Decision tools for on farm euthanasia of pigs

Livestock farmers do not only engage in the care for healthy animals. Animals can get ill, injured or have reduced survival chances for other reasons. In those cases, the farmer is also the one to make decisions about euthanasia of animals.

European law1 provides farmers the possibility to kill their own animals when needed and under strict conditions. Euthanasia of animals prevents unnecessary suffering and is therefore important for animal welfare on the farm.  

The decision about euthanasia demands great responsibility and is not an easy one

The decision about euthanasia demands great responsibility and is not an easy one. The pig sector feels the need for a transparent and clear decision tool that can be used to make responsible decisions about on farm euthanasia of pigs. This is important for both animal welfare and the welfare of the persons involved, since uncertainties and doubts about survival chances of the animals are taken away.

Help with decisions about euthanasia

From 2017 onwards, CenSAS has participated in a project for the development of an ‘On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets’. The development of this tool was on the initiative of Anette van der Aa from the company Anoxia BV, which developed a method to stun animals by the use of foam filled with nitrogen. Since 2019 the project group also worked on the development of a ‘decision tool for pigs from ~2 months of age’, which is available since 2020. The use of decision tools contributes to adequate decisions about the humane on farm killing of animals by the farmer.

The decisions tools were developed with the involvement of the Royal Dutch Society for Veterinary Medice (KNMvD), experts of both the faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht University) and Wageningen University & Research, the Dutch pig farmers organization POV and in an earlier stage the Dutch farmers organization ZLTO. Pig veterinarians and sector parties gave advise during the development.

Use the decision tools in consultation with veterinarian

Famers are advised to the use the decision tools in consultation with their veterinarian. In that way criteria can be made farm specific and the use of the tool can be fitted in the farm health plan for a structural improvement of the health and welfare status of animals.

More information & downloads

The ‘On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets’ can be downloaded in English. The decision tool for pigs from 2 months of age is only available in Dutch.

More information about the decision tool for piglets and the nitrogen method may be found at the website of Anoxia BV more information.   

1 Council Regulation (EC) nr. 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. The full text can be found here.

Translations

The ‘On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets’ has been translated into six languages. Click on the links to download the tool in that language.

  • Dutch

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in Dutch.

  • German

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in German.

  • Spanish

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in Spanish.

  • French

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in French.

  • Chinese

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in Chinese.

  • Polish

    The 'On farm euthanasia decision tool for piglets' can be downloaded here in Polish.

The decision tool for pigs from 2 months of age has also been translated in English and Spanish. Click on the link to download the tool in the appropriate language.