In order to become one step ahead of an outbreak of high pathogen diseases like the current H5N2, the veterinary authorities need to stop the outbreak immediately after the first signals occur. Strict and thorough biosecurity measures are the most fundamental feature to protect poultry flocks on farms. Without functional culling techniques, the options to effectively and efficiently cull in average more than 925,000 chickens per farm (in Iowa, USA) are limited: either by macerating the chickens alive – or by ventilation shut-down (closing down all ventilation, placing heaters inside the house, and heat the entire house to a temperature higher than 600 C). Although both methods cause death of the birds, it has not been proven to be effective nor efficient. The primary goal to slowdown outbreaks and bring it to a complete stop but macerating live birds and killing them by heat stress and lack of oxygen would be against all International Animal Welfare standards. Animal welfare specialists in disease control strongly oppose against the introduction of these most cruel methods of killing poultry and argue that the ban on these methods should be maintained and alternative methods need to be considered.

1. Stamping
Out
strategy
failed
In
order
to
become
one
step
ahead
of
an
outbreak
of
high
pathogen
diseases
like
the
current
H5N2,
the
veterinary
authorities
need
to
stop
the
outbreak
immediately
after
the
first
signals
occur.
Strict
and
thorough
biosecurity
measures
are
the
most
fundamental
feature
to
protect
poultry
flocks
on
farms.
A
possible
outbreak
must
be
recognized
in
the
earliest
possible
stage,
by
actively
monitoring
the
poultry
as
well
as
monitoring
wild
bird
populations
in
the
area
surrounding
the
farm,
by
imposing
strict
rules,
like
the
ban
on
the
sale
of
live
poultry
and
temporarily
banning
movement
of
poultry
until
strict
bio
security
measures
on
all
farms
are
in
place.
These
measures
should
last
until
the
emergency
response
plans
are
effectuated.
Past
outbreaks
were
managed
on
the
basis
of
application
of
a
strategy
of
stamping
out:
eradicating
all
flocks
in
and
around
infected
farms
in
order
to
stop
the
spread
of
highly
pathogenic
avian
influenza
virus.
This
strategy
mainly
depends
on
the
control
of
the
movement
of
contaminated
people,
vehicles,
equipment
and
products.
Strict
and
thorough
biosecurity
is
the
most
fundamental
feature
of
successful
eradication
programs.
This
principle
will
again
be
the
key
to
an
effective
control
and
eradication
of
the
virus.
Up
to
today,
all
outbreak
response
strategies
were
therefore
based
on
the
principle
of
culling
all
animals
on
the
infected
farm
as
fast
as
possible.
This
strategy
is
known
as
Stamping
Out
the
infection
source
by
culling
the
entire
flock
in
the
shortest
possible
time.
All
the
techniques
for
culling
animals
are
based
on
that
principle
and
issues
like
operational
costs;
logistics;
human
resources;
and
animal
welfare
are
considered
as
of
a
lower
priority.
The
most
well-­‐known
large-­‐scale
culling
techniques
based
on
the
principle
of
stamping
out
infections
are
culling
techniques
based
on
using
CO2
like
stable
gassing
and
container
gassing;
using
low
expansion
fire
fighting
foam;
and
electrocution.
Describing
a
range
of
large-­‐scale
culling
methods,
Bud
Malone
and
Eric
Bensoni
(University
of
Delaware)
come
to
the
conclusion
that
there
is
no
possible
ideal
depopulation
concept
with
carbon
dioxide,
and
propose
water-­‐based
firefighting
foam
instead.
However,
applying
fire-­‐fighting
foam
with
fine
bubbles
method
causes
the
animals
to
be
killed
by
occlusion
of
the
trachea.
Although
the
fire
fighting
technique
can
be
used
to
cull
large
numbers
of
floor-­‐
reared
broilers
and
turkeys,
it
is
not
applicable
to
cull
caged
birds.
This
means
that
the
birds
have
to
be
taken
out
of
their
cages,
and
than
transported
through
the
narrow
walkways
between
the
cages
and
culled,
either
by
electrocution
or
by
CO2
in
disposal
container,
placed
outside
of
the
house.
Although
humans
are
supposed
to

2. be
less
susceptible,
they
can
become
carrier
of
the
virus.
Only
the
highest
level
of
biosecurity
could
prevent
the
transmission
through
the
humans
and
materials
that
have
been
in
direct
contact
with
infected
animals
and
materials.
This
means
that
contact
between
responders
and
animals
need
to
be
reduced
to
the
absolute
minimum.
Large-­‐scale
response
failed
in
the
USA
Without
functional
culling
techniques,
the
options
to
effectively
and
efficiently
cull
in
average
more
than
925,000
chickens
per
farm
(in
Iowa,
USA)
are
limited:
either
by
macerating
the
chickens
alive
–
or
by
ventilation
shut-­‐down
(closing
down
all
ventilation,
placing
heaters
inside
the
house,
and
heat
the
entire
house
to
a
temperature
higher
than
600
C).
Although
both
methods
cause
death
of
the
birds,
it
has
not
been
proven
to
be
effective
nor
efficient.
The
primary
goal
to
slowdown
outbreaks
and
bring
it
to
a
complete
stop
but
macerating
live
birds
and
killing
them
by
heat
stress
and
lack
of
oxygen
would
be
against
all
International
Animal
Welfare
standards.
Animal
welfare
specialists
in
disease
control
strongly
oppose
against
the
introduction
of
these
most
cruel
methods
of
killing
poultry
and
argue
that
the
ban
on
these
methods
should
be
maintained
and
alternative
methods
need
to
be
considered.
New
Anoxia
techniques
under
developing
in
Germany
Recognizing
that
new
strategies
are
needed,
Applied
Veterinary
Technologies
AVT
Germany
developed
specialized
equipment
based
on
the
use
of
large
quantities
of
high
expansion
foam,
filled
with
>98%
nitrogen.
These
Anoxia
techniques
extensively
reduce
the
number
of
responders
needed;
guarantees
the
exclusion
of
contact;
and
the
operational
costs
are
only
a
fraction
of
the
costs
compared
with
existing
traditional
methods
like
stable
gassing
and
container
gassing.
The
first
series
of
machines
are
commercially
available
by
the
end
of
October
2015
and
the
order
book
will
be
open
by
November
2015.
For
more
information,
please
contact:
Dr.
Michiel
van
Mil
Anoxia
Europe
BV
Hoge
Eng
52a,
3882
TN
Putten,
The
Netherlands
Telephone
+31-­‐341701687
info@anoxia-­‐europe.com
www.anoxia-­‐europe.com
i
http://udel.edu/~ebenson/Depopulation.htm