Unit 2 - Euthanasia Techniques

Question 1

What are the acceptable methods of euthanasia for cattle?

Answer 1

Barbiturates and barbituric acid derivatives
Gunshot
Penetrating captive bolt with adjunctive methods

Question 2

How do barbiturates and barbituric acid derivatives cause death?

Answer 2

Their use generally results in a smooth transition from consciousness to unconsciousness and death

Question 3

What are the deterrents to barbiturate overdose?

Answer 3

Cost
Administration requires restraint
Vet registered with US DEA must administer
Strict accounting required
Carcass disposal is complicated and improper disposal may pose a risk for wildlife

Question 4

How does euthanasia of a dam with pentobarbital affect the fetus?

Answer 4

Barbiturates readily cross the placenta resulting in fetal depression and ultimately death

Question 5

Does the fetus die an inhumane death when its mother is euthanized?

Answer 5

No - although sentient in utero, the fetus is maintained in a sleep-like unconscious state

Question 6

What wildlife are at risk if carcasses are not disposed properly and are euthanized with barbiturates?

Answer 6

Scavengers - bald eagles, turkey vultures, and captive carnivores

Question 7

What are the options for disposal of livestock carcasses?

Answer 7

Rendering, burial, composting, landfills, cremation/incineration, and tissue hydrolysis

Question 8

Why can you not render meat if you euthanized an animal with pentobarbital?

Answer 8

Pentobarbital will persist through rendering

Question 9

What is rendering?

Answer 9

The process of separating water, fat, and protein including blood, bone, and meat into commercial by-products

Question 10

Why is it not recommended to bury animals that have been euthanized with pentobarbital?

Answer 10

Carcasses from euthanized animals can leach pentobarbital into the surrounding soil and ground water

Question 11

Why is it not recommended to compost animals that have been euthanized with pentobarbital?

Answer 11

From a study, pentobarbital was detectable up to 367 days in compost piles with no clear trend of reduction

Question 12

Why is it not recommended to dispose of a carcass that was euthanized with pentobarbital in a landfill?

Answer 12

Testing of water supplies near landfills has found detectable levels of pentobarbital up to 22 years following the time in which wastes were received

Question 13

How does tissue digestion (alkaline hydrolysis) work?

Answer 13

1. Alkali and water are added in precise proportion to the weight of tissue
2. The system is heated and contents periodically agitated to expose all tissue to the alkali solution
3. Process destroys pathogens
4. Liquid effluent is sterile and may be released into the sanitary sewer

Question 14

What are the forms of ‘non-missle’ brain injury?

Answer 14

Manually applied blunt form trauma and controlled blunt force trauma

Question 15

What is manually applied blunt force trauma?

Answer 15

To strike the head with a hard object such as a hammer

Question 16

What is controlled blunt force trauma?

Answer 16

The use of a non-penetrating captive bolt

Question 17

(Manually/controlled) blunt force trauma delivers variable applied force. (Manually/controlled) blunt force trauma delivers a consistent amount of force.

Answer 17

Manually; controlled

Question 18

What are the forms of missile traumatic brain injury?

Answer 18

Penetrating and perforating wounds

Question 19

What are penetrating wounds?

Answer 19

The bullet or projectile enters the cranial cavity but does not exit

Question 20

What devices deliver penetrating wounds?

Answer 20

A penetrating captive bolt or a bullet from a firearm

Question 21

What are perforating wounds?

Answer 21

When the bullet or projectile not only enters the brain, but passes through it and exits at some other site

Question 22

High velocity bullets tend to produce ______ injuries, whereas low velocity bullets produce ______injury and retention of the bullets within the skull.

Answer 22

Perforating, penetrating

Question 23

What is the most common method used for on-farm euthanasia of cattle?

Answer 23

Gunshot

Question 24

The use of firearms for euthanasia of cattle is classified as a ______ method.

Answer 24

physical

Question 25

What does the effectiveness of gunshot for euthanasia depend on?

Answer 25

Selection of the appropriate firearm Type of bullet Accuracy of aim

Question 26

The use of handguns for euthanasia is limited to ____-______ shooting. Calibers _____ to _____ are recommended for the euthanasia of cattle. The ____ caliber handgun is not recommended.

Answer 26

close-range 0. 32-0.45 0. 22

Question 27

Rifles for euthanasia are capable of higher _____ velocities. The general recommendations on rifle selection is a ______ magnum or higher caliber.

Answer 27

muzzle | 0.22

Question 28

What is the recommended shell for shotgun use in firearm euthanasia?

Answer 28

Buckshot or #4 or #6

Question 29

What is muzzle energy?

Answer 29

A measure of a bullet's destructive potential - it is the energy of a bullet as it leaves the end of the barrel when the firearm is discharged

Question 30

How is muzzle energy calculated?

Answer 30

Mass of the bullet x its velocity squared all divided by 2

Question 31

What are the types of bullets a firearm can have?

Answer 31

Solid point, hollow point, hollow point with controlled expansion characteristics, and frangible

Question 32

Solid point bullets are unlikely to ______. They are designed for maximum _______.

Answer 32

fragment; penetration

Question 33

Hollow point bullets are designed to fragment when?

Answer 33

On impact - they are less likely to perforate

Question 34

What do hollow point bullets with controlled expansion characteristics do?

Answer 34

They expand beyond the point of skull penetration

Question 35

Frangible bullets have ____ penetration. What do they do?

Answer 35

poor penetration - they disintegrate to a fine sandy/powder

Question 36

T/F: A penetrating captive bolt is enough to assure death on its own.

Answer 36

False - it causes immediate unconsciousness, but a secondary step is required to assure death whenever penetrating captive bolt is used

Question 37

What are the different types of penetrating captive bolt devices?

Answer 37

Cash special .25 caliber HD extended bolt stunner | Schermer KR stunner standard bolt

Question 38

What adjunctive methods can be used with penetrating captive bolt devices?

Answer 38

Exsanguination Pithing IV administration of a saturated solution of KCl, MgSO4, or CaCl2 A second or third shot

Question 39

How is exsanguination done?

Answer 39

Well, first you have to choose violence. | Once you have chosen violence, then you take a knife and slice through the jugular, carotid artery, and trachea

Question 40

How is pithing done?

Answer 40

A pithing rod is inserted through the hole that was produced by the captive bolt. Direct the pithing rod to the brain stem and manipulate to induce additional damage

Question 41

In what animals is saturated KCl and magnesium salts only for use in?

Answer 41

unconscious or anesthetized animals

Question 42

How can saturated KCl and magnesium be administered?

Answer 42

IV or intra-cardially

Question 43

What are the advantages to using saturated KCl and magnesium salts?

Answer 43

There is no risk to predators/scavengers

Question 44

What are the indicators of unconsciousness?

Answer 44

Animal collapses immediately Animal takes no attempt to right itself Body and muscles become rigid immediately after the shot followed by brief tetanic spasms and eventually uncoordinated hind limb movements Immediate and sustained cessation of rhythmic breathing An absence of vocalization An absence of eye reflexes Eyelids remain open facing straight forward

Question 45

The euthanasia procedure is not complete until what happens?

Answer 45

death is confirmed

Question 46

What is the primary sign of death?

Answer 46

cardiac arrest - even with a properly placed shot, the heart will continue to beat for 7-8 minutes

Question 47

What are the secondary signs for confirmation of death?

Answer 47

Lack of movement over time (30 minutes), no respiratory activity, no corneal reflexes, rigor mortis

Question 48

What can cause captive bolt failure?

Answer 48

Poor maintenance of cartridge fired captive bolt guns Damp cartridges Low air pressure in pneumatic stunners

Question 49

Where is the optimum position for euthanasia using physical methods?

Answer 49

The optimum position for cattle is at the intersection of two imaginary lines drawn from the rear of the eyes to the base of the opposite horn

Question 50

What are unacceptable methods of euthanasia in beef and dairy cattle?

Answer 50

Manually applied blunt force trauma Injection of chemical agents or substances Injection of xylazine or any other alpha-2 followed by KCl, MgSO4, and CaCl2 Air injection into the vein Electrocution as with a 120-volt electrical cord Drowning Exsanguination of conscious animals