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 Euthanasia Techniques, Tools and Protocols Michelle Sprague, DVM AMVC Management Services msprague@amvcms.com (712) 563-2080 1 Slide #0 Definitions Eu: good Thanatos: death Euthanasia: the humane process whereby the pig is rendered insensible, with minimal pain and distress, until death Definitions, cont d Humane: marked by compassion, sympathy or consideration for humans or animals Insensible: incapable of feeling or sensation; lacking sensory perception; unconscious Death: a permanent cessation of all vital functions; the end of life 2 3 Key elements of humane Minimal pain and distress to the pig Rapid loss of consciousness Death is achieved quickly and consistently Performed in a timely manner Goals End animal pain and suffering** Most Important!! Remove Typhoid Mary animals Decrease disease risk to other animals Remove unproductive animals from herd Maintain efficiencies to achieve maximum productive and economic performance 4 5 1
Modified from chart in AASV Proceedings 2007 Candidates for euthanasia Nonambulatory Broken leg Vaginal prolapse Rectal prolapse that cannot be repaired Chronically lame or ill Emaciated Any ill animal that does not clinically improve after two days of treatment 6 7 Euthanasia guidelines Recommendations provided by: American Association of Swine Veterinarians National Pork Board 8 9 Things to remember Approved methods of euthanasia Functional equipment must be available All personnel must be properly trained Not everyone is comfortable performing euthanasia via certain methods (or at all) Death is never aesthetically pleasing You are doing what is right for the animal by alleviating pain and suffering 10 11 2
12 13 Anesthetic overdose Depression of central nervous system Progresses to respiratory and cardiac arrest Must be administered by a veterinarian No blood; minimal muscle contractions Approved for all ages of pigs 14 15 Anesthetic overdose protocol Animal must be restrained 50 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital Administered IV Anesthetic overdose economics Trip charge: variable Time charge: variable Barbiturate: variable Not feasible Economics Biosecurity Schedule 16 17 3
Blunt trauma Destruction of brain tissue Enough force to cause death with one blow Not everyone is capable of generating this force Some blood; tonic and clonic activity Only recommended for unweaned pigs weighing less than 12 pounds Blunt trauma protocol Administer a forceful blow to the skull of the pig Target is midline above the eyes and below the ears Force must be quick and strong to result in immediate insensibility Confirm insensibility and death 18 19 Blunt trauma economics Little to no cost if using available tools Non-penetrating captive bolt Causes concussion and brain trauma No blood; tonic and clonic activity Approved for unweaned pigs weighing less than 12 pounds Approved for nursery pigs weighing less than 70 pounds IF followed by a secondary step (e.g, exsanguination) 20 21 Non-penetrating captive bolt protocol Pig must be properly restrained Same landmarks as blunt force trauma Non-penetrating captive bolt economics Non-penetrating captive bolt gun: $1200 Small air compressor: $50 $100 Always respect worker and personal safety Model updates and improvements 22 23 4
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Animal is rendered unconscious followed by respiratory arrest Some vocalization and muscle tremors Approved for pigs of any weight 24 25 Carbon dioxide protocol +/- Pre-charge chamber for ~30 seconds Do not overcrowd the chamber Close and latch the lid Turn the gas on all the way for ~30 seconds Turn the gas off Come back ~10 minutes later to confirm death and remove pigs 26 27 Carbon dioxide protocol, cont d Goal: CO 2 concentration of at least 70% Exposure time of 5 minutes Considerations: 90% CO 2 is aversive to pigs 30% CO 2 is not aversive to pigs Prolonged time may be required for neonates Notes Use in a well-ventilated area Cut a rubber mat to fit the bottom of the chamber to increase pig comfort, reduce noise and help with cleaning Always make sure the safety chain is secured around the CO 2 tank Clean as needed (~once/week) 28 29 5
Carbon dioxide economics Tote with locking lid (48 gal): $90 Steel frame: $89 CO 2 regulator: $360 Air hose fittings, quick couplers, etc.: $46 CO 2 tank (50#): $289 Total initial cost: $637 Ongoing cost: $21 to exchange 50# tank CO 2 gas 30 Electrocution Insensibility followed by cardiac fibrillation and cerebral anoxia Hazard to human safety No blood; tonic and clonic activity Recommended for pigs that weigh more than 10 pounds 31 Electrocution protocol All pigs > 10# Frequency: 60 hertz of alternating current Pigs 10# 6 wks Current: >/= 0.5 amp Voltage: 110 volts Pigs > 6 wks Current: >/= 1.3 amps Voltage: 240 volts Electrocution protocol, cont d Pig must be restrained or stunned Head-to-heart Electrodes at base of one ear and on opposite flank Apply current for at least 15 seconds Head only Electrodes at base of each ear Apply current for at least 3 seconds Secondary step (e.g., exsanguination, pithing) is required Confirm death after administration of procedure 32 33 Head-to-heart electrocution landmarks Electrocution economics Homemade: relatively inexpensive Commercial grade: ~$2,250 34 35 6
Penetrating captive bolt and gunshot protocol Penetrating captive bolt gun and gunshot Concussion and trauma to cerebral hemisphere and brainstem Hazard to human safety Some blood; tonic and clonic activity Recommended for all pigs post-weaning Snare the animal Respect worker and personal safety Use appropriate landmarks Confirm insensibility and death Clean and oil the device Store using appropriate lock-out, tagout procedure 36 Captive bolt gun and gunshot landmarks Penetrating captive bolt guns Cash Special pistol grip 37 Schermer old and new styles Soft tissue: extreme pain Bone: appropriate 38 39 40 41 Captive bolt gun landmarks Photo courtesy of Dr. Scanlon Daniels 7
Photo courtesy of Dr. Scanlon Daniels Gunshot landmarks 42 43 Penetrating captive bolt gun and gunshot economics Penetrating captive bolt gun: $300 $1500 Caps (1000): $200 Rifle: $125+ Bullets (100 hollow point): $7 Total initial cost for rifle: $132+ Total initial cost for captive bolt: $500+ Ongoing cost: $7-20 per 100 loads 44 Practical methods of euthanasia Piglets Blunt force trauma Carbon dioxide chamber Growing pigs, sows, boars Penetrating captive bolt gun Gunshot 45 Requirements to perform euthanasia Select few people designated to perform Trained to use proper technique Animal handling Euthanasia landmarks Appropriate safety precautions Check for success Corneal reflex Breathing Confirm insensibility Inability to consciously recognize pain Achieved as immediately as possible after method is administered Within 30 seconds Monitor until death is confirmed Three minutes after method is administered 46 47 8
Ineffective stunning/euthanasia Rhythmic breathing Constricted pupils Attempts to raise the head Vocalization Palpebral reflex Response to a painful stimulus Confirm death No breathing No heart beat No movement or muscle tone No response to painful stimulus No vocalization No corneal reflex 48 49 Written euthanasia action plan General considerations (AVMA) Human safety Pig well-being Practicality and technical skills Cost Aesthetics Limitations 50 Ability to induce loss of consciousness and death without causing pain, distress, anxiety or apprehension Time required to induce loss of consciousness Reliability Safety of personnel Irreversibility Compatibility with requirement and purpose Emotional effect on observers or operators 51 General considerations, cont d Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination or use of tissue Drug availability and human abuse potential Compatibility with species, age and health status Ability to maintain equipment in proper working order Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed 52 53 9
Euthanasia Action Plan Acknowledgements 54 On-Farm Euthanasia of Swine pamphlet National Pork Board American Association of Swine Veterinarians PQA Plus AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia Current research Dr. Scanlon Daniels, Circle H Animal Health National Pork Board 55 Questions / Discussion 56 10