Abstract:

Modification of a standard dump trailer into a mobile carbon dioxide depopulation unit for swine

Brent J. Pepin, DVM, MS; Todd Williams, DVM; Carissa Odland, DVM; Taylor Spronk, DVM; Joel Nerem, DVM

PDF version is available online.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an American Veterinary Medical Association approved swine euthanasia method. A limitation for the use of CO₂ during depopulation events, such as a foreign animal disease diagnosis, is the ability to apply the method to finisher and adult pigs. The common euthanasia methods in finishing and adult swine require individual animal handling and restraint, increasing human safety risk in large-scale depopulation events. This project validates the modification of a standard dump trailer into a mobile CO₂ depopulation unit. The success of the method was verified with subdermal implants for monitoring heart rate, activity, and body temperature.

Keywords: carbon dioxide, depopulation, trailer, implant

Cite as: Pepin BJ, Williams T, Odland C, Spronk T, Nerem J. Modification of a standard dump trailer into a mobile carbon dioxide depopulation unit for swine. J Swine Health Prod 2022;30(1):31-38.

Search the AASV web site for pages with similar keywords.