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Thank you for participating in PorkBridge 2010-11.

To start the presentation, advance one slide by pressing “enter” or the down arrow or right arrow key.

To see the additional files on this CD, click on the links below.

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