Animal Disease Response Training
Euthanasia and Disposal
August 2010
AWR 206-1
Animal Disease Response Training
Scope Statement
Identify and explain the various methods of
euthanasia and options for disposal of animal
carcasses and address the operational, safety,
and emotional elements associated with these
activities.
Animal Disease Response Training
Terminal Learning Objective
Identify euthanasia and disposal measures
that control, prevent the spread of, and
eradicate animal disease.
Animal Disease Response Training
Enabling Learning Objectives
4-1
List effective methods and resources used for animal
carcass disposal during an animal disease event.
4-2
Identify personnel safety concerns associated with
euthanasia and disposal procedures.
4-3
Review the process of indemnification based on fair
market value of destroyed animals and materials.
4-4
Describe the content of on-site educational materials
that will be provided to producers, farmers, and
responders.
Animal Disease Response Training
Euthanasia Activities
&
Incident Command
Animal Disease Response Training
Health and Safety Considerations
How does the safety officer assist command?
• Monitors and observes risks
unique to agriculture
• Alters, suspends or terminates
unsafe acts or conditions
Animal Disease Response Training
Safety Issues
• Walking and working
surfaces
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Heavy equipment
operations
• Trench operations
• Animal restraint
equipment
• Nighttime operations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Burning operations
Working with animals
Euthanasia procedures
Heat and/or cold stress
Fatigue
Mental and physical
stress
• Working in inclement
weather
Animal Disease Response Training
Euthanasia Team Safety
• Size and body weight of animals
• Temperament of the species
• Animals generally regarded as
dangerous
• Obscure operator vision and
excessive noise
• Animals’ familiarity with humans
• Presence and demeanor of
animal owner
Animal Disease Response Training
Coping with Traumatic Events
• Any person exposed to depopulation and disposal
operations may suffer negative impacts and manifest in
one or more of the following areas:
– Physical symptoms
– Cognitive or thought disturbances
– Emotional changes
– Behavioral changes
Animal Disease Response Training
Animal Welfare and Handling
• Euthanasia methods must be
humane, safe, and appropriate
to the species involved
• Guidance from Section 4 of
AVMA Guidelines
Animal Disease Response Training
Humane Animal Handling
• Euthanasia Team Leaders will require additional
personnel to accomplish their mission
• Animal handling help may be
recruited from the local
community
– assistants should be briefed
in safe work practices and
non-abusive animal
handling techniques
Animal Disease Response Training
How are appraisal and indemnification
accomplished?
• Prior to euthanasia the animals
should be appraised
• Confirmed by an animal heath
authority
• Fair market value utilized
Animal Disease Response Training
Euthanasia
Process uses five common steps
1. Select most appropriate method
2. Select a site for euthanasia
3. Assess and request resources needed
4. Implement euthanasia
5. Withdraw from premises and prepare
C&D and support to producer or farm
Animal Disease Response Training
Physical Methods Euthanasia
• Captive bolt
– Most practical in a mass
euthanasia situation
• Gunshot
– method of choice for loose
housed animals
– where physical restraint is
impractical or unavailable
Gunshot to the heart is not an approved AVMA method for euthanasia
Animal Disease Response Training
Chemical Methods
• Carbon dioxide
– Method of choice for swine
and small ruminants
– Concentrations above 25%
• Water-based foam
– Rapid and humane
– Floor-raised poultry
• Anesthetic Overdose
– Animals closely associated
with owners
Animal Disease Response Training
Euthanasia Site Selection
• Facilitate with carcass removal process
• Located on level ground
– Animal breaks loose
– Allow heavy equipment
• Construction of portable confinement
and road access
Animal Disease Response Training
Assessing Needs
Euthanasia decisions are based on several factors:
– Location of animals to euthanize
– Disease agent involved
– Animal species involved
– Number & size of animals
Animal Disease Response Training
Assessing Needs
Euthanasia decisions are based on several factors:
–
–
–
–
–
Training, experience, skill of personnel
Equipment and supplies available
Emotional impact of euthanasia procedure
Personnel safety
Public perception
Animal Disease Response Training
Implementation of Euthanasia
• Protection of the public and responder
–
–
–
–
Adverse effect on consumers
PIO prepared to address public
Media requests through JIC
Law enforcement reroute traffic
• Administering euthanasia
– Proper training for personnel
– Very physically demanding
– Local assistance such as slaughterhouse
Animal Disease Response Training
Concluding Euthanasia
• May last hours or several days
• Euthanasia team heavily
contaminated
• Extensive cleaning and
disinfecting for team,
equipment, and premises
Animal Disease Response Training
Introduction to Animal Disposal
Occurs simultaneously with euthanasia using five
common steps
1. Select appropriate disposal method
2. Assess and request resources
3. Site for disposal
4. Implement disposal
5. Secure the site
Animal Disease Response Training
Common Disposal Methods
Burial onsite is preferred method of disposal
• Trench
– More expeditious and inexpensive
• Landfill
– Concern for public opposition
– Arrangements made in advance
• Mass burial sites
– Systems to collect gas and leachate
Recommended to lance the stomachs of ruminants
allowing gases to escape before burial
Animal Disease Response Training
Common Disposal Methods
• Composting
–
–
–
–
–
Requires abundant oxygen
Deactivates disease from temperature and pH
Requires well drained area away from water source
Security from scavenger species
Downwind of residences
• Incineration
– Open air burning
– Air-curtain incineration
Animal Disease Response Training
Other Disposal Methods
• Rendering
– Transportation
– Capacity
– Cleaning and Disinfection
• Methane digestion
– Dairy farms
– Co-generation facilities
Rendering least used option due to capacity and transportation issues
Animal Disease Response Training
Site Selection
• Burial site selected using GIS and soil surveys
• Maps identify three typical zones
– Exclusion zone
– Cautionary or limited zones
– Acceptable zones
Animal Disease Response Training
Assess and Request Disposal Resources
• Information needed to dispatch Disposal Team
–
–
–
–
–
Number and size of animals
Carcass location and disposal site location
Inventory of on-farm equipment available to assist
Estimate of heavy equipment operators needed
Obstacles to ingress and egress on site
Animal Disease Response Training
Implementing Disposal
• Choose method using best industry,
scientific, and regulatory practices
• Plans should identify method long
before need arises
• Disposal site security
– People and animal scavengers
• Environmental impact and
continuous monitoring after incident
Animal Disease Response Training
Summary
• Euthanasia and disposal is critical to reduce spread
of disease
• Animal restraint and depopulation must be humane
• Personal safety is paramount in all activities
• Disposal occurs simultaneously with euthanasia
• Disposal options will depend upon characteristics of
the premises and regulatory requirements