Euthanasia and emergency slaughter of farm animals

Define:

• slaughter

• culling

• euthanasia

• Slaughter – killing of an animal for human consumption via exsanguination (following stunning) in an abattoir in UK (exceptions for on farm slaughter)

• Culling – killing of farm animals no longer of productive value to a farm system —> via abattoir slaughter for meat (e.g. cull dairy cows, cull ewes) or on farm euthanasia for disposal only.

• Euthanasia – painless killing to relieve suffering

What are some influencing factors of when to perform euthanasia?

• animal welfare

• client choice

• vet guidance

• facilities

• financial

• economic considerations

• zoonotic

List the methods of euthanasia

• Injection

  • Pentobarbital (IV ideal, but can go intraperitoneal, intracardiac, into abdo organ)

  • Somulose (cinchocaine, quinalbarbitone) —> rarely for farm

• Captive bolt followed by pithing or exsanguination

• Free bullet shooting (need license)

• Neck dislocation (birds) - only emergency

What are these?

Captive bolt and pithing rod

What specific considerations do you need to make with cattle for stunning?

• If captive bolt used the legs will thrash

• Injectable expensive

  • Pentobarbital – have to give a large volume quickly

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

• Position if horned

  

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

What specific considerations do you need to make with goat for stunning?

Often vocalise during injections

Why is euthanasia of pigs challenging?

• Target area for captive bolt is small and the skull is large and thick with large sinuses

• Venous access difficult – limited access to peripheral veins and restraint to allow access likely to be difficult. Can try ear vein cannula

What is the most effective euthanasia method for pigs?

• Heavy IM sedation followed by

• Intracardiac pentobarbital using 3.5" spinal needle or similar

How must you dispose of dead animals?

• Do not

  • Bury

  • Burn on farm

  • Feed to wildlife

• So have to get someone to take away

• Applies to pet farms animals as well as commercial- individual cremation with ashes back possible in certain crematoria

What is the cut off for BSE testing?

• cut off = 24 months/ 48 months depends on country

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

When would you carry out emergency slaughter?

• Otherwise healthy animal must have suffered an accident that prevented its transport to the slaughterhouse for welfare reasons

What are the differences in emergency slaughter and slaughter at abattoir?

• In an abattoir ante-mortem (AM) inspection carried out by on site Official Veterinarian (OV) and OV on-site when killing takes place

• emergency slaughter situation these duties are undertaken on farm by the farm’s own private practice vet

  • vet must be suitably trained —> designated an ‘OV-EMSL’ (Official Veterinarian-Emergency Slaughter)

• carcass transported to abattoir for PM inspection, carcass dressing etc.

How do you carry out emergency slaughter as an OV-EMSL?

• Check ID

• Assess whether animal is fit for human consumption

  • Signs of disease? Temp? Emaciation? Cleanliness? Drug withdrawals? (FCI docs needed declare withdrawals)

• Check whether presentation fits with owner's description of accident

• Be present at time of killing (Ensure stunning + bleeding are carried out correctly)

• Complete a certificate which goes with carcass to abattoir

What are the challenges with the practicality of emergency slaughter

• Abattoir must send transport and need to arrive at abattoir within 2 hours or be in refrigerated vehicle

  • Coordination of vet and slaughterer

• Farmer has to pay vet and abattoir

• Might be challenging to hanging bleed

• vet must check the slaughterer has a Certificate of Competence