further comprising a second placing step of placing a highly water-absorbent polymer on top of the discarded chickens in the treatment container.

5. A method for treating discarded chickens as described in claim 2 or 4, wherein the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in each placement step is set so that the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the first placement step is greater than the amount of superabsorbent polymer used in the second placement step.

6. A method for treating discarded chickens described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the total amount of the highly absorbent polymer used is 2% by weight or more of the total weight of the discarded chickens.

7. A method for treating discarded chickens according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the water absorption capacity of the highly absorbent polymer is 100 to 1,000 times its own weight when absorbing pure water.

8. A method for treating discarded chickens according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the discarded chickens are those that have been culled due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

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