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Euthanasia and Critical Animal Care
This discussion will focus on non-ambulatory animals or “downers” and euthanasia. There
are several reasons for non-ambulatory or “downer” animals and they typically include
injury, disease, or nutritional related disorders. A prompt diagnosis should be made to determine
if the animal will respond to treatment and care or whether the animal should be euthanized.
Care and well being is a responsibility of livestock owners and caretakers who must make
every effort to provide proper care, treatment and an environment that’s conducive for
the animal to thrive. These animals cannot be sent to a local market or to a processing
facility if they are non-ambulatory. Euthanasia by definition is a humane death
without pain and suffering. The person performing the procedure should be knowledgeable of the
available methods and have the necessary skill to safely perform humane euthanasia. The veterinarian
has both the knowledge and the skills necessary. Sometimes, however, the animal’s well being
requires immediate euthanasia when the veterinarian is not immediately available. In this case,
the producer may need to perform on-farm euthanasia. It is essential that the producer possess
both the knowledge and the skill needed for humane euthanasia before proceeding. Calves
require special consideration in selecting the proper method of euthanasia. Ethical considerations
do not change the need for calves because they are small or more easily handled. Calves
can be easily euthanized with a penetrating captive bolt gun or an overdose of barbiturates.
When using barbiturates, make sure all legal restrictions are followed.
Bulls require special considerations as well, because of their size, attitude, and physical
thickness of their skulls. Operator safety is a primary concern when euthanizing bulls.
For certain techniques, proper restraint is going to be critical and required. Bulls may
be euthanized with a barbiturate overdose, a specialized heavy-duty captive bolt gun,
or with a 9 mm shot using a firearm. The use of firearms or captive bolt requires
skill and training. Persons using a firearm must understand the possibility of ricochet
and the possibility of injury to those that are present. Responsible individuals must
be knowledgeable and appropriately trained before proceeding. The correct location for
using a captive bolt or a firearm shot is in the intersection of a square between the
horns and the eyes. The reason for this cross between the horn and the eye of the opposite
side is that you are trying to hit the brain and the brain is located in the center of
the forehead and not between the eyes. Ethical and humane standards of euthanasia
do not allow the following methods of euthanasia in the bovine.
1. Using a manually applied blunt trauma to the head.
2. Also not approved is the injection of chemical agents of a conscious animal, using such things
as disinfectants, electrolytes such as potassium chloride or magnesium sulfate
3. Or other non-anesthetic pharmaceutical agents
4. Also not approved is air embolism 5. Also not acceptable is electrocution with
a 120-volt electrical cord. Use proper methods of carcass disposal once
an animal is put down in accordance with state federal and local regulations. These need
to be followed to the letter. If utilizing a rendering service, keep diseased livestock
in away from public view but close to the farm entrance to maintain biosecurity. You
do not want any materials or fluids leaking from the rendering truck that might cause
disease introduction into your operation.