Iowa Pork Industry Center swine specialist J. Erik Potter says the new euthanasia workshop, created by Dr Anna Johnson, associate professor of animal science; Dr Suzanne Millman, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and biomedical science; and the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University, will address this important issue.

J. Erik Potter explained that there has been a rise in concerns from pork producers regarding this critical swine welfare issue and that the course addresses these concerns:

Participants will leave the workshop confident in their ability to recognize compromised pigs and will feel comfortable talking through the euthanasia process.

Dr Anna Johnson assured that the goal of the workshop was not to push one euthanasia method over another, but focuses on providing a refresher for producers:

Pork producers already are comfortable with the methods they use. The workshop is designed to review and refresh producers on the euthanasia process. We also provide them with opportunity to learn about alternate methods they may wish to consider using on their farms.

In addition, the workshop will provide producers with a way to help prepare them for a third-party Common Swine Industry Audit.

Topics in the two-hour workshop include:

Review of Pork Quality Assurance Plus and CSIA euthanasia materials
Euthanasia introduction
Insensibility signs
How to determine death
Review of pigs that meet euthanasia criteria per PQA Plus and the CSIA
Approved swine euthanasia method(s) based on what the producer is using

For more information on the Euthanasia workshops and what is covered, please click here

As reported by Iowa State University: Iowa Pork Industry Center