Water-based foam can be used to quickly kill large quantities of birds, as
an alternative to the traditional carbon dioxide, the Agriculture Department was
quoted as saying.
The department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was cited as saying
that gassing birds has various difficulties associated with it - more workers
are exposed to potentially infected birds, and maintaining an adequate
concentration of gas can also cause problems.
Foam can be used to suffocate chickens and turkeys raised primarily for
meat, to contain deadly bird
flu, said APHIS spokeswoman Karen Eggert.
Foam also can be used in outbreaks of rapidly spreading disease such as Exotic
Newcastle, a fatal respiratory virus in birds, when state or federal
officials deem it necessary.
Animal rights advocates argue against using the foam because there are more
humane methods.
"All of the top animal welfare scientists agree that using inert gases is
the most humane way," said Matt Prescott, spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals.
.jpg)
