lecture 24 stunning, slaughter and euthanasia

when should welfare be considered?

up until death

how is euthanasia for the benefit for the animal?

end suffering

what is humane killing?

for food and materials; benefits humans

what is stunning?

rendering animal unconscious or insensible; brief and cause little pain

what is slaughter?

dispatch or killing animal; can be same or different methods as stunning

what is the main inhaled method of stunning?

gradual increase in CO2, displaces O2

which animals are commonly stunned via CO2 inhalation?

food and lab animals

how are pigs and birds specifically stunned via inhalation?

introduced to CO2

how are mice and rats specifically stunned via inhalation?

enclosed, w/ CO2 introduced

what are the differences between high and low levels of CO2?

low levels cause sedation

high levels cause death by asphyxiation (suffocation)

why is CO2 inhalation stunning so common?

inexpensive, easy to store and no tissue toxicity

what is the other method of inhalation stunning?

nitrogen and argon

which animals do not have aversive reactions to nitrogen and argon?

birds and livestock

how is nitrogen and argon different from CO2?

takes longer to induce consciousness, longer to induce death, expensive

which animals can have captive bolt g*ns used on them?

all animals

what is a penetrating CBG?

rod expelled from, enters skull and penetrates brain

what is a non-penetrating CBG?

rod expelled, does not penetrate skull or brain

what does a non-penetrating CBG do if not kill?

rapid concussive damage w/o safety concerns of loose projectile

what are the side effects of a CBG?

flailing, bleeding, toll on operator, brain contamination

which animals are most commonly stunned with CBG?

beef cattle

missing the brain when using a CBG results in…?

prolonged and painful death

how is a g*nshot different from CBG?

same but theres a loose projectile

where are g*nshots usually used?

on-farm or at-home slaughter; for environmental safety/disposal + monetary reasons

what is the concern with g*nshot slaughter?

brain can be missed if not trained on technique and restraint

which species is electrocution used on?

poultry

how does electrocution work?

current sent through brain and stuns; through heart causes death

what is the goal during electrocution?

cause both stunning and death

which animals is cervical dislocation used on?

small animals; poultry, mice, small rats

what is cervical dislocation?

cervical vertebrae separated from skull

what can go wrong with cervical dislocation?

stretching or crushing the spinal cord can cause a painful death

which animals is maceration used on?

poultry up to 72 hours old, or embryonated eggs

what are the benefits of maceration?

nearly instant death and safe for workings

how to chicks go into the macerator?

head first; handled gently and appropriately

what is religious slaughter?

kosher and halal slaughter; no stunning

in religious slaughter, how are animals killed if there is no stunning?

shackled and killed with knife by skilled person while conscious

why does religious slaughter keep the animal conscious?

to ensure meat was not dead for too long before butchering

what does blood loss during butchering do?

maximized blood loss makes better quality meat

when is euthanasia considered?

when the fates worse than death; intent to reduce suffering

what are the irreversible conditions that warrant euthanasia?

unmanageable pain

immobility

progressive conditions

internal damage

organ failure

what are the methods of euthanasia?

barbiturate overdose

injection and sedation

what does the barbiturate overdose do?

rapid loss on consciousness and minimal pain