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.