Tyson- Gas not more humane

Firm wants University of Arkansas to study stunning method further

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP)--Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, says using gas in killing chickens doesn't seem to be more humane than electrocuting them. But the company is seeking further study before changing its practice.

Tyson recently completed a two-year study on using "controlled atmosphere stunning" to knock chickens out with gas before they are slaughtered. The company currently uses "electrical stunning" when preparing to slaughter the birds.

Tyson processes 43 million chickens a week.

"While our research has concluded controlled atmosphere stunning may be an acceptable alternative, we have not currently found it to be more humane than conventional electrical stunning," Bill Lovette, a senior group vice president for Tyson, said in a statement.

Tyson wants the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to study the method further.

"We're going to continue to use the conventional method of stunning in our poultry plants because we believe it's humane and effective," Lovette said. "However, we also believe there's merit in the continued study" of gas and other technology.

"We're going to ask the agricultural science officials at the University of Arkansas to initiate their own (gas) study, using their own scientists and methods, to see if they reach the same conclusion."

The research will be coordinated by the newly created and unfilled chair of food animal well-being at the College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Tyson said. The company has committed $1.5 million to establish the chair position.

The animal-welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it advocates the gassing method over electrical stunning because gas eliminates the chance that birds are conscious during slaughter.

Matt Prescott, manager of factory-farming campaigns for PETA, said other published studies by other groups and companies have "concluded hands-down that controlled atmosphere killing is more humane than current slaughter methods."

Date: 10/26/06

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