Updates on swine euthanasia, concern reporting & ISU research Suzanne Millman, PhD Associate Professor, Animal Welfare Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
Updates on swine euthanasia,
concern reporting
& ISU research
Suzanne Millman, PhD
Associate Professor, Animal Welfare
Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine
Biomedical Sciences,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
Setting the standards for euthanasia
AVMA Panel on Euthanasia “good death”
Painless
Does not involve fear
or distress
Other practical
considerations:
Worker safety
Aesthetics,
acceptability
Technical skills,
reliability
Cost, including carcass
disposal
Dr. Jan Shearer, euthanasia
Training workshop ISU 2009
Peer-reviewed research for
mechanical methods Technique age Latency
paddling
Latency
death
Return to
sensibility
Reference
Exsang 4 wks
(n=5)
NA 213s (RR)
5 mn (HR)
0% Blackmore
et al 1981
Gunshot &
exsang
240 kg sow
(n=1)
120s NA 0% Blackmore
et al 1995
HP water &
exsang
90 kg
(n=6)
62s 20s (HR) 0% Schatzmann
et al 1991
Non-penetr
Captive bolt
7-8 wks
(n=6)
NA 4h+ NA (anesth) Finnie et al
2003
Pneumatic
NP captive
bolt
<24h
(n=99)
125s 409s (HR) 13% Widowski
2008
Blunt force
trauma
<24h
(n=99)
68s 171s (HR) 0% Widowski
2008
Validation of captive bolt
technology as a single step
euthanasia method for swine
Millman S, Woods J, Hill J, Schwartz K,
Brooks R, Main R, Grandin T
Evaluation of captive bolt as killing method
for on-farm euthanasia – anesthetized pigs
Brain trauma scores
were consistent with
instantaneous loss of
consciousness
Secondary step
(exsanguination) was
necessary for 4 pigs
Non-penetrating head
was too powerful
Woods, J, Hill, J., Millman, S.T., Schwartz, K., Grandin, T., Main, R., NPB project
Live animal trials
7 weight classes of pig
Suckler, Weaner, Nursery, Grower, Market,
Breeding (gilts/young boars), Mature (>500lbs)
Non-penetrating head used for sucklers and
weaners.
3 bolt lengths and different cartridges were
used for captive bolt pistol for 5 larger
weights
10 pigs were euthanized by each stockperson
3 stockpeople for each weight class (30 pigs)
Total 210 pigs Millman, S.T., Woods, J, Hill, J., Schwartz, K., Brooks, R, NPB project
Results
8/210 pigs (3.8%) required a second shot
5 mature boars, weight classes 6&7 (17%)
4 were euthanized by same stockperson,
faulty placement
Stockman most often performing task had
100% success – snared all boars
2 mature sows, weight classes 6&7 (7%)
Both euthanized by same stockperson, faulty
placement due to sow movement, not flush
with head
1 suckler (faulty cartridge)
Median latency to cease movement
(minutes)
Weight Minimum Maximum
suckler 1:10 4:24
weaner 1:06 5:35
nursery 1:08 2:46
grower 1:05 6:52
market 1:08 8:45
breeding 1:53 10:40
Median latency to death – no pulse
detected (minutes)
Weight Minimum Maximum
suckler 2:12 6:50
weaner 1:54 8:21
nursery 1:31 6:47
grower 1:20 5:40
market 1:18 4:50
breeding 3:07 10:36
Take home messages
Our research results indicate that captive bolt
was an effective single stage euthanasia
method for 5 of the weight classes of pig
Mature sows and boars remain the most
difficult class for mechanical euthanasia.
Placement and angle is important.
Snaring was associated with greater success
Individual differences betweens stockpeople
likely due to experience/practice
Non-penetrating Captive Bolt
The Zephyr
Developed and approved by
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture for
stunning rabbits in abattoirs
Similar to device approved for
euthanasia of poultry in the UK
Pneumatic nailer gun
redesigned and fitted with a
nylon head and powered by
a portable air compressor
set to 120 PSI
Modified Zephyr project Teresa Casey, MS student, PI: Dr. Tina Widowski, UoGuelph
Effectiveness of the
modified Zephyr on
neonatal piglets (<72
hrs) Jan-February 2010, 100 piglets
completed
Arkell Research Station- Guelph
20 piglets
2 stock people
Iowa State University- Ames, IA
Elite Pork Products
80 piglets
8 stock people
Effectiveness of non-penetrating captive bolt (Zephyr) and restraint for euthanasia of
piglets from birth to 9 kg. Widowski, Millman, Lawliss. National Pork Board project
Figure 1. Stock person averages. Mean (± SEM) duration of leg movements and heart beat were calculated for each group of 10 piglets euthanized by an individual stock person. Ten stock people were compared. Time was recorded in seconds starting at the firing of the first shot of the Zephyr.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tim
e (
s)
Stock Person ID
Stock Person Averages
End Leg Movements
End Heart Beat
Questionnaire
All 10 stock people completed individual
questionnaire after euthanizing 10 piglets with
Zephyr
Assess background in swine industry and
euthanasia experience
Determine individual opinions of Zephyr
effectiveness
Ten point scale 1=ineffective : 10= highly
effective
Average rating: 8.7 ± 1.6
Evaluation of rate of administration
of CO2 and a CO2:Argon gas
mixture for euthanasia of suckling
and nursery piglets
Sadler, L., Hagen, C., Wang, C.,
& Millman S.
National Pork Board Project #09-197
17
Latency to loss of posture
(weaned piglets)
0
1
2
3
4
5
Slow Medium Fast Prefill
Min
ute
s
100% CO2 50:50 CO2:Argon
b b
a
c
I
I
II
III
Superscripts indicate differences between flow rates, within gas type, P < 0.05
Minute values are raw means
Statistical difference determined from the Univarate product-limit estimation of
the survival curves
18
Age effects on latency to loss of
posture (P<0.001)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Slow Medium Fast Prefill
Min
ute
s
100% CO2
Weaned Neonate
19
Take home messages
The addition of Argon at 50% of gas volume
slowed response times, without decreasing incidence
of irritation or distress
Argon at different concentrations (lower CO2
concentrations) may result in less distress
100% CO2 @ 50% of chamber volume per minute is our
current recommendation
Pre-fill works just as well or slightly better
Distress is still observed
When utilizing CO2 or 50:50 CO2:Argon, neonate piglets
succumbed to the gases faster than weaned piglets
Future directions in euthanasia
research at ISU
Mechanical methods
Restraint of piglets needed for caretaker
safety
Gas methods (USDA AFRI grants)
Why do some piglets appear resistant to gas
euthanasia techniques?
Can we find a gas or gas mixture that is not
aversive to piglets?
What euthanasia technologies are preferred
by caretakers performing the task and by the
general public/consumers of pork?
Developing validated and
objective industry-ready tools to
assess joint pain manifestation
and lameness in the sow A. K. Johnson1, L. A. Karriker1, S. T. Millman1, J. Coetzee2 and K.
J. Stalder1
1Iowa State University, Department of Animal Sciences 2Kansas State University
Cameras to
capture motion
2. Embedded force plate system 1. Home
pens
3. Walking
race
4. GaitFour
Sow Lameness Detection System
Measures weight of each
hoof independently
Coated with non-slip epoxy
Accurate to 0.45 kg (1 lb.)
Fits standard gestation /
farrowing stall
SFPMS recording software
Integrate into feed
management programs
Sows were injected in the distal interphangeal joint space with 10mg
amphotericin B
Weight placed on the injected hoof went down compared to
baseline and resolution (P < 0.05)
Wei
gh
t /
ho
of,
kg
Weig
ht
/ h
oo
f, k
g
Wei
gh
t /
ho
of,
kg
Wei
gh
t /
ho
of,
kg
Findings
Preliminary results indicate that the
embedded force plate is sensitive enough to
detect weight bearing differences between
treated and untreated hooves in the sow
Thus, work presented today has begun to
address behavioral kinematics whilst walking
and standing when sows are experiencing
differing levels of lameness pain
NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-
INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAID)
TO MITIGATE PAIN IN LAME
SOWS
Kathleen Tapper,1 Anna Johnson,2 Locke Karriker,1 Kenneth Stalder,2
Johann Coetzee,3 Rebecca Parsons,1 and Suzanne Millman1*
1 Iowa State University 1600 S 16th, Ames, IA 50011, USA; 2 Kansas State
University College of Veterinary Medicine 1800 Denison Ave., Manhattan,
KS 66506, USA
Pressure Algometry
PA: Wagner Force Ten™ FDX 50 Compact Digital
Force Gage, Wagner Instruments, CT, USA
1 cm2 flat rubber tip
Application rate = 1 kgf/second (2.2 lbf/second)
Ceiling/max force = 10 kgf (22 lbf)
Measures taken at 3 landmarks on each hind
limb in randomized sequence, triplicate
Cannon= Middle of the cannon (non-painful
control site)
Outer = ½ inch (1.3 cm) above the coronary
band on the outer/lateral claw
Inner = ½ inch (1.3 cm) above the coronary
band on the inner/medial claw.
OUTER INNER CANNON OUTER INNER CANNON
DAY-1 DAY+1
Lame Hind Leg 7.70 7.44 6.51 1.14 1.57 3.61
Sound Hind Leg 7.44 7.78 6.93 7.23 8.18 7.67
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
Pre
ss
ure
Alg
om
etr
y M
NT
(k
gf)
** *
**
* P < 0.01; ** P < 0.001
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
DAY +1 DAY +6 DAY +6 DAY +6
Control SS FM
MN
T (
kg
f)
LAME
SOUND
* b * b * b * a
NSAIDs administered Day+2 to Day+5
a-b Treatments and trial days without a common superscript differ (P < 0.05)
* Denotes differences between sound and lame leg (P < 0.05)
Study Conclusions
1. Evaluate effectiveness of sodium salicylate (SS) to
mitigate pain associated with lameness in sows.
No positive effect or reduction in pain as tested
with pressure algometry
2. Evaluate effectiveness of flunixin meglumine
(Banamine®) (FM) to mitigate pain associated with
lameness in sows.
No positive effect or reduction in pain as tested
with pressure algometry
Acknowledgements
ISU Animal Welfare Researcher Team:
Dr. Anna Johnson, Dr. Locke Karriker, Dr. Hans
Coetzee, Dr. Ken Stalder
Becky Parsons, Ray Brooks,
Graduate student team
Larry Sadler (PhD), Monique Pairis (PhD),
Jennifer Woods (MS), Katie Tapper (MS)
National Pork Board, Iowa Pork Producers
Association, IHLAC, USDA-AFRI
University of Guelph (Dr. Widowski)
Value Added Science & Technology (V-AST)
Murphy Brown LLC – IA & MO
Elite Pork Products
Bunzle Processor Division