From Norman Gregory
In his article about the treatment of animals destined to be eaten, Peter Singer mentions Temple Grandin, a designer of livestock handling facilities, saying “poultry plants should install controlled-atmosphere stunning: using carbon dioxide or inert gases” (7 October, p 22). Surely not! The systems that control breathing act by regulating the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. Expose an animal to excessive carbon dioxide and it will experience an acute sensation of suffocation.
The most humane way of killing, if you must kill, is to use an oxygen-free atmosphere – for example, one containing only nitrogen.
Oxford, UK
