Timely Euthanasia

  Revised from the Pork Checkoff Fact Sheet: Timely Euthanasia – Well-being and Financial Implications

By: Margaret Ross, Livestock Agent – Craven & Jones Counties

It is reality that all swine farms may have sick, injured, or ill animals at some point, and unfortunately, euthanasia may be the best option. Timely euthanasia is extremely important to ensure the well being of the animal, as well as to lower costs associated with caring for compromised animals.

When deciding on the proper method for euthanasia, there are several considerations to be made: 1- human safety – not putting producers and employees in danger; 2- pig well-being – goal is to minimize stress or pain to animal; 3- technical skill requirements – method should be easy to learn and repeated with same outcome; 4- costs – needs to be economical for the producer; 5- aesthetics – should not be questionable to the employee performing the procedure; 6- limitations – certain methods are only suitable to particular sizes of pigs.

            “Timely” euthanasia is defined as animals that are not showing improvement after two days of treatment or are severely injured or are non-ambulatory. Also, if an animal has a body condition score of 1 (scale goes up to 5), it should be euthanized right away. It is important to have a written plan for euthanasia and make sure employees and managers have the proper training they need to perform these procedures. By developing a plan, it becomes easier to decide if you need to treat an animal or if the animal needs to be humanely euthanized.

North Carolina State University conducted a research study, which showed that farms who euthanized compromised nursery pigs as soon as they arrived to the farm were able to improve the well-being profile of their farm herd seven-fold. It was also found that it was best to have clear-cut criteria for euthanasia so these difficult decisions are made with all the right aspects in mind.

Other factors that were used in determining euthanasia in nursery pigs in this study were: suspected of having a broken leg, skin wounds on all four quarters as well as both sides of body, abscesses 2.5 cm or larger, respiratory disease, and weak and difficulty getting to their water and feed. As you can see, there is a lot that goes into deciding on timely euthanasia of an animal. It is important to work with your integrator, farm manager, and employees to make sure you are all on the same page when this controversial topic presents itself.

For more information, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office and speak with your Livestock Agent or visit the National Pork Board online at pork.org.

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Eastern Carolina Cattlemen's Conference - coming up in December!

Agent and Volunteer Training - Great Opportunity for you!

Email me at Margaret_Ross@ncsu.edu for the registration form!

Chick Chain Laying Hen Auction - Come check us out!

Complete Herd Dispersal - Need some cows?

Want to learn how to AI your cows? This is the class for you!

Another great opportunity for women cattle handlers!

2014 Southeast Bull Expo & Sale

Hope to see everyone at the upcoming bull expo and sale! 

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Great opportunity!

PEDv - What you need to know

By: Margaret Ross, Livestock Agent - Craven & Jones Counties

There is a lot of talk right now about PED virus – Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus. (Porcine is the scientific name for swine.) I wanted to take a minute and share with you what information you should know as a consumer.

                  PEDv is a fairly new virus to the United States but is widespread in other parts of the world; it has been here for a little less than a year. The greatest effect is on baby pigs from birth to around three weeks of age causing nearly 100% mortality; however, it is not devastating to the sow (mother pigs) population. It is highly contagious between pigs and is typically fatal in very young animals. Older pigs will have acute diarrhea from which they will recover. The swine industry is working diligently to produce an effective vaccine, but there are multiple strains of the virus making that process very difficult.

                  This virus is not zoonotic, meaning it does not affect humans. It also does not affect pork quality. Consumers should not be concerned for their food safety, since it only affects growth and development of the pigs, not their meat quality or food safety. Many of you are probably wondering if this will affect prices at the grocery store for pork. At this time, it is not affecting pork prices, but it is likely to increase prices over the coming months due to the decrease in marketable pigs.

The virus likely spreads more easily in cold and wet conditions making biosecurity practices that limit the transmission of disease between farms even more important than usual. Biosecurity practices include things like foot baths when entering hog houses as well as making sure to wear different clothes / boots on each farm and shower in / shower out facilities. In addition, trailers / tires are sprayed with a disinfectant to lower the risk of the virus spreading. Individuals visiting multiple farms in a short period of time should be aware of each farm’s status and try to visit PED-positive farms at the end of the schedule.

                  Some reports may have created confusion regarding the current strategy in place to deal with the virus. There is a veterinary-approved practice of taking pigs that already died from the virus and feeding their intestinal tissue back to the sows to allow her to build up antibodies to this virus, which she then passes on to her new piglets, in turn protecting them from the virus. Until there is an efficacious, FDA approved vaccine, this practice remains the best and only option for the industry in dealing with the virus and reducing the spread and future losses within the farm.

                  The public should also not be concerned about groundwater; PEDv does not affect groundwater. Hog producers are following very strictly-enforced regulations on the burial and disposal of these animals. Producers are doing the best they can to make sure the pigs are comfortable and taken care of in the best manner possible.

                  North Carolina is number two in pork production in the nation, so this is a very important issue for us at this time. This industry accounts for over $2.5 billion in North Carolina annually. The swine industry provides a wholesome, safe product for you and your family to eat. The United States food supply is extremely regulated and that will not change.

                  If you have any other questions, please contact your local Cooperative Extension livestock agent, your local swine veterinarian, the North Carolina Pork Council, the National Pork Board, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division, or any other swine industry representative. Feel free to contact me directly with questions at Margaret_Ross@ncsu.edu.

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.  In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.  North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)

By: Margaret Ross

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

Adapted from: NCDA & CS Veterinary Division – Animal Health Programs – Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) & information from Dr. Linnea Theisen, Eastern Equine Associates Mobile Veterinary Service

            Have you ever heard of Equine Infectious Anemia or EIA? According to an article from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services…

            EIA is a viral and infectious disease found in equids. It can accompany an illness that may be acute, subacute or chronic and can also be subclinical in some cases. EIA is a worldwide problem and has been reported in all of the mainland states. The only known natural hosts of this disease are ponies, horses, mules and donkeys. Typically, the outbreaks occur during late summer or early fall and also overlap with the peak of biting insect populations. However, if EIA is transmitted via a hypodermic needle, new infections can be produced at any time during the year.

            A retrovirus is what causes EIA and it is related to the lentivirus that causes AIDS in humans. At this time, it is thought that the equine virus does not affect people. EIA has been found in milk, saliva, and blood of diseased horses but typically loses its efficacy outside of the horse’s body. Boiling, sunlight, and most chemical disinfectants destroy the virus. However, once a horse has the virus, they carry it for life – regardless of how severe their symptoms are.

            The disease is transmitted by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection of blood contaminated with the disease. Insects that suck blood can also be a source of infection transfer. The incubation period for the virus is around 14 days but could be much longer. Symptoms often include a high fever of 104 – 108 degrees F., lessened appetite, drastic loss of physical condition, severe depression, incoordination, jaundice, increased heart rate, swelling of legs and lower abdomen, and a yellowish or bloody discharge from the nose, along with other symptoms.

            Clinical diagnosis is very difficult and needs to include regular observations of the horse as well as recording body temperature twice daily. EIA should also be distinguished from babesiosis, which is a blood disease that is transmitted from ticks. It can be diagnosed by blood studies and is rare in North Carolina.

            An antibody test that is positive is thought to be the same as being infected, even if symptoms do not concur with diagnosis. How severe the symptoms are depends on the amount of virus in the blood at any particular time. Currently, a vaccine is not available and there is no treatment or cure, other than supportive care.  If your horse is showing signs of EIA, isolate them until testing is complete. If the immunodiffusion test comes back positive, immediate euthanasia must be considered. At this point, the state veterinarian takes over and the horse must be either euthanized or isolated by a certain number of miles from other horses. In addition, the horse must never be moved from that property or change owners without getting approval from the state veterinarian.

How can you be safe? You should only buy horses known to be negative with the immunodiffusion test and require a copy of those records. Be extremely careful with equipment that can transmit blood from one horse to another. Fly / insect control, cleanliness, and careful use of pesticides are all encouraged. If an EIA-positive horse must be kept, that horse should be isolated from the others. Horse owners who have known EIA-positive horses need to be aware of federal regulations when moving these horses.

In addition, it is important to note that you should always have proof of a current Coggins anytime you move your horse from your property, even if you’re just going to trail ride. Barns that board horses are also required to have current Coggins on all the horses. Don’t purchase horses without a current negative Coggins test or transport horses without one. If a horse owner brings a horse onto their farm without a current Coggins, they should separate that horse (quarantine) until the test results return. In order to get a health certificate, a current Coggins test is required; health certificates are required for horses crossing state lines. If you do not have a current Coggins and health certificate in this case, your horses, truck, and trailer can all be confiscated!

            Horse owners can have their veterinarian submit a sample to test for EIA to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Visit http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/FactSheets/equine.htm for more information and the full article. If you would like more information on EIA, please contact your veterinarian.

            North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.  In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.  North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

4-H Chick Chain

Information for media sites from Eve Honeycutt. Don't forget to contact your LOCAL agent for details and to register. Thanks and we can't wait to get this Chick Chain started!!

LOCAL AGENT INFO: Craven & Jones Counties - Margaret Ross - (252) 448.9621 - Margaret_Ross@ncsu.edu

4-H Chick Chain
Teaching Children responsibility, animal husbandry, and money management through raising and selling chickens!

Do your children love animals? Do you have a little extra space in your yard? Would you like your kids to learn about money management? The 4-H Chick Chain may be right for you!

What is a 4-H Chick Chain?
Each child will receive 10 chicks of laying breeds in May. Your child and at least one parent will have attended an orientation meeting about how to raise your chickens at home. Through 4-H you will receive information and training on how to properly show a chicken. You will feed and care for your chicks until the Southeast Chick Chain Show and Sale. At the Show and Sale, you will return with 3 of your birds. You will show your birds and offer them for sale at auction. The majority of the money you receive for your birds is yours to keep, and a small portion is returned to 4-H so we can purchase the birds for the next year.

What’s in it for me?
A 4-H Chick Chain is a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to get started with chickens. Chickens are easy to raise and very popular as pets. The concept of a chain allows some of the chickens to stay at home and encourages the child to manage a flock through selling eggs.

When is the Show and Sale?
The Southeast Chick Chain Show and Sale is November 8, 2014. On this day, each child will return with 3 of their birds to show them and win awards. Afterwards an open auction will be held and the birds will be for sale to the public.

When do I get my chicks?
Chick pick up day will be sometime in May. We are working with a hatchery to determine the exact day.

How do I sign up?
The Entry deadline is March 3, 2014. All youth must pay $25 and have the entry forms filled out.

Keeping Your Horse Comfortable During Cold Weather

By: Dr. Mike Yoder, NCSU Animal Science

The Christmas song, Baby it’s Cold Outside, made famous by Lee Ann Womack with Harry Connick, Jr., pretty well describes the 2013 winter to date.  To make matters worse, 65⁰ one day, followed by 36⁰ the next, is hard on humans and horses alike.   I have put on a jacket more times this winter than in the past 3 winters combined and more than once pulled out a heavy jacket for a 26⁰ morning.  So, what about the comfort of your horse?

As is the case with humans, some horses handle cold temperatures better than others.  A normal Fall, when temperatures decline steadily over a 2 month period allows healthy horses to grow a full winter coat.  The normal equine winter coat will protect most horses from cold temperatures and wind but, throw in rain on top of wind and chilling temperatures and even the best of coats may not provide adequate relief.  This is the Rule of 2 Out of Three.  Simply put, a healthy horse can generally withstand a combination of two of the three extreme environmental conditions (wind, rain, cold temperatures) but may need assistance keeping warm when all three conditions exist in combination.  Then, there are always those horses that do not grow sufficient coats to handle even two of the three factors comfortably.

Options for helping horses handle the winter weather include, stabling the horse during extreme weather, blanketing the horse as needed or providing windbreaks that provide needed protection.  Just a quick word about stabling horses during the winter.  Most barns are built more for human comfort than for that of the horse.  Avoid heating barns if horses are going to be spending at least part of their time outdoors each day.  Research indicates that horse health is enhanced if the inside temperature of the barn is no more than 10⁰ warmer than the outside temperature.  So, if the inside of your barn is more than 10⁰ warmer than the outside, you may need to blanket your horses when turning them out.

So, when should you blanket your horse?  Answer: when all three of the above mentioned weather conditions exist or when the temperature drops low enough to make your horse uncomfortable.  Observe your horse multiple times each day to be sure it is not shivering.  A horse that is really cold may shiver like you and I do.  If your horse has a poor winter hair coat, you should anticipate this problem.  If the weather report calls for cold temperatures, wind and precipitation and horses do not have shelter, make plans to blanket those horses that need it.  Remember, just because your horse didn’t show signs of being cold during one weather event, does not mean it won’t the next time. 

Blankets come in all different sizes and colors and, like cars, come with many options.  Do you want a closed front or buckled/Velcro front?  How much insulation do you want?  What denier should the outer shell be?  Denier refers to the fineness of the yarn/thread that was used to make the product and thus, the ability of the material to keep wind and water out.  A higher denier indicates a higher level of protection and durability.  How much insulation do you want, 200 grams, 400 grams?  Do you want a cut-back neck line or regular?  The cut-back neck line works well for some horses and may actually help the blanket fit better. 

To provide the greatest comfort and to avoid slippage, a blanket should fit the horse properly.  Measure the horse from the center of the chest to the point-of-the-buttock (as viewed from the side) to determine proper blanket size.  Blankets may be sold according to the length in inches or as Small (60”-66”), Medium (69”-72”) or Large (>74”).  If you will turn horses out in a blanket during cold weather, it should be a heavy duty blanket with double stitching and reinforced stress points.

For extreme cases, you may also include a hood.  Hoods give extra protection and are made having most of the same properties as blankets.  Hoods should have large eye holes, so the horse can see effectively and usually attach to the blanket by means of one or more elastic straps so the horse may extend its head to the ground for feeding purposes.  Also, for horses turned out in a blanket, be sure the blanket and hood are waterproof.  During extended rain your horse will likely get at least partially wet anyway, but water proof materials will extend the protection and extend the life of the blanket. Higher quality blankets may include materials that actually wick-heat and moisture away from the horses skin if the horse gets too hot.  This is particularly helpful for young horses that may run and play while blanketed and when temperatures vary throughout the day. 

A couple of points to remember: 1.  We blanket the horse to protect it from the elements.  Some horses will actually sweat from being blanketed, especially if a hood is used in combination.  If your horse sweats while wearing a blanket, cool the horse and re-evaluate the need for a blanket at that temperature.  2.  When purchasing blankets for turnout, it is recommended that materials of greater than 1200 denier be used because of their strength and durability.  3.  In cold weather, feeding additional hay to horses will actually help generate more body heat than feeding an equal amount of additional grain; a practical way to keep your horse comfortable during cold weather.