Report: Nitrogen provides calmer way to depopulate birds inflected with avian flu

 

Photo and headline:  WATT Poultry, 1/27/2026

Meredith Dawson reports:

Whole-house nitrogen gas depopulation could be an effective depopulation method for poultry producers to help improve bird welfare. 

The method works by injecting liquid nitrogen, which expands nearly 650 times in volume when vaporized, through a distribution system, explained Jeff Hill, President of Livestock Welfare Strategies, during the 2026 United Egg Producers January Board and Committee Meetings, held in conjunction with the 2026 International Production and Processing Expo. 

The cooler vaporized nitrogen first spreads across the barn floor, then gradually warms and rises, forcing oxygen-rich air upward through roof vents to create anoxic conditions that induce unconsciousness at approximately 8 percent oxygen levels before birds experience significant temperature reduction, he continued.

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