scholarly journals Evaluation of physical euthanasia for neonatal piglets on-farm

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe Antonio Dalla Costa ◽  
Troy J Gibson ◽  
Steffan Edward Octávio Oliveira ◽  
Neville George Gregory ◽  
Arlei Coldebella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nasal Bone ◽  
Occipital Lobe ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Weight Class ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Concrete Floor ◽  
Neonatal Piglets ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Beta Power ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Twenty-seven neonate piglets (range from 0.35 to 1.17 kg) were evaluated for the effectiveness of blunt force trauma as a method of on-farm cull. Brainstem function, brain injury, and hemorrhage scores (increasing from 0 to 3) were assessed after striking the head against a concrete floor. Electroencephalograms (EEG) from a subset of 15 piglets were recorded before and after blunt force trauma for electrophysiological assessments. Blunt force trauma was performed by a single experienced farmer in a commercial farm by holding the piglet by its both hind legs and striking the head against the concrete floor. All piglets remained recumbent and did not show brainstem reflexes. Only one piglet did not presented tonic/clonic physical activity. The mean time to the onset of persistent isoelectric EEG was 64.3 ± 7.3 s (range 18 to 115). Total power, theta, alpha, and beta power decreased to approximately 45%, 30%, 20%, and 15% from pretreatment power, respectively, by 15-s post-impact. There were no periods of normal-like EEG after the culling. Bruises in the neck and shoulder were found in 67% and 70% of piglets, respectively. All piglets presented skull fractures with 20% having the nasal bone(s) fractured. Brain damage was found in all piglets, mainly in the frontal lobe(s). The occipital lobe(s) presented the greatest frequency of severe damage. The analysis of the radiographs also found a high frequency of fractures in this region. Hemorrhage was most frequent in the frontal, parietal, occipital lobes, and midbrain. When performed correctly with the appropriate weight class, blunt force trauma can be used as an effective method for the on-farm killing of nursing piglets resulting in death. However, this method should not be promoted over more reliable and repeatable cull methods such as captive bolt gun. As with blunt force trauma, there is a significant potential for animal welfare harm associated with inappropriate practice, lack of accuracy, issues with repeatability, and operator fatigue.

On-farm culling methods used for pigs

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-522
Author(s):  
FA Dalla Costa ◽  
TJ Gibson ◽  
SEO Oliveira ◽  
NG Gregory ◽  
L Faucitano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Developmental Phase ◽  
Controlled Atmosphere ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Low Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
On Farm

The culling of injured and non-viable pigs (Sus scrofa) (neonate to breeding stock) is a routine and necessary procedure on most farms. Usually, pigs are culled using one of the following methods: blunt-force trauma (manual and mechanical), captive-bolt stunners, electrical stunning and electrocution or carbon dioxide. Manual blunt-force trauma is one of the most widely used methods due to its low or absent operational and investment costs. However, as a method, it has serious limitations, which include the risk of incomplete concussion, pain, and distress. Manual blunt-force trauma is also aesthetically unpleasant to operators and wider society. To address these issues there has been significant recent research into the development of alternatives to manual blunt-force trauma, these include: captive-bolt stunners, on-farm, gas-based controlled atmosphere systems, low atmospheric pressure systems and electrical stunning. Some of these are currently in commercial use while others are still in the developmental phase. This review brings together the relevant research in this field, evaluating the methods in terms of mechanism of action (mechanical and physiological), effectiveness and animal welfare.

Endovascular Stent Graft Treatment of Acute Thoracic Aortic Transections Due to Blunt Force Trauma

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Bjurlin ◽  
Eugene M. Tanquilut ◽  
Aswath Subram ◽  
Peggy Kalkounos ◽  
Gary J. Merlotti
Keyword(s):  
Stent Graft ◽  
Endovascular Stent ◽  
Endovascular Stent Graft ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma

On-farm euthanasia practices and attitudes of commercial meat rabbit producers

2017 ◽  
Vol 181 (11) ◽  
pp. 292-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Walsh ◽  
Aaron Percival ◽  
Brian Tapscott ◽  
Patricia V Turner
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Current Method ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Timely Fashion ◽  
Cervical Dislocation ◽  
On Farm

Appropriate and timely on-farm euthanasia is the responsibility of the producer, working together with their herd veterinarian. Unfortunately, validated methods for euthanasia of commercial meat rabbits are lacking and there are few educational materials available for producer training. Because euthanasia must be performed in a timely fashion to minimise suffering, it is critical to ensure that methods used are aesthetic, humane and effective. We surveyed Canadian meat rabbit producers for current on-farm euthanasia practices as well as attitudes towards the methods they employed and thoughts on novel euthanasia techniques. Surveys were distributed with a response rate of 26 per cent (n=26). Blunt force trauma was the most common euthanasia method used (54 per cent), followed by assisted manual cervical dislocation (31 per cent). Half of producers admitted to not having a euthanasia method in place for all age groups of rabbits, instead electing to let sick and injured rabbits die on their own. While some producers reported feeling highly skilled and satisfied with their current euthanasia method, 58 per cent reported concerns with their current method and 42 per cent desired alternative methods to be developed. Responses to additional questions on training and awareness of euthanasia resources indicated that veterinarians are not part of on-farm euthanasia planning for meat rabbits.

scholarly journals Patterns of blunt force homicide in the West Metropole of the City of Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (5/6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtnee Clark ◽  
Calvin G. Mole ◽  
Marise Heyns ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The West ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Salt River ◽  
The City ◽  
Ballistic Trauma

There is currently a lack of information regarding the prevalence of and characteristics associated with blunt force trauma related homicides in South Africa. Information relating to the patterns of blunt force trauma could assist in the development and implementation of interventions targeted at specific areas or individuals as well as direct future research towards areas in need of investigation. This study is a 5-year retrospective review of autopsy reports obtained from Salt River Mortuary (Cape Town, South Africa). The prevalence of blunt force trauma was considered for unnatural deaths with a focus on homicide. The patterns of homicidal blunt force trauma are also presented. A total of 15 519 autopsy cases was analysed. In 1198 (7.72%) of these cases, the cause of death was found to be blunt force trauma and 828 (5.32%) of these cases were classified as homicides. Approximately 11% of blunt force homicide cases occurred in combination with sharp and/or ballistic trauma. Men from poor socio-economic areas were shown to be most at risk of blunt force homicide in the City of Cape Town.

scholarly journals Identifying Blunt Force Traumatic Injury on Thermally Altered Remains: A Pilot Study Using Sus scrofa

Biology ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Kamryn Keys ◽  
Ann H. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Forensic Anthropology ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Fire Damage ◽  
Fire Exposure ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Anthropological Literature

In forensic scenarios involving homicide, human remains are often exposed to fire as a means of disposal and/or obscuring identity. Burning human remains can result in the concealment of traumatic injury, the creation of artifacts resembling injury, or the destruction of preexisting trauma. Since fire exposure can greatly influence trauma preservation, methods to differentiate trauma signatures from burning artifacts are necessary to conduct forensic analyses. Specifically, in the field of forensic anthropology, criteria to distinguish trauma from fire signatures on bone is inconsistent and sparse. This study aims to supplement current forensic anthropological literature by identifying criteria found to be the most diagnostic of fire damage or blunt force trauma. Using the skulls of 11 adult pigs (Sus scrofa), blunt force trauma was manually produced using a crowbar and flat-faced hammer. Three specimens received no impacts and were utilized as controls. All skulls were relocated to an outdoor, open-air fire where they were burned until a calcined state was achieved across all samples. Results from this experiment found that blunt force trauma signatures remained after burning and were identifiable in all samples where reassociation of fragments was possible. This study concludes that distinct patterns attributed to thermal fractures and blunt force fractures are identifiable, allowing for diagnostic criteria to be narrowed down for future analyses.

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