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On-Farm Euthanasia of Swine.pdf Euthanasia Decision Tree.pdf Captive Bolt Considerations.pdf Euthanasia Action Plan blank.pdf
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Euthanasia Techniques, Tools and Protocols
Michelle Sprague, DVM AMVC Management Services [email protected] (712) 563-2080
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Definitions
n Eu: good n Thanatos: death
n Euthanasia: the humane process whereby the pig is rendered insensible, with minimal pain and distress, until death
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Definitions, cont’d
n Humane: marked by compassion, sympathy or consideration for humans or animals
n Insensible: incapable of feeling or sensation; lacking sensory perception; unconscious
n Death: a permanent cessation of all vital functions; the end of life
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Key elements of “humane”
n Minimal pain and distress to the pig
n Rapid loss of consciousness
n Death is achieved quickly and consistently
n Performed in a timely manner
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Goals
n End animal pain and suffering** Most Important!!
n Remove “Typhoid Mary” animals ¡ Decrease disease risk to other animals
n Remove unproductive animals from herd ¡ Maintain efficiencies to achieve maximum
productive and economic performance
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Candidates for euthanasia
n Nonambulatory n Broken leg n Vaginal prolapse n Rectal prolapse that cannot be repaired n Chronically lame or ill n Emaciated n Any ill animal that does not clinically
improve after two days of treatment
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Euthanasia guidelines
n Recommendations provided by: ¡ American
Association of Swine Veterinarians
¡ National Pork Board
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Things to remember
n Functional equipment must be available
n All personnel must be properly trained
n Not everyone is comfortable performing euthanasia via certain methods (or at all)
n Death is never aesthetically pleasing ¡ You are doing what is right for the animal by
alleviating pain and suffering 11
Approved methods of euthanasia
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Anesthetic overdose
n Depression of central nervous system
n Progresses to respiratory and cardiac arrest
n Must be administered by a veterinarian
n No blood; minimal muscle contractions
n Approved for all ages of pigs
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Anesthetic overdose protocol
n Animal must be restrained
n 50 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital
n Administered IV
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Anesthetic overdose economics n Trip charge: variable n Time charge: variable n Barbiturate: variable
n Not feasible ¡ Economics ¡ Biosecurity ¡ Schedule
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Blunt trauma
n Destruction of brain tissue n Enough force to cause death with one
blow n Not everyone is capable of generating this
force n Some blood; tonic and clonic activity n Only recommended for unweaned pigs
weighing less than 12 pounds 19
Blunt trauma protocol n Administer a forceful blow
to the skull of the pig n Target is midline above
the eyes and below the ears
n Force must be quick and strong to result in immediate insensibility
n Confirm insensibility and death
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Blunt trauma economics
n Little to no cost if using available tools
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Non-penetrating captive bolt
n Causes concussion and brain trauma n No blood; tonic and clonic activity n Approved for unweaned pigs weighing
less than 12 pounds n Approved for nursery pigs weighing less
than 70 pounds IF followed by a secondary step (e.g, exsanguination)
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Non-penetrating captive bolt protocol
n Pig must be properly restrained
n Same landmarks as blunt force trauma
n Always respect worker and personal safety
n Model updates and improvements
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Non-penetrating captive bolt economics
n Non-penetrating captive bolt gun: $1200 n Small air compressor: $50 – $100
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Carbon dioxide (CO2)
n Animal is rendered unconscious followed by respiratory arrest
n Some vocalization and muscle tremors
n Approved for pigs of any weight
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Carbon dioxide protocol n +/- Pre-charge chamber for ~30 seconds n Do not overcrowd the chamber n Close and latch the lid n Turn the gas on all the way for ~30
seconds n Turn the gas off n Come back ~10 minutes later to confirm
death and remove pigs
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Carbon dioxide protocol, cont’d
n Goal: ¡ CO2 concentration of at least 70% ¡ Exposure time of 5 minutes
n Considerations: ¡ 90% CO2 is aversive to pigs ¡ 30% CO2 is not aversive to pigs ¡ Prolonged time may be required for neonates
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Notes
n Use in a well-ventilated area n Cut a rubber mat to fit the bottom of the
chamber to increase pig comfort, reduce noise and help with cleaning
n Always make sure the safety chain is secured around the CO2 tank
n Clean as needed (~once/week)
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Carbon dioxide economics n Tote with locking lid (48 gal): $90 n Steel frame: $89 n CO2 regulator: $360 n Air hose fittings, quick couplers, etc.: $46 n CO2 tank (50#): $289
n Total initial cost: $637 n Ongoing cost: $21 to exchange 50# tank
CO2 gas 31
Electrocution
n Insensibility followed by cardiac fibrillation and cerebral anoxia
n Hazard to human safety
n No blood; tonic and clonic activity
n Recommended for pigs that weigh more than 10 pounds
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Electrocution protocol n All pigs > 10#
¡ Frequency: 60 hertz of alternating current n Pigs 10# – 6 wks
¡ Current: >/= 0.5 amp ¡ Voltage: 110 volts
n Pigs > 6 wks ¡ Current: >/= 1.3 amps ¡ Voltage: 240 volts
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Electrocution protocol, cont’d n Pig must be restrained or stunned n Head-to-heart
¡ Electrodes at base of one ear and on opposite flank ¡ Apply current for at least 15 seconds
n Head only ¡ Electrodes at base of each ear ¡ Apply current for at least 3 seconds ¡ Secondary step (e.g., exsanguination, pithing) is
required n Confirm death after administration of procedure
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Head-to-heart electrocution landmarks
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Electrocution economics
n Homemade: relatively inexpensive n Commercial grade: ~$2,250
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Penetrating captive bolt gun and gunshot
n Concussion and trauma to cerebral hemisphere and brainstem
n Hazard to human safety
n Some blood; tonic and clonic activity
n Recommended for all pigs post-weaning
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Penetrating captive bolt and gunshot protocol
n Snare the animal n Respect worker and personal safety n Use appropriate landmarks n Confirm insensibility and death n Clean and oil the device n Store using appropriate lock-out, tag-
out procedure
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Penetrating captive bolt guns
Cash Special pistol grip Schermer old and new styles
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Captive bolt gun and gunshot landmarks
Soft tissue: extreme pain
Bone: appropriate
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Captive bolt gun landmarks
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Gunshot landmarks
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Penetrating captive bolt gun and gunshot economics
n Penetrating captive bolt gun: $300 – $1500
n Caps (1000): $200 n Rifle: $125+ n Bullets (100 hollow point): $7
n Total initial cost for rifle: $132+ n Total initial cost for captive bolt: $500+ n Ongoing cost: $7-20 per 100 loads
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Practical methods of euthanasia
n Piglets ¡ Blunt force trauma ¡ Carbon dioxide chamber
n Growing pigs, sows, boars ¡ Penetrating captive bolt gun ¡ Gunshot
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Requirements to perform euthanasia
n Select few people designated to perform
n Trained to use proper technique ¡ Animal handling ¡ Euthanasia landmarks ¡ Appropriate safety precautions
n Check for success ¡ Corneal reflex ¡ Breathing
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Confirm insensibility
n Inability to consciously recognize pain
n Achieved as immediately as possible after method is administered ¡ Within 30 seconds
n Monitor until death is confirmed ¡ Three minutes after method is administered
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Ineffective stunning/euthanasia
n Rhythmic breathing n Constricted pupils n Attempts to raise the head n Vocalization n Palpebral reflex n Response to a painful stimulus
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Confirm death
n No breathing n No heart beat n No movement or muscle tone n No response to painful stimulus n No vocalization n No corneal reflex
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Written euthanasia action plan
n Human safety n Pig well-being n Practicality and technical skills n Cost n Aesthetics n Limitations
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General considerations (AVMA)
n Ability to induce loss of consciousness and death without causing pain, distress, anxiety or apprehension
n Time required to induce loss of consciousness n Reliability n Safety of personnel n Irreversibility n Compatibility with requirement and purpose n Emotional effect on observers or operators
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General considerations, cont’d
n Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue
n Drug availability and human abuse potential n Compatibility with species, age and health
status n Ability to maintain equipment in proper working
order n Safety for predators/scavengers should the
carcass be consumed 53
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Euthanasia Action Plan
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Acknowledgements
n On-Farm Euthanasia of Swine pamphlet ¡ National Pork Board ¡ American Association of Swine Veterinarians
n PQA Plus n AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia n Current research
¡ Dr. Scanlon Daniels, Circle H Animal Health ¡ National Pork Board
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Questions / Discussion