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Sindhøj E, Lindahl C, Bark L. Review: Potential alternatives to high-concentration carbon dioxide stunning of pigs at slaughter. Animal 2021; 15:100164. [PMID: 33461892 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Using carbon dioxide (CO2) for stunning pigs at slaughter is common in Europe. The use of group stunning is a major advantage with CO2, which is done without restraining the pigs and with minimized human contact. However, high concentrations of CO2 have been known for decades to cause pain, fear and distress in pigs before loss of consciousness, and the stunning method is clearly associated with animal welfare concerns. This study reviewed the scientific literature to find recent developments or evaluations of alternative methods that could lead to the replacement of CO2 for stunning pigs at slaughter. Potential alternative methods found in the literature were described and then assessed to identify specific research and development needs for their further development. Only 15 empirical studies were found in the search of peer-reviewed literature since 2004, which is less than one per year. Furthermore, half of the studies focused on evaluating methods to improve high-concentration CO2 stunning rather than an alternative to CO2. Since no clear alternative has emerged, nor a method to improve CO2 stunning, there is obviously a strong need to focus research and development to find solutions for improving animal welfare when stunning pigs at slaughter.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sindhøj
- Department of Agriculture and Food, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, P.O. Box 7033, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - C Lindahl
- Department of Agriculture and Food, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, P.O. Box 7033, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L Bark
- Department of Agriculture and Food, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, P.O. Box 7033, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Steiner AR, Flammer SA, Beausoleil NJ, Berg C, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Pinillos RG, Golledge HDW, Marahrens M, Meyer R, Schnitzer T, Toscano MJ, Turner PV, Weary DM, Gent TC. Humanely Ending the Life of Animals: Research Priorities to Identify Alternatives to Carbon Dioxide. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E911. [PMID: 31684044 PMCID: PMC6912382 DOI: 10.3390/ani9110911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
: The use of carbon dioxide (CO2) for stunning and killing animals is considered to compromise welfare due to air hunger, anxiety, fear, and pain. Despite decades of research, no alternatives have so far been found that provide a safe and reliable way to induce unconsciousness in groups of animals, and also cause less distress than CO2. Here, we revisit the current and historical literature to identify key research questions that may lead to the identification and implementation of more humane alternatives to induce unconsciousness in mice, rats, poultry, and pigs. In addition to the evaluation of novel methods and agents, we identify the need to standardise the terminology and behavioural assays within the field. We further reason that more accurate measurements of consciousness state are needed and serve as a central component in the assessment of suffering. Therefore, we propose a roadmap toward improving animal welfare during end-of-life procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline R Steiner
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Services, Section of Anaesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Shannon Axiak Flammer
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Section of Anesthesia and Analgesia, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Laenggassstrasse 124, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Ngaio J Beausoleil
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
| | - Charlotte Berg
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 234, SE-53223 Skara, Sweden.
| | - Regula Bettschart-Wolfensberger
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Services, Section of Anaesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Rebeca García Pinillos
- Animal and Plant Health Agency and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK.
| | - Huw D W Golledge
- Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire AL4 8AN, UK.
| | - Michael Marahrens
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Dörnbergstraße 25/27, 29223 Celle, Germany.
| | - Robert Meyer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
| | - Tobias Schnitzer
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Michael J Toscano
- Center for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), Animal Welfare Division, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland.
| | - Patricia V Turner
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada and Charles River, Wilmington, MA 01887, USA.
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Colombia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Thomas C Gent
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Services, Section of Anaesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 258c, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Alternatives to Carbon Dioxide-Taking Responsibility for Humanely Ending the Life of Animals. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9080482. [PMID: 31344949 PMCID: PMC6720529 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Carbon dioxide has long been considered one of the better methods for euthanizing laboratory rodents because it allows termination of several animals at one time, does not require handling of the animal, is easy to use, is inexpensive, and is environmentally friendly. Research, though, has shown that this gas is aversive to rodents and that it may be inhumane to expose them to this gas while they are conscious. Therefore, the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office has set out to find a suitable replacement and organized a meeting that included representatives and experts of the different stakeholders involved in this process in order to find a solution. The conclusion of this meeting was that a replacement is required, and the next step would be to draft a research strategy to find a suitable replacement. Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) is commonly used to kill rodents. However, a large body of research has now established that CO2 is aversive to them. A multidisciplinary symposium organized by the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office discussed the drawbacks and alternatives to CO2 in euthanasia protocols for laboratory animals. Dialogue was facilitated by brainstorming sessions in small groups and a “World Café”. A conclusion from this process was that alternatives to CO2 were urgently required, including a program of research and extension to meet the needs for humane killing of these animals. The next step will involve gathering a group of international experts to formulate, draft, and publish a research strategy on alternatives to CO2.
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