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Thank you for participating in SowBridge 2008-09

To start the presentation, advance one slide by pressing the Enter key, the down arrow key or the right arrow key.

To see any of the rest of the materials on this CD, click on the title of the resource.

NPB Euthanasia Options English.pdf

NPB Euthanasia Options Spanish.pdf

Well-being and Financial Implications of Timely Euthanasia.pdf

CaptiveBoltPIG.pdf

Euthanasia Action Plan sheet - PQAPlus.pdf

You might also consider requesting the National Pork Board Production Series DVD #08196 which includes a course on “On Farm Euthanasia of Swine.” See content and ordering information at http://www.pork.org/Producers/Learning.aspx?c=Learning

Breeding Herd Education Series 2008-2009

Timely, relevant & convenient learning

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Euthanasia of Sows and Piglets

John Deen

University of Minnesota deenx003@umn.edu

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Choices 1. Treatment - If an appropriate treatment is

available and practical. 2. Slaughter - If the animal is suitable for

transport and human consumption. 3. Sell or Transfer - This option may be

appropriate in case of injured or disadvantaged pigs that may perform adequately in a different production setting.

4. Euthanasia - As a last resort, producers must decide to euthanize animals for humane, economic and public health reasons.

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PQAPlus: Euthanasia

■ Written euthanasia plan which considers: ■  Human safety ■  Pig well-being ■  Practicality and technical skills ■  Cost ■  Aesthetics ■  Limitations

■  Timely euthanasia ■  No improvement or prospect for improvement

after 2 days ■ Minimizes animal pain or distress ■  Functional equipment available

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Herd pain is a function of

Incidence X Time X Intensity

Prevention Treatment, Euthanasia Pain therapy

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Timeliness •  Trained personnel always available

–  Nights –  Weekends –  Holidays

•  Unless there are special circumstances for animals under

veterinary care, no more than two days of intensive care

with no pig improvement or prospect for improvement

should be needed before a decision about euthanasia is

made

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Lack of insensibility - rhythmic breathing - constricted pupils - attempts to raise the head (righting reflex) - vocalization - palpebral reflex (run finger along the

eyelash and if the pig blinks or moves its eye, the pig is sensible)

- response to a painful stimulus (such as a nose prick with a needle)

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Confirming Death •  No breathing •  No heart beat •  No movement or muscle tone •  No response to painful stimulus (such as a

nose prick with a needle) •  No vocalization •  No corneal reflex (the eye blinks when an object touches the cornea)

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Penetrating Captive Bolt • Advantages: – Lower human safety risk than gunshot – Continued use is inexpensive. • Disadvantages: – Exsanguination or pithing may be required – Adequately restrained animal and direct contact are

often needed – Aesthetically displeasing – Some skill and training needed – No “one size fits all”

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Gunshot • Advantages: – Immediate unconsciousness – Inexpensive – Does not require direct contact with the animal. • Disadvantages: – Ricochet may be dangerous to operator and bystanders. – Security of the firearm – May be difficult to get positioned in order to accurately hit the vital target area – Aesthetically displeasing – Some skill and training required

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Carbon Dioxide

• Advantages: – Inexpensive – Minimal hazard to personnel – More aesthetic than blunt trauma to the

head • Disadvantages: – Transient muscle spasms prior to death – Only practical for small pigs

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02468101214161820222426

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Percentage Sow-Euthanasia

Sow-DeathGilt-EuthanasiaGilt-Death

Percentage of death and euthanasia among sows and gilts based on the day of removal.

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Low exit weight

2030405060708090100

7 8 9 10 11Weight cut-off

Pro

po

rtio

n (

%)

Proportion <35lbs captured Proportion <35 lbs at exit

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The questions

•  Is euthanasia a responsibility of the farm?

•  Is euthanasia a responsibility of the employee?

•  How do we avoid procrastination? •  How do we protect employees?

–  Is aesthetics a consideration?

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