Updates on swine euthanasia, concern reporting & ISU research Suzanne Millman, PhD Associate Professor, Animal Welfare Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University
Setting the standards for euthanasia AVMA Panel on Euthanasia good death Painless Does not involve fear or distress Other practical considerations: Worker safety Aesthetics, acceptability Technical skills, reliability Cost, including carcass disposal Dr. Jan Shearer, euthanasia Training workshop ISU 2009
Peer-reviewed research for mechanical methods Technique age Latency paddling Exsang Gunshot & exsang HP water & exsang Non-penetr Captive bolt Pneumatic NP captive bolt Blunt force trauma 4 wks (n=5) 240 kg sow (n=1) 90 kg (n=6) 7-8 wks (n=6) <24h (n=99) <24h (n=99) NA Latency death 213s (RR) 5 mn (HR) Return to sensibility Reference 0% Blackmore et al 1981 120s NA 0% Blackmore et al 1995 62s 20s (HR) 0% Schatzmann et al 1991 NA 4h+ NA (anesth) Finnie et al 2003 125s 409s (HR) 13% Widowski 2008 68s 171s (HR) 0% Widowski 2008
Validation of captive bolt technology as a single step euthanasia method for swine Millman S, Woods J, Hill J, Schwartz K, Brooks R, Main R, Grandin T
Evaluation of captive bolt as killing method for on-farm euthanasia anesthetized pigs Brain trauma scores were consistent with instantaneous loss of consciousness Secondary step (exsanguination) was necessary for 4 pigs Non-penetrating head was too powerful Woods, J, Hill, J., Millman, S.T., Schwartz, K., Grandin, T., Main, R., NPB project
Live animal trials 7 weight classes of pig Suckler, Weaner, Nursery, Grower, Market, Breeding (gilts/young boars), Mature (>500lbs) Non-penetrating head used for sucklers and weaners. 3 bolt lengths and different cartridges were used for captive bolt pistol for 5 larger weights 10 pigs were euthanized by each stockperson 3 stockpeople for each weight class (30 pigs) Total 210 pigs Millman, S.T., Woods, J, Hill, J., Schwartz, K., Brooks, R, NPB project
Results 8/210 pigs (3.8%) required a second shot 5 mature boars, weight classes 6&7 (17%) 4 were euthanized by same stockperson, faulty placement Stockman most often performing task had 100% success snared all boars 2 mature sows, weight classes 6&7 (7%) Both euthanized by same stockperson, faulty placement due to sow movement, not flush with head 1 suckler (faulty cartridge)
Median latency to cease movement (minutes) Weight Minimum Maximum suckler 1:10 4:24 weaner 1:06 5:35 nursery 1:08 2:46 grower 1:05 6:52 market 1:08 8:45 breeding 1:53 10:40
Median latency to death no pulse detected (minutes) Weight Minimum Maximum suckler 2:12 6:50 weaner 1:54 8:21 nursery 1:31 6:47 grower 1:20 5:40 market 1:18 4:50 breeding 3:07 10:36
Take home messages Our research results indicate that captive bolt was an effective single stage euthanasia method for 5 of the weight classes of pig Mature sows and boars remain the most difficult class for mechanical euthanasia. Placement and angle is important. Snaring was associated with greater success Individual differences betweens stockpeople likely due to experience/practice
Non-penetrating Captive Bolt The Zephyr Developed and approved by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture for stunning rabbits in abattoirs Similar to device approved for euthanasia of poultry in the UK Pneumatic nailer gun redesigned and fitted with a nylon head and powered by a portable air compressor set to 120 PSI
Modified Zephyr project Teresa Casey, MS student, PI: Dr. Tina Widowski, UoGuelph Effectiveness of the modified Zephyr on neonatal piglets (<72 hrs) Jan-February 2010, 100 piglets completed Arkell Research Station- Guelph 20 piglets 2 stock people Iowa State University- Ames, IA Elite Pork Products 80 piglets 8 stock people Effectiveness of non-penetrating captive bolt (Zephyr) and restraint for euthanasia of piglets from birth to 9 kg. Widowski, Millman, Lawliss. National Pork Board project
Time (s) 700 Stock Person Averages 600 500 400 300 End Leg Movements End Heart Beat 200 100 0 Figure 1 1. Stock 2person averages. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mean (± SEM) duration of leg movements Stock and Person heart ID beat were calculated for each group of 10 piglets euthanized by an individual stock person. Ten stock people were compared. Time was recorded in seconds starting at the firing of the first shot of the Zephyr.
Questionnaire All 10 stock people completed individual questionnaire after euthanizing 10 piglets with Zephyr Assess background in swine industry and euthanasia experience Determine individual opinions of Zephyr effectiveness Ten point scale 1=ineffective : 10= highly effective Average rating: 8.7 ± 1.6
Evaluation of rate of administration of CO 2 and a CO 2 :Argon gas mixture for euthanasia of suckling and nursery piglets Sadler, L., Hagen, C., Wang, C., & Millman S. National Pork Board Project #09-197
Minutes Latency to loss of posture (weaned piglets) 5 I 4 3 2 a b I b II c III 1 0 Slow Medium Fast Prefill 100% CO2 50:50 CO2:Argon Superscripts indicate differences between flow rates, within gas type, P < 0.05 Minute values are raw means Statistical difference determined from the Univarate product-limit estimation of the survival curves 17
Minutes Age effects on latency to loss of posture (P<0.001) 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 100% CO 2 Slow Medium Fast Prefill Weaned Neonate 18
Take home messages The addition of Argon at 50% of gas volume slowed response times, without decreasing incidence of irritation or distress Argon at different concentrations (lower CO 2 concentrations) may result in less distress 100% CO 2 @ 50% of chamber volume per minute is our current recommendation Pre-fill works just as well or slightly better Distress is still observed When utilizing CO 2 or 50:50 CO 2 :Argon, neonate piglets succumbed to the gases faster than weaned piglets 19
Future directions in euthanasia research at ISU Mechanical methods Restraint of piglets needed for caretaker safety Gas methods (USDA AFRI grants) Why do some piglets appear resistant to gas euthanasia techniques? Can we find a gas or gas mixture that is not aversive to piglets? What euthanasia technologies are preferred by caretakers performing the task and by the
Developing validated and objective industry-ready tools to assess joint pain manifestation and lameness in the sow A. K. Johnson 1, L. A. Karriker 1, S. T. Millman 1, J. Coetzee 2 and K. J. Stalder 1 1 Iowa State University, Department of Animal Sciences 2 Kansas State University
4. GaitFour 1. Home pens 2. Embedded force plate system Cameras to capture motion 3. Walking race
Sow Lameness Detection System Measures weight of each hoof independently Coated with non-slip epoxy Accurate to 0.45 kg (1 lb.) Fits standard gestation / farrowing stall SFPMS recording software Integrate into feed management programs
Weight / hoof, kg Weight / hoof, kg Weight / hoof, kg Weight / hoof, kg Sows were injected in the distal interphangeal joint space with 10mg amphotericin B Weight placed on the injected hoof went down compared to baseline and resolution (P < 0.05)
Findings Preliminary results indicate that the embedded force plate is sensitive enough to detect weight bearing differences between treated and untreated hooves in the sow Thus, work presented today has begun to address behavioral kinematics whilst walking and standing when sows are experiencing differing levels of lameness pain
NON-STEROIDAL ANTI- INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAID) TO MITIGATE PAIN IN LAME SOWS Kathleen Tapper, 1 Anna Johnson, 2 Locke Karriker, 1 Kenneth Stalder, 2 Johann Coetzee, 3 Rebecca Parsons, 1 and Suzanne Millman 1* 1 Iowa State University 1600 S 16th, Ames, IA 50011, USA; 2 Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine 1800 Denison Ave., Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Pressure Algometry PA: Wagner Force Ten FDX 50 Compact Digital Force Gage, Wagner Instruments, CT, USA 1 cm 2 flat rubber tip Application rate = 1 kgf/second (2.2 lbf/second) Ceiling/max force = 10 kgf (22 lbf) Measures taken at 3 landmarks on each hind limb in randomized sequence, triplicate Cannon= Middle of the cannon (non-painful control site) Outer = ½ inch (1.3 cm) above the coronary band on the outer/lateral claw Inner = ½ inch (1.3 cm) above the coronary band on the inner/medial claw.
Pressure Algometry MNT (kgf) 9.00 8.00 ** ** * 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 OUTER INNER CANNON OUTER INNER CANNON DAY-1 DAY+1 Lame Hind Leg 7.70 7.44 6.51 1.14 1.57 3.61 Sound Hind Leg 7.44 7.78 6.93 7.23 8.18 7.67 * P < 0.01; ** P < 0.001
MNT (kgf) 9.00 8.00 7.00 * a NSAIDs administered Day+2 to Day+5 * b * b * b 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 LAME SOUND DAY +1 DAY +6 DAY +6 DAY +6 Control SS FM a-b Treatments and trial days without a common superscript differ (P < 0.05) * Denotes differences between sound and lame leg (P < 0.05)
Study Conclusions 1. Evaluate effectiveness of sodium salicylate (SS) to mitigate pain associated with lameness in sows. No positive effect or reduction in pain as tested with pressure algometry 2. Evaluate effectiveness of flunixin meglumine (Banamine ) (FM) to mitigate pain associated with lameness in sows. No positive effect or reduction in pain as tested with pressure algometry
Acknowledgements ISU Animal Welfare Researcher Team: Dr. Anna Johnson, Dr. Locke Karriker, Dr. Hans Coetzee, Dr. Ken Stalder Becky Parsons, Ray Brooks, Graduate student team Larry Sadler (PhD), Monique Pairis (PhD), Jennifer Woods (MS), Katie Tapper (MS) National Pork Board, Iowa Pork Producers Association, IHLAC, USDA-AFRI University of Guelph (Dr. Widowski) Value Added Science & Technology (V-AST) Murphy Brown LLC IA & MO Elite Pork Products Bunzle Processor Division