Pigs welfare challenges + euthanasia

Question 1

What mutilations are done in pigs? (non-routine)

Answer 1

• Teeth reduction - should just take off top bit of teeth (no pulp involvement)
• Tail docking
• Ear notching
• Castration

Question 2

What are the 5 freedoms?

Answer 2

• Freedom from hunger + thirst
• Freedom from discomfort
• Freedom from pain, injury + disease
• Freedom to express natural behaviour
• Freedom from fear + distress

Question 3

What are signs of good health?

Answer 3

• Bright
• Responsive
• Eating/drinking well
• Quiet, settled breathing
• Normal colour/consistency of muck
• Normal urine
• Good skin & colour
• ‘Barking’
• Normal temperature

Question 4

Who can castrate?

Answer 4

• non vet under 7 days
• Vet over 7 days
• Not legal to castrate under red tractor - commercial farms don’t

Question 5

How much pigs are euthanised on farm?

Answer 5

• > 1%

Question 6

What is emergency killing?

Answer 6

“In an emergency, a pig can be killed by any means that is effective and kills humanely without causing avoidable suffering”

• Not the same as emergency slaughter - cannot enter food chain

Question 7

What conditions requ

Answer 7

• Injury
• Conditions/diseases unlikely to respond to treatment
• Conditions/diseases not responding to treatment
• Runts – at the time they are recognised to be potentially
  suffering
• Herniated pigs – at the time they are recognised to be
  potentially suffering

Question 8

What does a captive bolt do?

Answer 8

• Doesn’t kill, only stun
• Pigs must be restrained well

Question 9

What are signs of an effective stun?

Answer 9

• Pig collapses immediately
• tonic stage - no breathing + rigidity
• no blink reflex
• Clonic phase - involuntary kicking occurs - lasts 1-2mins - recovery within 30-60seconds

Question 10

Once stun what must be done?

Answer 10

Killing via
- pithing - distruction of brain stem
- cut across neck from ear to ear = lack of oxygen - bleeding out

Question 11

How can you check for death?

Answer 11

• Fixed eye, no blink
• No signs of breathing
• Heart has stopped

Question 12

If animal still conscious what should be done?

Answer 12

• Go 1cm higher - most likely missed brainstem and hit the frontal sinus

Question 13

Where would you use a shotgun?

Answer 13

• Same point ass captive bolt - 2/3cm above midline
• Or from ear base to opposite ear

Question 14

How are piglets euthanised?

Answer 14

• Blunt trauma - under 5 kg
• SA tool (turkey stunner)
• Barbiturate overdose
• Gassing (CO2) - illegal