ANFS350: Euthanasia, Stunning, and Slaughter

Welfare and Death

welfare ends at the moment of death

Humane

treatment of animals such that their welfare is good to a certain high degree

Euthanasia Purpose

ending or preventing suffering to benefit the animal

Humane Killing Purpose

provide food or materials, reduce excess animals, to benefit people

Humane Endpoint

killing of research animals at the end of an experiment

Stunning

rendering an animal unconscious or insensible

Stunning Requirements

must happen before slaughter, must not cause poor welfare, must be brief and cause little pain

Slaughter

act of dispatching or killing an animals

Slaughter Requirement

animal must be stunned first if method is lengthy

Slaughter and Food Safety

cannot use injectable methods

Types of Slaughter

inhaled, physical

Types of Slaughter Methods

carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon, captive bolt, gunshot, electrocution, cervical dislocation, maceration

Types of Inhaled Slaughter

carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon

Types of Physical Slaughter

captive bolt, gunshot, electrocution, cervical dislocation, maceration

Carbon Dioxide Slaughter

carbon dioxide displaces oxygen and causes asphyxiation, low levels will sedate and high levels will cause death

Carbon Dioxide Species

food and lab animals, commonly birds and pigs

Carbon Dioxide Positives

stunning and slaughter, inexpensive, easily stored, no tissue toxicity, hands-off

Carbon Dioxide Negatives

burning sensation as CO2 converts to carbonic acid at mucous membranes, must slowly increase concentration to avoid negative welfare

Nitrogen and Argon Slaughter

gas replaces oxygen and causes aspyxiation

Nitrogen and Argon Positives

no aversive reactions in livestock, no tissue toxicity, hands-off

Nitrogen and Argon Negatives

very expensive, aversive reactions in rodents, takes much longer to induce consciousness

Captive Bolt Slaughter

rapid concussive damage to the brain and brainstem causes stunning and often slaughter

Types of Captive Bolts

penetrating, non penetrating

Penetrating Captive Bolt Slaughter

rod expels and enters skull, often causes death

Penetrating Captive Bolt Positives

often causes death and stunning

Penetrating Captive Bolt Negatives

potential brain matter contamination

Non Penetrating Captive Bolt Slaughter

rod causes massive concussion, stunning

Non Penetrating Captive Bolt Positives

effective stunning, can be done indoors

Non Penetrating Captive Bolt Negatives

does not reliably cause death, must be paired with another slaughter method

Captive Bolt Gun Positives

can be used indoors, good for many species, frequently used in beef slaughterhouses or on farms

Captive Bolt Gun Negatives

missing the brain causes painful prolonged death

Captive Bolt Gun Requirements

appropriately trained personnel, good restraint

Gunshot Slaughter

loose projective, typically on farm or home slaughter

Gunshot Positives

easily accessible equipment, quick

Gunshot Negatives

side effects of flailing, mental toll, brain matter contamination

Gunshot Slaughter Requirements

trained personnel, good restraint, outdoor environment

Electrocution Slaughter

causes stunning and death with well placed electrodes

Brain Electrocution

causes stunning only

Heart Electrocution

causes slaughter when shocked along with brain, stunning lasts under 30 seconds when only the heart is shocked

Poultry Electrocution Slaughter

birds are dipped upside down in electric water bath, head only stun prior to secondary method

Cervical Dislocation Slaughter

separate vertebrae from skull to cause stunning and death

Cervical Dislocation Species

poultry, mice, small rats

Cervical Dislocation Positives

quick, inexpensive

Cervical Dislocation Negatives

not for large numbers, stretching of spinal cord is unacceptable

Maceration Slaughter

specially designed mechanical apparatus causing immediate fragmentation and death

Maceration Species

poultry up to 72 hours old, embryonated eggs

Maceration Positives

nearly instantaneous, can be used for large numbers

Maceration Negatives

highly specialized equipment, restricted by species

Types of Religious Slaughter

kosher shechita, hallal

Religious Slaughter

no stunning, must be killed with a sharp knife while fully conscious

History of Religious Slaughter Purpose

meat is fresh, maximized blood loss, more efficient and kinder than pre-modern methods, has become ritualistic

Euthanasia

killing for the benefit of the animal to reduce suffering

Euthanasia Conditions

unmanageable pain, immobility, progressive conditions (cancer, neural degeneration), irreversible internal damage (starvation)

Euthanasia Methods

barbiturate overdose, potassium chloride, lidocaine hydrochloride, pentobarbital

Barbiturate Overdose

euthanasia method causing rapid loss of consciousness and minimal pain, most common

Chemical Euthanasia Methods

other than barbiturates, must be used with sedation, not commonly used but used during covid