If true, CO2 is horrific. Nitrogen asphyxiation is the gentle way to go.
So why don’t they?
And please please please, don’t say it’s just money… It’s just money, isn’t it?
Considering our atmo is 79% nitrogen, I can’t imagine it’s very expensive. Must be the desire for cruelty.
Nitrogen is a lighter gas than CO2. Because air is 79% N2 they have about the same density, meaning if you fill a pit with N2, other air will mix in easily and the whole thing just becomes breathable air. Fill a pit with CO2, which is heavier and the process takes much longer, so it can actually be maintained if you keep adding a bit more CO2 to replace what drifts away over time.
It’s still possible to make a killing machine that would use N2 instead but it would involve airtight pens for the animals and gas pumping systems, which would be much more expensive than a pit filled with CO2 that you can dip regular cages into. So, sadly yes, it’s just about the money.
This is pretty horrific. CO2 asphyxiation is not humane in the slightest. Mammals evolved reactions specifically to avoid CO2 poisoning, and this triggers the panic reaction.
This is cruel.
Agreed. Anybody with an ounce of empathy watching these pigs panic and mash their bodies to a bloody pulp while trying desperately to get oxygen, knows this shit is wrong.