On-farm euthanasia: Efficient and safe (110 VAC) pig electrocution

摘要

In the context of animal production, on farm euthanasia is frequent. The producer has to make decisions when it comes down to animals that are fragilized, do not respond to medical treatments, those with permanent lesions, the non-ambulatory animals and all the others that need to be taken out of the production chain for any reason. Current animal welfare regulations demand adequate, safe and humane euthanasia procedures for swine of all ages. Any euthanasia techniques require humane and painless procedures that should avoid situations potentially leading to excitement, fear or pain of the animal. Contention and stress need to be as limited as possible and the euthanasia procedure has to assure rapid loss of conscience and death. The retained methods have to be efficacious, simple to execute, safe for the personnel performing the technique, and finally they need to be cost-effective. Last but not least, aesthetics of the whole procedure should not be forgotten, because the procedure needs to be acceptable operators and the general public. Unfortunately, few methods are available and producers are generally reluctant to euthanize their animals especially with traumatic approaches (captive bolt systemnual blunt trauma).