Stoffregen Julia, Winkelmann Tristan, Schneider Bettina, Fehrmann Michel, Gerdes Kathrin, Miller Moana, Reinmold Jennifer, Hennig-Pauka Isabel, Kemper Nicole, Kleinsorgen Christin, Tölle Karl-Heinz, Kreienbrock Lothar, Wendt Michael, Grosse Beilage Elisabeth
Institute of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing (IBEI), WHO-CC for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Field Station for Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Büscheler Str. 9, 49456 Bakum, Germany.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jul 26;14(15):2174. doi: 10.3390/ani14152174.
The decision to euthanize a compromised pig can be challenging for pig farmers and veterinarians. To understand more about the challenges in Germany, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted. Based on a hybrid design, the responses of 39 veterinarians and 62 pig farmers were analyzed to generate a list of common clinical signs associated with the euthanasia of sows, fatteners, and piglets. Moreover, a set of influences on the farm, due to economic and personal considerations, were found to shape the decision-making process. The two most salient reasons outlined for the delay of timely euthanasia were uncertainty and misinterpretation of the chance for healing. The lack of valid clinical signs or a sound justification was most frequently mentioned as a challenge to the general decision-making process. In summation, this study highlights the need to generate a valid taxonomy for clinical signs that includes their development in a compromised pig over time. Future studies should elaborate on the justification of euthanasia decisions to facilitate the resolution of ethical dilemmas among the involved pig farmers and veterinarians. Lastly, the results suggest that clinical reasoning and consultation skills should be included when decision-making behavior is to be trained.
对患病猪实施安乐死的决定，对于养猪户和兽医来说可能具有挑战性。为了更深入了解德国面临的挑战，开展了一项横断面在线调查。基于混合设计，对39名兽医和62名养猪户的回答进行了分析，以生成一份与母猪、育肥猪和仔猪安乐死相关的常见临床症状清单。此外，还发现由于经济和个人因素，农场中的一系列影响因素会影响决策过程。及时安乐死延迟的两个最突出原因是对治愈机会的不确定性和误解。缺乏有效的临床症状或合理的理由是总体决策过程中最常被提及的挑战。总之，本研究强调需要为临床症状制定有效的分类法，包括其在患病猪体内随时间的发展情况。未来的研究应详细阐述安乐死决定的理由，以促进解决相关养猪户和兽医之间的伦理困境。最后，结果表明，在培训决策行为时应纳入临床推理和咨询技能。
