Assessing methods for on-farm euthanasia of turkeys, chickens, breeders and layers

2011年，加拿大生产了6.97亿只小鸡和火鸡，同年向加工商出售了6.8亿只鸡和火鸡。这些数字相当于全国扑杀率为2.42%（1700万只鸟）。虽然没有关于发病率与死亡率比例的数据，而且根据管理策略不同，各个农场的做法也有很大差异，但可以肯定的是，在没有流行病压力的正常生产条件下，每年需要在农场对数百万只鸟实施安乐死，以防止进一步的痛苦。然而，关于如何对不同体重和年龄的鸟类实施安乐死的最佳方式，几乎没有科学数据。基于我们的专业知识，我们来自北美各地的经验丰富的科学家团队将研究三种非穿透式捕获螺栓装置、两种市售机械颈椎脱臼装置和不同浓度的二氧化碳气体的效果，以诱导不同体重等级的扑杀肉鸡、种鸡、蛋鸡和火鸡从一天大到生产结束，迅速丧失意识和死亡。我们将利用麻木的行为和身体测量，脑、颅骨、椎体和脊髓损伤的死后测量，并在可能的情况下利用脑电图确定的大脑活动。该项目将产生基于科学的最佳实践建议，以确保安乐死设备是人道的，有效的，并对操作员构成最小的威胁。

In 2011, 697 million chicks and turkey poults were placed for production in Canada, while 680 million chickens and turkeys were sold to processors that year. These numbers equate to a national culling and mortality rate of 2.42% (17 million birds). Although no data exists on the proportion of morbidities versus mortalities and practices will vary widely between farms dependent on management strategies, it is safe to assume that, under normal production conditions with no epidemic disease pressures, millions of birds annually need to be euthanized on-farm to prevent further suffering. However, there is little scientific data on the best manner by which to euthanize birds of different weights and ages. Building on our expertise, our experienced team of scientists from across North America will study the efficacies of three non-penetrating captive bolt devices, two commercially available mechanical cervical dislocating devices, and different concentrations of carbon dioxide gas for inducing rapid loss of consciousness and death in cull broilers, breeders, laying hens and turkeys in different weight classes, from day-old until end of production. We will utilize behavioural and physical measures of insensibility, post-mortem measures of traumatic brain, skull, vertebral and spinal cord injury, and when possible, brain activity as determined by EEG. This project will result in science-based recommendations on best practices to ensure euthanasia devices are humane, effective and pose minimal threat to the operators.