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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369578
Research Project: Production and Processing Intervention Strategies for Poultry Associated Foodborne Pathogens

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Euthanasia for Broiler Chickens: Manual and Mechanical Cervical Dislocation Methods, Publication APSC-161P

Author
item JACOBS, L - Virginia Tech
item BOURASSA, DIANNA - Auburn University
item Harris, Caitlin
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff

Submitted to: Virginia Cooperative Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2019
Publication Date: 10/15/2019
Citation: Jacobs, L., Bourassa, D.V., Harris, C.E., Buhr, R.J. 2019. Euthanasia for Broiler Chickens: Manual and Mechanical Cervical Dislocation Methods, Publication APSC-161P. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publications. APSC-161P;p.1-4. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/APSC/APSC-161/APSC-161.html

Interpretive Summary: none

Technical Abstract: For the indicators we observed for euthanasia in broilers, manual cervical dislocation (CD) had shorter time to death compared with the Koechner Euthanizing Device (KED) applications. Extending the spinal column gap with the two-step KED+ application was achieved but did not shorten the time to death. When numerous broilers are to be euthanized, as for flock depopulation or necropsy, the use of the KED for euthanasia is a practical, safe, and efficacious method. For euthanasia of a single broiler or a few birds in a flock, CD is the obvious method and can be performed by a single person without any equipment. However, CD can be physically straining on the operators, and requires training and practice to maintain proficiency to be applied appropriately to numerous broilers. Thus, the need remains to find euthanasia methods equal to or better than CD.