Euthanasia & slaughter of farm animals

Slaughter definition

Killing of animal for human consumption via exsanguination (almost always following stunning) —> always in abattoir (exceptions for on-farm slaughter in certain emergency circumstances)

Culling definition

Killing of farm animals that are no longer of productive value to farm system —> may be via abattoir slaughter for meat or on-farm euthanasia for disposal only

Euthanasia definition

Painless killing to relieve suffering

What should be considered when deciding whether to perform euthanasia?

• What is best for the animal?

  • availability of analgesia / palliative care for food-producing animals i.e. drugs / nursing care

  • pain scoring & prognostic indicator availavility

• What does client want?

• How much guidance from you does client want?

• Facilities, personnel & motivation to treat

• Financial considerations

• Your own beliefs & emotions —> moral injury & investment in case

List the methods of euthanasia

• Injection

  • Pentobarbital (Euthasol) —> IV ideal, but can go intraperitoneal, intracardiac, into abdo organ —> have to give large vol quickly in cattle

  • Somulose (rarely for farm)

• Captive bolt followed by pithing / exsanguination

• Free bullet shooting (need license)

• Neck dislocation (birds) —> only emergency

What are these?

Captive bolt and pithing rod

Where are cattle stunned?

(If captive bolt used, legs will thrash)

What specific considerations do you need to make w/ sheep for stunning?

• Position if horned

  

• Don't shoot if part of the scrapie monitoring scheme as may need brainstem sample

Where are goats stunned?

What needs to be considered when injection euthanising goats?

Often vocalise when injection euthanised

What needs to be considered for euthanasia in pigs & what is the most effective method?

• Challenging —> target area for captive bolt small & skull large + thick w/ large sinuses (not generally advisable)

• Venous access difficult —> limited access to periph veins & restraint to allow access difficult (can try ear vein cannula)

• Heavy IM sedation followed by intracardiac pentobarbital using 3.5" spinal needle / similar

How must you dispose of dead animals?

• Do not

  • Bury

  • Burn on farm

  • Feed to wildlife (e.g. red kites)

• So have to get someone to take away

• Applies to pet farms animals as well as commercial —> individual cremation / ashes back possible in certain crematoriums

What is the cut off for BSE testing?

• Older cattle that have not been slaughtered for human consumption must have brain samples collected @ approved centre to be tested for BSE

• 24 months / 48 months depends on country animal born in

• Must have brain samples collected @ approved centre

When would you carry out emergency slaughter?

Otherwise healthy animal must have suffered accident that prevented its transport to slaughterhouse for welfare reasons → carcass then transported to abattoir for remaining processing (PM inspection, carcass dressing etc.)

How do you carry out emergency slaughter (outside slaughterhouse) as the official veterinarian?

• Check ID (2 official tags)

• Assess whether animal fit for human consumption

  • Signs of dx? Temp? Emaciation? Cleanliness? Drug withdrawals?

• Consider whether zoonotic &/or notifiable dx or breeches of welfare legislation present

• Check whether presentation fits w/ owner's description of accident

• Be present @ time of killing —> ensure stunning & bleeding carried out correctly

• Complete certificate —> goes w/ carcass to slaughter

What are the challenges with the practicality of emergency slaughter?

• Abattoir must send transport & need to arrive @ abattoir within 2hrs / be in refrigerated vehicle

  • Coordination of vet and slaughterer

• Farmer has to pay vet and abattoir

• Might be challenging to do hanging bleed —> reduces chance of carcass condemnation due to improper bleed