BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a killing apparatus, particularly used for killing livestock for disease control purposes at the site of the infection, and to a method for killing livestock.

[0002] Such a killing apparatus is for instance employed when diseased livestock needs to be killed safely and hyg ien ically directly at the site in order to contain spread of a disease.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0003] Spread of highly contagious and fatal livestock viruses, such as African swine fever flu, avian flu, swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, needs to be contained in order to avoid wide-spread mass infections. Therefore, when infected livestock are identified, it is advantageous to kill such livestock as fast as possible and as hygienic as possible to contain spread of the disease.

[0004] One conventional way of killing diseased livestock is to perform the killing directly at site with any suitable equipment present at the site. This means that often the diseased livestock are killed by shooting the livestock. Such killing is not safe or hygienic enough when dealing with such highly contagious and fatal livestock viruses. The problem with above is that blood / blood splatters may spread the disease and are difficult to clean up without the blood entering the environment. Especially in case of African swine fever, the infectious pathogens survive for a long period of time in the exposed blood. Additionally, in conventional direct killing methods, the person in charge of the killing is often exposed to stress and mental trauma caused by the killing process.

[0005] Another conventional way of killing diseased livestock is to collect the diseased livestock from the infection site, and to transport them to a designated killing site where the diseased livestock are killed. However, transportation of the diseased livestock poses a serious risk of spreading the disease on the entire route between the infection site and the designated killing site.

[0006] Therefore, there is a clear need for a solution for safe and hygienic killing of the diseased livestock directly at the site of infection. [0007] Respectively, the known methods for killing diseased livestock are limited in aspects detailed above, and as implied in elsewhere in the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a killing apparatus which is better suited for livestock disease control, and to provide an improved method for killing livestock. These and other objects are achieved with a killing apparatus according to independent claim 1 and with a method for killing livestock according to independent claim 13.

[0009] When the killing apparatus comprises the features according to the independent claim 1 , the killing apparatus is suitable for fast and hygienic killing of diseased livestock at site, thus facilitating disease control.

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0011] Further advantages and details of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] In the following the present invention will be described in closer detail by way of example and with reference to the attached drawings, in which [0013] figures 1 to 4 illustrate elevated perspective views of an embodiment according to the invention at different stages during its operation,

[0014] figures 5 and 6 illustrate a container of the embodiment of figures 1 to 4 separately, and

[0015] figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERABLE EMBODIMENT

[0016] The killing apparatus described in the following description is strictly meant only for killing animals in a safe manner.

[0017] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a killing apparatus 1 with a movable housing. The housing comprises a platform 2 for receiving livestock and a gas chamber 4 for killing the livestock, the gas chamber 4 being arranged below the platform 2. Positioning the gas chamber 4 below the platform 2 is advantageous as it allows the livestock to be moved in a linear fashion to and from the gas chamber 4. The housing further comprises at least one container 3 for containing the livestock, dimensioned to be received at least at two alternate locations of the killing apparatus 1 , said locations including the platform 2 and the gas chamber 4. This allows the livestock to be contained in a safe and hygienic manner when moving the livestock to and from the gas chamber 4. Further, the housing comprises at least one actuator 5 for moving the at least one container 3 between said alternate locations.

[0018] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, as illustrated in figure 2, the killing apparatus 1 comprises at least one aperture 6 interconnecting the platform 2 and the gas chamber 4, and through which the at least one container 3 is movable between the alternate locations. This allows the container to be directly moved from the platform 2 to the gas chamber 4 and vice versa. Preferably, the at least one aperture 6 is dimensioned to correspond with the dimensions of the respective at least one container 3. This minimizes gaps on the platform 2 between the edges of the container 3 and the aperture 6, thus creating a comfortable walking path for the livestock.

[0019] Preferably, the gas used in the gas chamber 4 is carbon dioxide (CO2). Alternatively, any other suitable gas having a higher density than air may be used. A suitable gas is denser than air and different from air to such a high degree, that, when it is inhaled, at least after a certain amount of time, loss of consciousness and death occurs. Such a gas is preferably a gas with a low oxygen content, in particular substantially oxygen free gas. The gas having a higher density than air allows the gas to be contained in the gas chamber 4 even though the aperture 6 is open during parts of the killing operation. This also makes it advantageous to position the gas chamber 4 below the platform 2.

[0020] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the gas chamber 4 is an internally open space. However, alternatively the gas chamber 4 may be divided into separate spaces with dividers, such that effectively each container 3 has an individual gas chamber. Further, the gas chamber 4 may comprise at least one gas nozzle for each container. This allows the gas to be evenly distributed in the gas chamber 4 and to ensure that the gas levels inside the chamber are at a desired level. Additionally, the gas chamber 4 preferably comprises at least one sensor for measuring the gas concentration in the gas chamber 4.

[0021] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the gas chamber 4 comprises an emptying element, which may be opened to let the gas out of the gas chamber 4. The emptying element can be a valve, or a hatch for instance. This allows the gas to be safely and controllably emptied into the environment. The killing apparatus 1 preferably also comprises cleaning valves near the bottom of the apparatus 1 , so that after cleaning the killing apparatus 1 , the washing liquid can be safely collected. Further, the gas chamber 4 comprises at least one window for visually monitoring the gas chamber 4. This allows the operator to ensure that the killing process is carried out as intended, and to ensure that the livestock is killed.

[0022] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the killing apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of containers 3, and in this instance three containers 3. However, any other suitable number of containers could also be used. Having a plurality of containers 3 allows the livestock to be divided into smaller groups thus making it easier to control the conditions of the livestock and to ensure that the livestock is not piling on each other. Additionally, it allows the killing of the livestock to be carried out in more of a continuous process, in this instance in 3 simultaneous batches. Preferably, each container 3 is a separate independently movable container 3. This is advantageous as it allows the killing apparatus 1 to continue operation with the other containers 3 even if one of the containers 3 malfunctions.

[0023] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the containers 3 are arranged side- to-side in a longitudinal direction X1 of the killing apparatus 1. This allows the space of the killing apparatus 1 to be utilized efficiently, and essentially allows the platform 2 to act as a channel guiding the livestock to the desired container 3. Preferably, each container 3 comprises a door 37 facing the longitudinal direction X1 of the killing apparatus 1. Such positioning of the door allows the livestock to enter the container 3 when the containers 3 are positioned side-to- side as described above. Similarly, also other container positions and respectively door positions may be used.

[0024] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, as illustrated in figures 5 and 6, each container comprises a floor 31 , a top 32, and 3 container side walls 33, 34, 35, such that a side facing a transverse direction X2 of the killing apparatus 1 is open to provide an exit 36. This allows the livestock to be contained in the container 3, but also allows the killed livestock to be removed from the container. Further, as illustrated in figures 5 & 6, the container 3 comprises a breathable construction that allows gas to enter and exit the container 3. Preferably, at least one of the container side walls 33, 34, 35 is perforated. However, the container may also comprise other types of breathable structures. [0025] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the platform comprises platform side walls 21 , 22 on longitudinal sides of the platform 2. These platform side walls 21 , 22 prevent the livestock from falling off the platform. Further, preferably the platform side wall 21 facing the exit 36 of the at least one container 3 comprises at least one hinged section 23 which is dimensioned to cover the exit 36 of the at least one container 3. This allows the open exit 36 to be covered to contain the livestock during the killing operation but allows the exit 36 to be exposed by opening the hinged section 23 when the operator wishes to empty the container 3.

[0026] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, in a receiving mode the container 3 is positioned on the platform 2 such that the floor 31 of the container 3 covers the aperture 6, and wherein in a killing mode the container 3 is positioned in the gas chamber 4 such that the top 32 of the container 3 covers the aperture 6. This allows the platform to act as a unified floor for the livestock to walk on. Also, such configuration prevents unintended matter from entering the gas chamber through the aperture 6.

[0027] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, as illustrated in figure 2, the container 3 is pivotably hinged such that a side of the container 2 away from the exit 37 may be raised to tilt the exit 36 downwards. This allows the killed livestock to be tipped out of the container 3 in a hygienic manner, preferably to a receptacle positioned next to the killing apparatus 1. Further, as illustrated in figures 1 to 6, the killing apparatus 1 comprises at least one second actuator for actuating the pivoting motion of the at least one container 3 and at least one third actuator for actuating the pivoting motion of the hinged section 23 of the platform side wall 21 . However, also other ways to pivot the container 3 and the hinged section 23 of the platform side wall 21 may be used.

[0028] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 6, the container is hinged from the adjacent to a bottom edge 36a of the exit 36. However, also other suitable hinge positionings could be used which achieve the same effect described above. Also, the hinged section 23 is hinged adjacent to its lower edge 23a.

[0029] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the killing apparatus 1 comprises height adjustable legs. This allows the killing apparatus 1 to be set level on an uneven surface or ground.

[0030] In the embodiment of figures 1 to 4, the killing apparatus 1 comprises a height and/or inclination adjustable receiving bridge for guiding the livestock to be killed to the platform. This allows the killing apparatus to collect the livestock from ground level, or from a platform of a pig house or a cow house, for instance.

[0031] Preferably, the housing of the killing apparatus 1 is a shipping container. This allows the killing apparatus 1 to be transported to the local killing site without a need for a special vehicle.

[0032] More preferably, the housing of the killing apparatus 1 is an interchangeable container. Such interchangeable container structures are known per se from other logistic applications. This allows the driver transporting the killing apparatus 1 to unload the apparatus on the local killing site and to utilize the vehicle elsewhere while the killing operation is carried out.

[0033] Preferably, the actuators used in the killing apparatus 1 are hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders.

[0034] Figure 7 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for killing livestock, the method comprising: A receiving livestock on a platform, B guiding the livestock to a container, C lowering the container to a gas chamber arranged below the platform, D holding the container in the gas chamber for a predetermined amount of time, and E raising the container to the platform.

[0035] Further, the method preferably comprises emptying the container by actuating a pivoting motion of the container, such that the killed livestock is tipped out of an open end of the container.

[0036] Further, preferably the killing apparatus comprises a plurality of the containers, preferably 3 containers, and the method steps are performable independently on each container.

[0037] Preferably, the predetermined amount of time in step D is determined based on the livestock to be killed.

[0038] Preferably, the method is performed with a killing apparatus as described above.

[0039] It is to be understood that the above description and the accompanying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can be varied and modified without departing from the scope of the invention.