17/03/2014 1 Lotta Berg Dept. of Animal Environment and Health
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara Lotta Berg Dept.
of Animal Environment and Health Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Skara Presentation given at Neiker, Vitoria Gasteiz,
Spain, March 17th 2014 Background Veterinarian Researcher Teacher
Previously: Veterinary Officer at the Swedish Board of Agriculture
(National Competent Authority for animal health and welfare)
Contact Point 1099/2009 (EU Regulation) Structure of this
presentation Different types of poultry and poultry production
Reasons for euthanasia Large scale emergencies Contingency planning
Monitoring animal welfare at on farm killing Critical points,
follow up and reporting Different methods in practice Non emergency
euthanasia Presentation Pdf hand outs will be available afterwards.
Without some of the pictures Photos from many different
countries.
17/03/2014 2 Introduction Different types of poultry Broilers,
laying hens, turkeys, ducks, geese Different behaviour Different
biology Different housing systems Different methods of euthanasia?
Biology and behaviour Body size and conformation Flying? Running?
Sensitive to carbon dioxide? Todays presentation will focus on
layers and broilers, but often relevant also to other types of
poultry. Reasons for euthanasia Planned Unwanted dayold chicks
(layer males, malformed chicks) End of lay hens (entire flocks)
Surplus animals (e.g. breeding males in broiler breeder flocks)
Emergencies Single sick or injured birds Entire flocks suffering
from disease Entire flocks suffering from transmissible,
epidemic/zoonotic disease (e.g. Newcastle, Avian Influenza) Single
birds Single birds Most important: locate and euthanize How? Neck
dislocation Preferably after stunning Not too many animals Large
scale emergencies Non planned Often large number of birds Potential
risk of spreading the disease Disease control and eradication
purposes
17/03/2014 3 Prevention! Feed and water Rodents and wild birds
Poultry bought Contact with other flocks Visitors Veterinarians
Advisors Neighbours Owner/Farmer/Staff Transport, equipment Wind
Biosecurity Rodent and wild bird control Visitor control
Farmer/staff control Poultry control (surveillance, sampling)
Contingency planning Is it possible to plan for the unexpected? Yes
possible and absolutely necessary! Plans for emergency killing of
whole flocks, i.e. depopulation Flocks infected and diagnosed with
a specific disease Flocks with an undiagnosed disease Pre emptive
culling Welfare culling (Culling of flocks to avoid over crowding,
when slaughter is not an option and running out of feed)
Contingency planning Conditions will vary! Reason for killing How
urgent? Zoonosis? (Workers safety) Number of birds Age of the birds
Type of birds Type of housing Methods available Staff available
Cost Having just one master plan is not enough! Species and method
specific standard operating procedures (SOP:s) are necessary.
Contingency planning Contingency planning is an overall
responsibility of the authorities. Also relevant at the farm level.
Prepare for the unexpected!
17/03/2014 4 Contingency planning People involved As few as
possible if dealing with a zoonosis As little human bird contact as
possible if a zoonosis People available Who has relevant knowledge?
Who is paying? Farmer, veterinarian, staff Responsibilities Who is
in charge? At the central/regional level: Competent authorities Who
makes decisions on what method to apply, how to do it and when? At
the farm: Again who makes decisions? Who is supervising biosecurity
and animal welfare? Commercial companies specialising in such
operations? Make sure to settle an agreement on responsibilities
Media attention part of the contingency planning Ethical issues
Newspaper coverage TV cameras Discussions in social media Who
should handle this discussion? The individual farmer? The
authorities? Someone else? Animal Welfare considerations The main
task is always to prevent further spread of disease (to humans or
animals). Biosecurity Speed is often essential Appropriately
trained staff available? Relevant equipment available? Occupational
hazards? Stressful both for the farmer and official staff Animal
welfare is an inherent aspect Decision making tree? One possibility
just an example: and so on Laying hens Infected 5000 birds Carbon
dioxide Animal Welfare considerations EU legislation 1099/2009
Various guidelines OIE: Methods applied should result in immediate
death or immediate loss of consciousness lasting until death. When
loss of consciousness is not immediate, the induction of
unconsciousness should be the least aversive possible to the
animal.
17/03/2014 5 Animal Welfare considerations Whenever possible:
use methods that are the same as, or similar to, methods used for
standard on farm killing of sick or injured birds or flocks unfit
for slaughter. Because: equipment is readily available, staff
experienced and knowledgeable. Not always possible, because of the
numbers involved. Animal Welfare considerations Animal welfare
aspects should be included in contingency planning and emergency
preparedness: Organisation Training Reporting Follow up Detailed
provisions on choice of method depending on species, number etc
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each method. Animal
Welfare considerations The entire depopulation operation must be
monitored from an animal welfare point of view. Lessons learned
should be applied in the future. Killing large numbers of animals
is not an easy task, mentally For large scale operations Staff
rotation and counselling Farmer participation?? Police Media On
farm Animal Welfare monitoring OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code:
Official veterinarian in charge OV appoints personnel and provides
guidance At each farm: Specialist team, with a team leader and
including a veterinarian (or with constant access to veterinary
advice). Team leader and veterinarian must have animal welfare
assessment competence.
17/03/2014 6 On farm Animal Welfare monitoring EU Regulation
1099/2009 Competent authority is responsible for depopulation for
disease control Shall establish an action plan to ensure compliance
with animal welfare regulation. Exceptional circumstances? Human
health at risk? Substantial delay? Competent authorities can allow
for derogations, on a case by case basis. Does not substitute
proper planning! On farm Animal Welfare monitoring Public demand
for transparency EU requirement: reports on depopulation should be
made public online. Reason for depopulation Number of animals
Species Methods used Any difficulties? Solutions? Monitoring
Observe and check the progress or quality of (something) over a
period in time, keep under systematic review Oxford Dictionary
Monitoring Not just watching and keeping records Taking relevant
corrective action when necessary Learning from current and previous
difficulties Authority to act! Critical Points Animal handling
prior to killing Where will the animals be killed? Stun quality
Effectiveness of the method used to render the birds unconscious
and dead Confirmation of death Prior to carcass disposal Critical
Points Everybody involved should know their roles and
responsibilities Everybody should participate in monitoring But it
is recommended to have a specific person in charge of overall
monitoring of animal welfare on site. This person must have
knowledge about Animal behaviour, physiology, signs of pain and
suffering, etcetera.
17/03/2014 7 Practical aspects in general Animal handling prior
to killing Animals should be handled as little as possible Staff
should know how to handle animals Personal protective clothing No
unnecessary disturbance from the media etc. Practical aspects in
general Verify that the necessary equipment for stunning and
killing is functioning. Monitor stun/kill quality frequently
Cleaning and maintenance, when necessary Verify gas concentration
when relevant Practical aspects in general Verify death, for each
individual bird Large numbers, great haste Systematic approach
Combination of different indicators Absence of heartbeat Cessation
of respiration Absence of movement over a longer period Presence of
rigor mortis Checklists To be developed by authorities,
advisory/extension services or producers organizations. Methods for
on farm depopulation Aspects to consider, for example: Reason for
killing How urgent? Zoonosis? (Workers safety) Biosecurity Number
of birds Age of the birds Type of birds Type of housing House
location and surroundings Owner attitude Methods available Staff
available Cost
17/03/2014 8 Barbiturate injections For veterinary use only
Useful for testing of individual birds, where physical trauma is
detrimental and gas too time consuming. Very time consuming for
larger numbers of birds. Difficult to inject correctly: Abdominal
injection: birds do not have an abdomen (!). But birds have air
sacks. Intravenous injections: requires training, applicable mainly
for larger species. Cervical dislocation Neck dislocation by
stretching and wringing (torsion) the neck, so that the spinal
column vertebrae are properly separated (i.e. dislocated). When
properly carried out, the blood vessels will rupture, and the bird
will bleed under the skin. Ensure proper separation. Manually: no
more than 70 birds per person/day Manually: Bird weight maximum 3
kg Cervical dislocation Not really a stunning method Preferable to
stun the birds first (usually by a blow to the head) Stick/
truncheon
17/03/2014 9 Mechanical neck dislocation: Broiler breeders
Remember do not just break/crush the neck stretching and torsion is
important. Mechanical neck dislocation: Geese Home built tool for
assisting neck dislocation in geese. Remember stretching plus
torsion. Blow to the head V shaped hook for neck dislocation Hard
plastic stick (truncheon) for blow to the head Captive bolt gun for
poultry A bolt that kills Two person operation Cash Poultry killer
Head only electrical stunning Followed by neck dislocation Gas
methods Carbon dioxide Anoxia (Nitrogen) Method of gas
administration Gas in container Liquid gas Foam gas
17/03/2014 10 Mode of action: CO2 Hypercapnia + hypoxia Lowers
pH Sedative effect Heavy gas (heavier than air, will build up from
the floor) Mammals and birds have chemoreceptors for CO2 It is
unpleasant (aversive) to inhale CO2 Gasping, head shaking Less
aversive at low concentrations: Better to start at lower
concentrations and gradually increase the concentration (but still
relatively rapidly). Carbon dioxide Mode of action: nitrogen Anoxia
Outcompetes oxygen Odourless No chemoreceptors, not aversive. Will
mix with air Difficult to contain Anoxia leads to convulsions
Always a gradual process Nitrogen Method of distribution Gas,
ambient temperature (CO2 in small amounts), welding gas (CO2 +
argon) Liquefied gas, very cold (CO2) Dry nitrogen ice (very cold)
Foam containing the gas (nitrogen) Workers safety. These gases are
as lethal for humans and other animals as they are for poultry!
Method of distribution In containers + Lower amount of gas needed.
+ Controlled, the dead birds are already collected. Staff has to
catch the birds first. Whole house + No catching or crating of live
birds needed. Minimal human live bird contact. + Dead birds are
easy to collect. Higher amount of gas needed. House must be
reasonably sealable Carbon dioxide in containers Small flocks.
Wheelie bins or small containers. In this case, the container is
filled with gas before the birds are placed in it. Carbon dioxide
in containers Medium size flocks, dumpsters In this case, the
container is filled with gas before the birds are placed in
it.
17/03/2014 11 CO2 or CO2+argon in containers In this case,
birds are placed in the container before the gas enters it. Carbon
dioxide whole house Medium large flocks For emergency depopulation,
but also end of lay hens Commercially available Preparations
Calculate the volume of the building Formula aiming at 80 % CO2: [
house volume (m3) x 1.8 x 0.80 ] Order the gas Order dumpsters for
the carcasses Drill a hole in the wall and insert a permanent tube
if not already present Seal the building but do not over seal Why
aiming at 80 %? Margins! Leakage Overkill The leading in tube High
pressure! Better to install the tube when building the house Seal
the building Remember: heavy gas. When adding 80 % CO2, air will
have to escape do not over pressurize the building. CO2 can leak to
adjacent compartments seal properly (egg belts, manure systems
etcetera) Make sure that the birds are not hit by the cold high
pressure gas beam Fence off the area near the inlet. Empty the
water line freezing.
17/03/2014 12 Safety Make sure that nobody is still inside the
house Turn off the ventilation (not earlier!) Connect the hose and
turn on the tap Beware the equipment gets very cold. Monitor the
process Snow fog Wait sufficiently long time Gas distribution time:
5 15 minutes, depending on house size. Wait at least 30 60 minutes
before turning on the ventilation again. Open the doors. Wait until
the CO2 has been removed from the building Remember: heavy gas:
remain standing up! Inspect the result
17/03/2014 13 Ensure that all birds are dead. Broilers Turkeys
Nitrogen Dry ice or under compression or N2 in gas foam Truck
delivery of compressed N2 (trial only). Not a heavy gas sealing
crucial. N2. Trial only! Difficult to seal commercial poultry
houses enough. Difficult to achieve low enough oxygen
concentration. Nitrogen in gas foam Small, medium and large farms
High expansion foam filled with gas (could be any type of gas).
Large bubbles that rupture when coming in contact with the birds.
Makes it possible to contain the gas where it is needed, i.e.
around the birds. Commercially available (n2gf.com) Not
specifically mentioned in 1099/2009, but inert gases are allowed,
and method of administration is not specified.
17/03/2014 14 Equipment needed: Disposable containers or used
in the whole house. Foam nozzles. Compressed nitrogen High
expansion foam detergent. Water tanks? If large amounts of water
needed. Sets of regulators and measuring equipment. N2 gas foam N2
gas foam Possible to use also in house, but not first choice. Fire
fighting foam Not legal in the EU (1099/2009), but used in the US.
Bubbles do not contain any specific gas (just air). Bubbles are
small and will cause occlusion of the respiratory tract. Birds die
from asphyxiation. Not recommended from an animal welfare point of
view. Ventilation shut down Not legal in the EU (but sometimes used
anyway, as a last resort). Shut ventilation down to increase
ambient temperature. Birds die from hyperthermia. Very slow for
birds with relatively low metabolism and in cold climates, slightly
more rapid for birds with high metabolism and in hot weather. Not
recommended from an animal welfare point of view! Summary For large
scale operations: Whole house CO2 Nitrogen gas foam in containers
(or in the house) For medium or small operations: Nitrogen foam or
CO2 in containers Or manual methods End of lay hens, which are not
suitable for slaughter
17/03/2014 15 Non emergency killing of small numbers of poultry
Stunning + manual neck dislocation Stunning + mechanical neck
dislocation Electrical dry or waterbath stunning + bleeding Non
emergency killing of large numbers of poultry Gas methods as
described above. Non emergency killing of large numbers of poultry
CO2 flow container / tunnel 87 Developed by the Danish company
Chickpulp Producer-owned Catching staff included, if asked for
3500-4000 birds/hour End product used as mink feed More manual
handling of live birds Difficult to sanitize the equipment.
Difficult to multiply rapidly 88 Design Minimum 60 + 120 seconds in
container, then maximum 60 sec to macerator 89 The hens become
unconscius and die in the container Window for inspection on the
other side. CO2 meter 90 The dead hens are transported from the
container to the macerator
17/03/2014 16 91 Vehicles and equipment Everything is stored on
the vehicle. Cold transport truck picks up the pulp. The vehicle
brings the gas tubes, and its own diesel generator for electrical
power. Hygiene, biosecurity! Further reading Berg, C., 2009.
Poultry welfare problems related to avian influenza and other
contagious diseases. Worlds Poultry Science Journal, book of
abstracts, WPSA Poultry Welfare Symposium, Cervia, Italy, 18 22
May, p70 74. Berg, C., 2012. The need for monitoring farm animal
welfare during mass killing for disease eradication purposes.
Animal Welfare, 21:357 361. OIE Terrestrial Animal Heath Code.
Chapter 7.6. Killing of animals for disease control purposes.
http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=0&htmfile=chapitre_1.7.6.htm
(In Spanish: http://www.oie.int/es/normas internacionales/codigo
terrestre/acceso en linea/?htmfile=chapitre_1.7.6.htm) European
Union 2009. Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of September 2009
on the protection of animals at the time of killing.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/slaughter/regulation_1099_2009_en.pdf
(In Spanish: http://eur
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:303:0001:0030:ES:PDF)