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.

Keywords: caretakers; euthanasia; mental well-being; moral stress; pigs; training; veterinarians.

Figure 1

Respondents were asked about decision-making around euthanasia (n = 25). (a) Respondents were asked “On most of the facilities where you serve as a veterinarian, who makes the decision to euthanize?” The options provided for selection were: I do, someone else, it depends on the facility. (b) Respondents were asked “If someone else makes the decision to euthanize, what is this person’s role?” The options provided for selection were: farm owner, farm manager, animal caretaker/employee, it depends on the facility, or decline to answer.

Figure 2

Respondents were asked “If someone else performs most of the euthanasias, what is this person’s role?” (n = 25). The options provided for selection were: farm owner, farm manager, animal caretaker/employee, other, or decline to answer.

Figure 3

Respondents (n = 25) were asked to indicate their level of agreement with various statements related to euthanasia training. The options available to choose from were: Decline to answer, Strongly agree, Agree, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree. Some respondents did not answer the question.

Figure 4

Respondents (n = 25) were asked to indicate their level of agreement with various statements related to perceptions about euthanasia. The options available to choose from were: Decline to answer, Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree.