Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg 24061, USA.
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn 36849, USA.
Poult Sci. 2021 Mar;100(3):100812. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.11.001. Epub 2020 Nov 11.
On-farm euthanasia of poultry, including turkeys, may not be possible for most people as birds gain weight; thus alternative mechanical methods have been developed. Our objective was to compare mechanical cervical dislocation with the Koechner Euthanizing Device (KED), captive bolt euthanasia with the Turkey Euthanasia Device (TED), head-only CO euthanasia (CO), and electric euthanasia as potential humane methods for euthanizing individual, heavy turkeys. We assessed their impact on loss of brain stem reflexes, acute distress (corticosterone, CORT), kill success, torn skin, and blood loss. Turkeys (n = 174) were euthanized on 3 sampling days, while birds were restrained using a mobile bird euthanasia apparatus. Brain stem reflexes recorded were the cessation and return of induced nictitating membrane reflex (loss of consciousness and brain stem dysfunction), mouth gaping reflex (brain stem dysfunction), and musculoskeletal movements (spinal cord dysfunction). Overall, KED resulted in more frequent (at 4 min: KED 7 of 14; electric 0 of 13; TED 0 of 11; CO 2 of 14 birds on day 1) and longer durations of the induced nictitating reflex compared to the other methods (means of day 2 and 3: KED 233; electric 15; TED 15; CO 15 s). The mouth gaping reflex endured the longest after KED euthanasia (means of day 2 and 3: KED 197; electric 15; TED 51; CO 15 s). Musculoskeletal movements endured longest after KED euthanasia (means of day 2 and 3: KED 235; electric 15; TED 219; CO 15 s). Returning reflexes were more frequent after KED and TED compared to CO and electric euthanasia, where it was absent. CO, electric, and TED euthanasia showed comparable kill success (success: CO 42 out of 43; electric 44 of 45; TED 42 of 44), with KED resulting in most unsuccessful kills (unsuccessful: 8 out of 42). CORT responses were inconsistent. Torn skin and blood loss occurred more frequently after KED and TED compared to CO and electric applications. Therefore, we conclude that, based on a comparison of these 4 methods, the most discernibly humane was electric euthanasia, which consistently resulted in quick loss of consciousness within 15 s, no returning reflexes, and no torn skin or blood loss.
农场对家禽（包括火鸡）实施安乐死可能不适合大多数人，因为鸟类体重会增加；因此，已经开发出了其他机械方法。我们的目的是比较机械颈椎脱位与 Koechner 安乐死装置（KED）、用土耳其安乐死装置（TED）实施的击头安乐死、头部 CO 安乐死（CO）和电安乐死，这些方法是否可作为单独处死超重火鸡的人道方法。我们评估了这些方法对脑干反射丧失、急性痛苦（皮质酮，CORT）、处死成功率、皮肤撕裂和失血的影响。在 3 个采样日处死了 174 只火鸡，同时使用移动禽类安乐死设备对鸟类进行约束。记录的脑干反射包括诱导性眨眼反射的停止和恢复（意识丧失和脑干功能障碍）、张嘴反射（脑干功能障碍）和肌肉骨骼运动（脊髓功能障碍）。总体而言，与其他方法相比，KED 导致更频繁（在 4 分钟时：KED 14 只中的 7 只；电 13 只中 0 只；TED 11 只中 0 只；CO 第一天有 14 只中的 2 只）和更长时间的诱导眨眼反射（第二天和第三天的平均值：KED 233；电 15；TED 15；CO 15 秒）。与其他方法相比，KED 安乐死后张嘴反射持续时间最长（第二天和第三天的平均值：KED 197；电 15；TED 51；CO 15 秒）。KED 安乐死后肌肉骨骼运动持续时间最长（第二天和第三天的平均值：KED 235；电 15；TED 219；CO 15 秒）。与 CO 和电安乐死相比，KED 和 TED 处死的反射更频繁，而 CO 和电安乐死则没有反射。CO、电和 TED 安乐死的处死成功率相当（成功：CO 43 只中的 42 只；电 45 只中的 44 只；TED 44 只中的 42 只），KED 导致大多数处死失败（失败：42 只中的 8 只）。皮质酮反应不一致。与 CO 和电应用相比，KED 和 TED 后皮肤撕裂和失血更频繁。因此，我们的结论是，基于这 4 种方法的比较，最明显人道的方法是电安乐死，电安乐死可在 15 秒内迅速导致意识丧失，没有反射，也没有皮肤撕裂或失血。
