A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials
Current methods of euthanizing piglets are raising animal welfare concerns. Our experiment used a novel two-step euthanasia method, using nitrous oxide (N2O) for six minutes and then carbon dioxide (CO2) on compromised 0- to 7-day-old piglets. A commercial euthanasia chamber was modified to deliver...
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MDPI AG
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/4/52 |
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| author | Rebecca K. Smith Jean-Loup Rault Richard S. Gates Donald C. Lay |
| author_facet | Rebecca K. Smith Jean-Loup Rault Richard S. Gates Donald C. Lay |
| author_sort | Rebecca K. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current methods of euthanizing piglets are raising animal welfare concerns. Our experiment used a novel two-step euthanasia method, using nitrous oxide (N2O) for six minutes and then carbon dioxide (CO2) on compromised 0- to 7-day-old piglets. A commercial euthanasia chamber was modified to deliver two euthanasia treatments: the two-step method using N2O then CO2 (N2O treatment) or only CO2 (CO2 treatment). In Experiment 1, 18 piglets were individually euthanized. In Experiment 2, 18 groups of four to six piglets were euthanized. In the N2O treatment, piglets lost posture, indicating the onset of losing consciousness, before going into CO2 where they showed heavy breathing and open-mouth breathing; whereas piglets in the CO2 treatment did not lose posture until after exhibiting these behaviors (p ≤ 0.004). However, piglets in the N2O treatment took longer to lose posture compared to the CO2 treatment (p < 0.001). Piglets in the N2O treatment displayed more behavioral signs of stress and aversion: squeals/minute (p = 0.004), escape attempts per pig (p = 0.021), and righting responses per pig (p = 0.084) in a group setting. In these regards, it cannot be concluded that euthanizing piglets for 6 min with N2O and then CO2 is more humane than euthanizing with CO2 alone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:24:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f6fe6a17f7c47daa5a4499f230e7e59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:24:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f6fe6a17f7c47daa5a4499f230e7e592022-12-22T01:07:27ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152018-04-01845210.3390/ani8040052ani8040052A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm TrialsRebecca K. Smith0Jean-Loup Rault1Richard S. Gates2Donald C. Lay3Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USAUSDA-ARS, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USACurrent methods of euthanizing piglets are raising animal welfare concerns. Our experiment used a novel two-step euthanasia method, using nitrous oxide (N2O) for six minutes and then carbon dioxide (CO2) on compromised 0- to 7-day-old piglets. A commercial euthanasia chamber was modified to deliver two euthanasia treatments: the two-step method using N2O then CO2 (N2O treatment) or only CO2 (CO2 treatment). In Experiment 1, 18 piglets were individually euthanized. In Experiment 2, 18 groups of four to six piglets were euthanized. In the N2O treatment, piglets lost posture, indicating the onset of losing consciousness, before going into CO2 where they showed heavy breathing and open-mouth breathing; whereas piglets in the CO2 treatment did not lose posture until after exhibiting these behaviors (p ≤ 0.004). However, piglets in the N2O treatment took longer to lose posture compared to the CO2 treatment (p < 0.001). Piglets in the N2O treatment displayed more behavioral signs of stress and aversion: squeals/minute (p = 0.004), escape attempts per pig (p = 0.021), and righting responses per pig (p = 0.084) in a group setting. In these regards, it cannot be concluded that euthanizing piglets for 6 min with N2O and then CO2 is more humane than euthanizing with CO2 alone.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/4/52on-farm killingeuthanasianeonatal pigletcarbon dioxidenitrous oxide |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca K. Smith Jean-Loup Rault Richard S. Gates Donald C. Lay A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials Animals on-farm killing euthanasia neonatal piglet carbon dioxide nitrous oxide |
| title | A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials |
| title_full | A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials |
| title_fullStr | A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials |
| title_short | A Two-Step Process of Nitrous Oxide before Carbon Dioxide for Humanely Euthanizing Piglets: On-Farm Trials |
| title_sort | two step process of nitrous oxide before carbon dioxide for humanely euthanizing piglets on farm trials |
| topic | on-farm killing euthanasia neonatal piglet carbon dioxide nitrous oxide |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/8/4/52 |
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