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

火鸡、鸡、种鸡和蛋鸡农场安乐死的评估方法

• 批准号: 482074-2015
• 负责人: Widowski, Tina
• 金额: $ 9.24万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=619115
• 关键词: Assessing; methods; farm; euthanasia; turkeys

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.

2011年，加拿大生产了6.97亿只小鸡和火鸡幼苗，同时向加工商出售了6.8亿只小鸡和火鸡。这些数字相当于全国扑杀率和死亡率为 2.42%（1700 万只鸡）。尽管没有关于发病率与死亡率比例的数据，而且根据管理策略，农场之间的做法会有很大差异，但可以安全地假设，在没有流行病压力的正常生产条件下，每年有数百万只家禽需要在农场内被安乐死，以防止进一步的痛苦。然而，关于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，我们来自北美各地经验丰富的科学家团队将研究三种非穿透性固定螺栓装置、两种市售机械颈椎脱位装置以及不同浓度的二氧化碳气体对诱导不同体重级别的淘汰肉鸡、种鸡、蛋鸡和火鸡从日龄到生产结束快速失去意识和死亡的功效。我们将利用麻木不仁的行为和物理测量，外伤性大脑、颅骨、椎骨和脊髓损伤的尸检测量，以及在可能的情况下，通过脑电图确定大脑活动。该项目将提出基于科学的最佳实践建议，以确保安乐死装置人道、有效，并对操作人员构成最小的威胁。