Welfare challenges and euthanasia

Question 1

Describe the teeth reduction mutilation

Answer 1

Piglets have deciduous milk teeth which point outwards – piglet use these to fight for a teat -> infections
Teeth grinders available. Should be used over teeth clipping as these can expose the pulp cavity or split the tooth

Question 2

Describe the tail docking mutilation

Answer 2

• The tail isn’t innervated at the end – should be removed up until this point only.
• Use thermal cautery – day old piglets. Mild welfare issue at this age but prevents a huge welfare issue later on
• Farms have to be reviewed every 3 months to revise these issues

Question 3

Describe the ear notching mutilation

Answer 3

Permanent identification of a breeding animal
Red tractor = 1 notch
Some spp will receive multiple notches

Question 4

Describe castration as a mutilation

Answer 4

Legal in the UK but not allowed under red tractor
No anaesthetic

Question 5

Describe the legality of growth promotors

Answer 5

Hormones: Banned for the use of growth promotion in the whole EU for almost 35 years
Antibiotics: Last two were banned in the EU in 2006
There are many countries in the World where this is not the case

Question 6

List the 5 freedoms

Answer 6

Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from fear and distress
Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Freedom to exhibit natural behaviour
Freedom from discomfort

Question 7

List the signs of good health in pigs

Answer 7

Bright, Responsive, Eating/drinking well
Quiet, settled breathing
Normal colour/consistency of muck
Normal urine
Good skin & colour
‘Barking’
Normal temperature

Question 8

List the methods of pig restraint

Answer 8

Snare
Pig boards
Environment – walkways, gates
Crates – farrowing, free access
Crowding, Holding

Question 9

On farm, a competent trained person should be available to attend when if needed?

Answer 9

Within one hour, 365 days of the year

Question 10

Who can perform euthanasia on pig farms?

Answer 10

Persons who have been formally trained and assessed
- Competence must be reassessed by the farm’s vet every 2 years

Question 11

Describe the key features of euthanasia on farm

Answer 11

• Euthanasia must be carried out in a suitable location that avoids distress of the animal and potential onlookers
• Checks must be made to ensure that the method of euthanasia has been effective
• Legally: “Emergency killing” - not for human consumption

Question 12

What is the overriding legislation on farm?

Answer 12

Animal Welfare Act 2006

Question 13

As a part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, when may be person be considered to have made an offence?

Answer 13

• “A person commits an offense if they carry out an act which causes an animal to suffer unnecessarily”
• “A person commits an offense if they fail to act which causes an animal to suffer unnecessarily”

Question 14

Describe the legal rules of euthansia

Answer 14

• Killing must result in unconsciousness immediately & remain so until death
• All methods of stunning are followed by bleeding or pithing
• Animals must be restrained in an appropriate manner so as to spare them avoidable pain, suffering agitation, injury or contusion
• Method chosen must not endanger human life

Question 15

What conditions may require emergency killing?

Answer 15

• Injury
• Conditions/diseases unlikely to respond to treatment
• Conditions/diseases not responding to treatment
• Runts: at the time they are recognised to be potentially suffering
• Herniated pigs: at the time they are recognised to be potentially suffering

Question 16

Which killing method of pigs can only be carried out by a vet?

Answer 16

Lethal injection

Question 17

How is death defined?

Answer 17

The irreversible loss of all functions in the brainstem responsible for the control of respiration and circulation

Question 18

Describe the process of death

Answer 18

• Loss of heartbeat or breathing eventually leads to brain death from lack of oxygen
• Brain death leads to lack of spontaneous breathing which then results in lack of oxygen to the heart and cardiac arrest
• Can take 3-4minutes for the process to be complete

Question 19

Describe the function of the captive bolt method

Answer 19

Does not kill – is designed not to…want to get a better bleed from the carcass as the heart still beats

Question 20

Describe the considerations of using the captive bolt method

Answer 20

Emergency use does not require a licence
Pig must be restrained well – static head
Must follow up with another method to kill the pig
Maintenance of the gun is of high importance

Question 21

How does the captive bolt work?

Answer 21

• Rapid acceleration of skull
• Lag of brain
• Brain strikes skull -> Sudden increase in intra- cranial pressure
• Disruption in normal electrical activity
• Damage to nerves and blood vessels from shearing forces, and actual bolt itself
• Length of time of unconsciousness depends on severity of damage

Question 22

The effectiveness of the captive bolt depends on which factors?

Answer 22

• Correct positioning: site and angle
• Speed of the bolt force - size of cartridge
• Correct maintenance of equipment
• A static head – snare is vital!
• The pig is the most difficult animal to stun correctly

Question 23

Describe the correct positioning for the captive bolt

Answer 23

In line with the lateral canthus – then up by about 2cm. central positioning

Question 24

Describe the tonic stage of stunning

Answer 24

• Pig collapses immediately unconscious
• Stops breathing, becomes rigid with head raised, forelegs extended and hindlimbs flexed
• Eyes fixed and immobile, staring with no blink reflex – corneal reflex is the first to return so any animal showing this reflex should be shot again

Question 25

Describe the clonic stage of stunning

Answer 25

• Unconscious but muscles start to relax, then involuntary kicking occurs, lasting up to 1-2 mins
• Watch out for recovery within 30-60 seconds – must make sure the animal is still unconscious before killing
• The stun becomes ineffective, clonic activity fades and rhythmic breathing re-starts, blink reflex returns and pain can be felt

Question 26

How is the stun converted to a kill?

Answer 26

• Ensure brain stem destruction by pithing – vigorous to-and-fro movements with pithing rod
• Cause lack of oxygen to the brain stem by blood loss from bleeding out
• Use a sturdy and sharp knife to cut across neck from ear to ear

Question 27

How can you check for death?

Answer 27

Fixed eye, no blink
No signs of breathing
Heart has stopped

Question 28

How should you prepare for pig euthanasia

Answer 28

Captive bolt with Extra cartridge
Method of restraint
Method of kill
Ear defenders

Question 29

Describe shotgun use for euthanasia in pigs

Answer 29

• Requires a license, or can be used under supervision
• Can use the same point as for a captive bolt or can use ear base to opposite eye, or the reverse – don’t need restraint.
• Don’t need a follow up kill method with a free bullet
• Safety is of major importance for other people and yourself – use on soft ground

Question 30

Describe euthanasia in piglets

Answer 30

• Blunt trauma: under 5kg, hit with a blunt object, or against one current debate with Defra about legal status
• SA Tool (Turkey stunner): needs proper restraint. Less efficacious with larger pigs (3kg and above – Defra states up to 10Kg)
• Barbiturate overdose - Intracardiac / intraperitoneal

Question 31

Which method of euthanasia is illegal on farms?

Answer 31

CO2 gassing

Question 32

What is the method of choice for pet pig euthanasia?

Answer 32

Gun (free bullet or captive bolt)