Electrocution of pigs infected with notifiable diseases

Summary

In order to combat certain notifiable diseases eradication programs have been developed, which include the destruction of an infected or suspected herd. Experiments were conducted to develop a method for euthanasia of large numbers of pigs.

The electrocution experiments under laboratory conditions were performed in a wooden sided box with a steel floor and a curtain of chains. When the pigs touched the chain curtain with their noses, they received a current flow which lasted for more than 2 seconds, and they developed cardiac arrest or fibrillation. The pigs which touched the chain curtain with their rumps vocalised and became recumbent immediately.

An automatic electrocution unit was constructed with a conveyor (negative electrode) and 3 curtains of chains (positive electrodes). Over 6000 pigs infected with a notifiable disease were killed with the apparatus. Only 2 piglets younger than 1 week old were not killed by the current (1000 V, > 2 s.). From the point of view of animal welfare the automatic electrocution apparatus is an efficient method for killing large numbers of pigs (older than I week of age) infected with a notifiable disease.

Notes

Research Institute for Animal Production ‘Schoonoord’, P.O. Box 501, 3700 AM Zeist, The Netherlands.