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

2011年，6.97亿只小鸡和火鸡雏鸟被放置在加拿大进行生产，而当年有6.8亿只鸡和火鸡被出售给加工商。这些数字相当于全国扑杀和死亡率为2.42%(1700万只鸟)。尽管没有关于发病率与死亡率比例的数据，而且不同农场的做法会因管理策略的不同而有很大差异，但可以有把握地认为，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禽类实施安乐死，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，科学数据很少。在我们专业知识的基础上，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性圈养螺栓装置、两种商用机械颈椎脱位装置以及不同浓度的二氧化碳气体对不同体重等级的屠宰肉鸡、育种者、蛋鸡和火鸡从出生到生产结束导致意识迅速丧失和死亡的有效性。我们将使用麻木的行为和身体测量，创伤性脑、头骨、脊椎和脊髓损伤的尸检测量，并在可能的情况下，通过脑电确定大脑活动。该项目将产生以科学为基础的最佳实践建议，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.