Killing methods

Killing by means of exsanguination

Mink and chinchillas (referred to as “rodents” in the regulation) may be killed by means of exsanguination as long as they are unconscious. The following animals may be killed by means of exsanguination: cattle, sheep, goats, reindeer, deer and other ruminants; pigs, equines, poultry, ratites and other birds; dogs, cats, mink and foxes; rabbits, rodents and ferrets. Only unconscious animals may be exsanguinated. Animals must be exsanguinated by opening both carotid arteries, the shared blood vessel from which these arteries emanate or another central blood vessel. Exsanguination must take place by cutting the animal’s carotid arteries and the trachea with a sharp knife. This can also be combined with chest sticking in order to accelerate killing. The time from the start of exsanguination until the animal dies is dependent mainly on the efficiency of the blood flow and the size of the animal, but it takes at least 10-15 seconds. The stun-to-stick time, i.e. the time from the stunning of the animal until exsanguination begins, must always be as short as possible as this reduces the risk of the animal regaining consciousness.

Long-distance killing

Long-distance killing is permitted for mink. It is primarily intended for mink that have escaped from the farm or are injured. Uninjured mink that have escaped within the farm are ideally caught using a net or trap. See the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations and guidelines (SJVFS 2012:27) on slaughter or killing of animals, ref. no. L22, below.

Chap. 8(12), L22

Individual wild, escaped or injured animals that cannot be caught without causing greater suffering for the animals may be killed using rifles and shotguns intended for hunting or killing purposes, as specified in the following table. Table 2. The table has been edited from Chap. 8(12), L 22 in order to show the part relating to the long-distance killing of mink.

Animal type		Rifle or shotgun¹ and		ammunition type		Maximum firing distance		Strike area²
Mink		Min. Class 4 (rifle) or shotgun with calibre		Expanding bullet4 , min. Class 4, or		30 m (rifle)		Chest

Division into classes is based on the division of bullet cartridges in the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations (NFS 2002:18) on hunting and state game.

”Chest” in the column below relates to the area (heart, lungs, large arteries) used as a strike area during normal hunting.
Strike energy measured 100 metres from the mouth.
But not what are known as varmint bullets.
Provisions on licences for the possession of weapons and the right to use firearms when killing animals can be found in the Weapons Act (1996:67) and the Regulation on Weapons (1996:70).

Anaesthetics and other killing preparations

Mink and chinchillas may be killed using anaesthetics and chemical killing preparations. Below is a shortened and revised extract from the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations and guidelines (SJVFS 2012:27) on slaughter and killing of animals, ref. no. L22, with emphasis on mink and chinchilla. Note that these killing methods must always be performed by a vet or a person approved by the vet. The vet is always obliged to check that the animal has died. Hence the vet needs to be present at the time of killing.

Chap. 9(15), L22

All species may be killed by means of an overdose of anaesthetic for injection. Such killing must be carried out by a vet or as delegated by the vet in accordance with the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:85) on surgical interventions and obligations for animal keepers and personnel working with animal health and medical care, as well as the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:84) on medications and the use of medications. However, the vet himself is obliged to establish that the animal is dead. The preparation may be administered by means of an intravenous, intracardial (into the heart) or intraperitoneal (into the body cavity) injection. Intracardial injection is permitted only on unconscious animals.

General guidelines on Chap. 9(15), L22

Preparations which irritate tissue should be administered intravenously. In the case of intraperitoneal administration of preparations which issued tissue, the animal should be sedated (have received a calming preparation).

Chap 9(16), L22

All species may be killed by means of injection of chemical preparations specifically intended for the purpose and for the species in question. Such killing must be carried out by a vet or as delegated by the vet in accordance with the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:85) on surgical interventions and obligations for animal keepers and personnel working with animal health and medical care, as well as the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:84) on medications and the use of medications. However, the vet himself is obliged to establish that the animal is dead. When a preparation without a sedative effect is used, the animal must be unconscious when administering the killing preparation. …

Chap. 9(17), L22

Dogs, cats, foxes, mink, rabbits, rodents, ferrets, primates, poultry, ratites and other birds maybe killed by means of an overdose of anaesthetic for inhalation. Such killing must be carried out by a vet or as delegated by the vet in accordance with the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:85) on surgical interventions and obligations for animal keepers and personnel working with animal health and medical care, as well as the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations (SJVFS 2009:84) on medications and the use of medications. However, the vet himself is obliged to establish that the animal is dead.

Chap. 9(18), L22

Ether or chloroform must not be used for killing animals.

Ensuring the killing is successful

Checking that killing has been successful is described in the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations and guidelines (SJVFS 2012:27) on slaughter or killing of animals, ref. no. L22, as follows:

Chap. 8(2), L22

A check must be carried out after killing is complete, even in situations other than slaughter, to ensure that the animal is dead before implementing other measures involving the body. Checks of this kind must be carried out visually on all animals. If there is any cause to suspect that the animal is not dead, killing must promptly begin again. Check that the animal has stopped breathing and that the heart has ceased to beat by checking whether the abdomen is moving and by feeling for a pulse. Also check that the animal is relaxed and that all reflexes have ceased. It is important to check the animals carefully one at a time. For example, if mink are killed in a box, it is advantageous to pick each animal up out of the box, one at a time. If all animals are emptied out of the box at the same time, the check must be carried out in a manner which ensures that there is no risk of any animal remaining unchecked; by clearly sorting the animals, for example. This check must be carried out without delay after killing so that other killing actions can be undertaken immediately if so required.

Checking that the animal is dead therefore includes the following elements:

no pulse
is completely relaxed
is not breathing
has no reflexes

Conclusion

Killing and handling in connection with this must always be carried out in a manner that takes into account the animals’ biological principles and that upholds good animal welfare. Anyone killing animals must have a good knowledge of the animals’ biological principles, handling and applicable killing methods, and of how the equipment is to be used. As regards killing in connection with pelting, a person holding a certificate of competence must constantly monitor the killing and report to the county administrative board when killing is to commence.

Important messages

Good contact and thoroughly cleaned electrodes in order to achieve the right amperage are important when killing with electricity.
Keep track of times to anticipated unconsciousness and the time at which death occurs when killing with carbon dioxide and electricity.
Each individual animal must be checked without delay after completion of killing to ensure that the animals are dead.

Bibliography

EFBA’s response to the Revision of Council Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing-November. 2008.

Finley, G. 1996. Euthanasia of mink. In Hunter, D.B. et al. Mink: Biology Health and Disease Graphic and Print Service, University of Guelph

Hansen, N. E., Creutzberg, A. & Simonsen, H.B. 1991. Euthanasia of mink (mustela vison) by means of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen (N2) Br. Vet. J. 147, 140.

Korhonen, H.T., Sepponen, J. & Eskeli, P. 2011. Euthanasia in farmed mink (Mustela Vison): a questionnaire study NJF seminar 1-3 November, Knivsta, Sweden.

Makowska, I.J. Niel, L., Kirkden, R.D. & Weary, D.M. 2008. Rats show aversion to argon-induced hypoxia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114 572-581.

Raj, M. Mason, G. 1999. Reaction of farmed mink (Mustela Vison) to argon-induced hypoxia Veterinary record, December 18/25.

Council Regulation EC 1099/2009 dated 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. 1 1EUT L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1, (Celex 32009R1099).

The Swedish Board of Agriculture’s regulations and guidelines (SJVFS 2012:27) on slaughter or killing of animals, ref. no. L22.

Poultry olfaction

Fur animals