In January 2012, the OIE gave in Japan an update on the latest developments in killing animals for disease control purposes. The Anoxia method was one of the presented techniques. Today, one year later, the Anoxia technique is commercially available worldwide. Inhumane killing of animals is not longer necessary and the risks of getting infected has been reduced to a minimum.

1. IMPROVED ANIMAL WELFARE
PROGRAM (IAWP)

2. Intensions of killing animals for
disease control purposes
• Protecting human health
• Eliminating suffering in
diseased animals
• Preventing suffering in
susceptible animals
• Maintaining healthy national
heard or flock
• Sustaining viable farming /
food supply chain
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3. Killing methods
• Lethal injection of anaesthetics
• Maceration – newly hatched chicks / unconscious
poultry
• Neck dislocation / decapitation of poultry species
in small numbers
• Electrical stunning and bleeding / electrocution
• Gas mixtures – containerised and whole house
gassing systems for poultry
• Exposure to gas mixture followed by maceration of
poultry
• Fire fighting foam for poultry
• High expansion foam with gases for poultry
• Anaesthetics in feed or water - poultry and other
birds followed by killing (maceration)
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4. During the kill
• Staff rotation and counselling
• Counselling to animal owners
• Interaction with other departments
– Transport to deal with traffic diversion
– Police to maintain exclusion zones
– Weather forecast from met office
• Cleaning and maintenance of
stunning / killing equipment
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5. After the kill
• Check all animals are dead
Know the important signs of
effective stunning and killing
methods used in all farm animal
species
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6. Scientific reports and guidelines
Consult
American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA)
http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/ahaw/ahaw_opinions/495.html
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mcode/en_chapitre_3.7.6.htm
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7. Method selection criteria
• Nature of disease (e.g. notifiable,
zoonotic) or disaster (e.g. floods)
• Location of farm
• Species, number, size and age of animals
• Operators’ health and safety
• Availability of resources and expertise
• Biosecurity
• Cost and efficacy of method
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8. Prepare coherent national and
state contingency plans
Example
:
Prepare species- and killing methodspecific standard operating procedures
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9. Staff training and education
• Nationwide planning, co-ordination and
execution of control measures during
outbreaks
• Inform people of their responsibilities and
provide necessary training
• Mock exercise
– like fire evacuation drill in public offices
• Identify gaps / inadequacies
• Provide education to acquire skills, if
necessary
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10. Known or established killing
methods
Two separate presentations:
• Poultry species – Mohan Raj
• Red meat species – Rasto Kolesar
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11. Poultry: Neck dislocation
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12. Waterfowl: neck dislocation
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13. Poultry: Captive bolt
Cartridge
Compressed air
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14. Head-only electrical stunning
followed by bleeding or neck
dislocation
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15. Mobile electrocution (water
bath)
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16. Gas mixtures
Carbon dioxide has been used in,
Skips and waste bins
Modified Atmosphere Killing (MAK) Carts
Containers
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17. Dry ice in a bag
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18. Gaseous CO2 in skip and bin
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19. Containerised Gassing Unit
(CGU)
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20. Mobile gaseous killing units
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21. Mobile CO2 system
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22. Whole house gassing (WHG)
with CO2
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23. WHG battery cage
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24. Carbon monoxide
Used in South
East Asia
There are
serious animal
welfare
concerns
Whole house gassing with CO has
been tested in the Netherlands and
Belgium
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25. Fire Fighting Foam
low expansion foam (LEF)
Avifoam by Kifco
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26. High expansion foam (HEF)
- UK trials
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27. Waterfowl
Electrical methods
Gas mixtures (CGU)
High expansion foam filled
with gas mixtures
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