Animal Disease Response TrainingEuthanasia 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

• Monitors and observes risks unique to agriculture

• Alters, suspends or terminates unsafe acts or conditions

How does the safety officer assist command?

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

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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

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Animal Welfare and Handling

• Euthanasia methods must be humane, safe, and appropriate to the species involved

• Guidance from Section 4 of AVMA Guidelines

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Humane Animal Handling

• Animal handling help may be recruited from the local community – assistants should be briefed

in safe work practices and non-abusive animal handling techniques

• Euthanasia Team Leaders will require additional personnel to accomplish their mission

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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 steps1. 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

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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

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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

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Concluding Euthanasia

• May last hours or several days• Euthanasia team heavily

contaminated• Extensive cleaning and

disinfecting for team, equipment, and premises

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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

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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

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Site Selection• Burial site selected using GIS and soil surveys• Maps identify three typical zones

– Exclusion zone– Cautionary or limited zones– Acceptable zones

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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