Preliminary Exploration of Swine Veterinarian Perspectives of On-Farm Euthanasia

Abstract

Euthanasia is a critical component in swine production and veterinarians play an important role in euthanasia protocol development and training. This study aimed to understand veterinarian involvement in and perspectives on euthanasia on pig farms. An online survey was disseminated both at a pig welfare conference and online via a veterinarian e-newsletter. Twenty-five veterinarians participated in the survey. The majority of respondents indicated that caretakers are the individuals making euthanasia decisions and performing the task (n = 17, 68% and 22, 88%, respectively). The majority (22, 88%) of respondents indicated that most of the facilities with which they work have a written euthanasia protocol, and 72% (18) indicated that they assisted in protocol development. Only half of respondents (13, 52%) agreed that “all employees performing euthanasia have been trained adequately”, and 80% (20) identified an interest in delivering more training. Less than half the respondents indicated that strategies for coping with “personal stress” and “emotional wellness” (12, 48%) were included in euthanasia training. While the moral stress of performing euthanasia is recognized, there is opportunity for addressing mental well-being in euthanasia resources. Although preliminary, this study supports the need for further euthanasia training on-farm, involving veterinarians in the process.

Preliminary Exploration of Weekly Peer Group Discussions as a Strategy for Coping with Feelings Associated with Euthanasia in Dairy Caretakers

“…Although the average age of the current study participants was relatively young compared to other aforementioned studies, perhaps the participants’ experience with having to make euthanasia decisions helped them accept euthanasia as an inevitable and sometimes essential component of animal care, similar to individuals who have had several pets over their lifetimes. Swine caretakers and veterinarians have indicated in previous survey studies that performing and making decisions about euthanasia gets easier with more experience [ 54 , 55 ]. Perhaps job experience could be explored in future studies as another factor impacting feelings associated with the loss of production animals due to euthanasia.…”

Dairy Caretaker Perspectives on Performing Euthanasia as an Essential Component of Their Job

“…Our findings are consistent with previous studies that demonstrate animal caretaker interest for more euthanasia-related training in other livestock industries [ 23 , 26 ]. Moreover, while veterinarians are seldomly consulted or involved in euthanasia decision-making and training on dairy operations [ 20 ], recent survey data suggests that veterinarians want to be included in the creation and facilitation of training programs [ 27 , 28 ]. Involvement of veterinarians could help workers feel more comfortable with technical language and more knowledgeable about the importance of timely euthanasia, indications for the procedure and approved methods to humanely stop animal suffering.…”

“…Providing a space for honest and constructive discussion could help reduce conflicts and feelings of distress and failure among dairy caretakers. One of the challenges with euthanasia that has been identified by animal caretakers is the emotional burden of ending an animal’s life even when knowing that euthanasia is the best option to end animal suffering [ 3 , 5 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. As seen in participant responses, this emotional burden is exacerbated by co-workers who are not familiar with or do not understand decision-making related to euthanasia.…”

Dairy Cattle Euthanasia—Focus Groups Exploring the Perspectives of Brazilians Working in the Dairy Cattle Industry

“…Nonetheless, even with extensive euthanasia training and experience, individuals performing this task can be affected emotionally. Euthanasia-related stress has been documented in those working in shelters [ 3 ], veterinary clinics [ 4 ], swine operations [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], and dairy farms [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. This condition, more commonly referred to as compassion fatigue, affects people in caretaking jobs and may interfere with an individual’s ability to perform work-related tasks [ 11 ].…”