RED DEER – For many people who work with livestock, putting down animals is an unpleasant job that could be bungled, said Claude Mason, a Manitoba based swine specialist speaking at the Alberta Farm Animal Care conference in Red Deer March 24.
“There is a horrendous emotional impact on people,” he said.
People often find it hard to do and hope the animal will get better or die on its own. However, euthanasia is sometimes the only solution and for animals in serious distress, it needs to be done quickly and humanely.
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“Some animals are suffering more than they ought to. Some animals are left alive and must be put down,” he said.
Absentee owners or managers may be at fault because they instruct staff not to do anything with animals because there is a chance they could still go to market. Others instruct that animals may be put down only on certain days.
Sometimes supervisors and health-care advisers are hesitant or too busy to bring up issues about dealing with the suffering and dying.
On some large farms the practice is to check a cull pen each morning to pick out dead animals.
Owners need to tell the staff what is effective and acceptable to avoid situations of cruelty. A one page sheet outlining the euthanasia procedure can be placed in the barn.
When workers become attached to the animals, they do not want to kill them.
In some instances euthanasia of healthy animals like boar studs or in animal shelters is difficult for people. Someone needs to be found who can do it quickly and humanely.
The first euthanasia experience could be a major shock for new staff.
There should also be a place set aside for putting animals down rather than killing them in high-traffic areas. Those animals could have had a contagious disease that is spread in the blood.
Mason recommends using a captive bolt gun available in different sizes. However, some farm workers claim the gun did not work or there was no ammunition for the captive bolt or rifle.
“The biggest equipment failure is poor maintenance,” he said.
Mason discourages using guns because people may not kill the animal properly or may shoot themselves accidentally.
Captive bolts are often used improperly and people might not be sure where to aim so the animal will die instantly.
Carbon dioxide is effective but it needs to be used properly.
