Euthanizing cattle and calves on the farm

Overview

An animal may need to be euthanized if it is severely injured, sick or affected by a disaster such as a fire.

On-farm euthanasia is a practical and humane way to relieve an animal's pain and suffering if it is unfit to travel, or to prevent drug residues from entering the food supply.

Whenever possible, consult with a veterinarian before deciding to euthanize an animal. Having an established on-farm euthanasia plan ensures you can efficiently perform on-farm euthanasia in emergencies, reducing delays in euthanasia and improving animal welfare. Update your euthanasia plan annually.

Your mental health

Euthanizing animals may affect the mental health of the person performing it, even when it is done humanely and out of necessity. Farmers are encouraged to recognize this impact and seek support from peers, mental health professionals or agricultural support services when needed. Find support through the Farmer Wellness Initiative.

Euthanasia considerations

Use the following considerations to help decide whether treatment or slaughter are appropriate alternatives to euthanasia.

Consider treatment if the animal:

• is likely to recover
• is in pain or distress that can be lessened with treatment
• can access and consume feed and water

Consider sending the animal directly to slaughter if they:

• have cleared drug withdrawal times, if treated
• is fit for humane transport
• is fit for slaughter

Consider emergency slaughter if the animal:

• has cleared drug withdrawal times, if treated
• is fit for slaughter
• is not fit for humane transport

Consider euthanasia if the animal:

• is unlikely to recover
• is in pain or distress, that will not be lessened with treatment
• can’t access or consume feed and water
• is not fit for transport
• is not fit for slaughter

Contact a veterinarian if the animal:

• shows any clinical signs that you don't recognize
• shows signs of reportable disease
• requires an assessment, treatment or euthanasia

Euthanasia methods

Euthanasia must be performed in a way that minimizes fear and anxiety in the animal using calm handling practices. You have an ethical and moral responsibility to provide a humane death without causing additional pain or suffering.

The appropriate methods for on-farm euthanasia are:

• injection by a veterinarian
• stunning with a penetrating captive bolt followed by a secondary method of either bleed-out or pithing
• gunshot

Each method has advantages and disadvantages. Euthanasia by injection must be performed by a veterinarian. If you choose the captive bolt or gunshot method, take precautions to prevent injury to yourself and others.

When choosing a method consider:

• human safety
• animal welfare
• required skills
• costs

Death must always be confirmed, regardless of which method is used.

On-farm euthanasia methods and considerations

Injection by a veterinarian

Safety: Restrain the animal.

Animal welfare rating: excellent

Skills required: proper technique for intravenous injection

Associated costs: veterinary fee

Other considerations: Injection can only be administered by a licenced veterinarian. Inform your deadstock collector of the drug reside in the carcass.

Penetrating captive bolt

Penetration of the skull and brain by captive bolt is followed by either pithing or bleed-out by cutting all the main arteries and veins in the neck.

Safety: Restrain the animal. Be cautious of falling or thrashing animals.

Animal welfare rating: Good rating. Correct cartridge strength, target site and penetration angle on animal is essential.

Skills required: correct and safe use of captive bolt pistol and sharp knife

Associated costs: low, after purchase of captive bolt pistol

Other considerations: Penetrating with a captive bolt results in some body movement. It may result in a large volume of blood that requires proper disposal.

Gunshot (Penetration of the skull and brain by bullet)

Safety: Restrain the animal. Be cautious of falling or thrashing animals. Be extremely cautious about bullet ricochet.

Animal welfare rating: Good rating. Correct size of firearm and ammunition, and correct target site and penetration angle on animal are essential.

Skills required: correct and safe use of firearm

Associated costs: low, after purchase of firearm

Other considerations: Gunshot results in some body movement and blood. It requires a firearm acquisition certificate. Local by-laws may prohibit the use of firearms.

Captive bolt and firearm

An experienced person can produce rapid unconsciousness in an animal by using a penetrating captive bolt or firearm. The shot must be aimed at the correct target site and angle for the species and age of animal. The same anatomical targets and angles are used for both methods (refer to Figure 1).

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper maintenance and cleaning of captive bolts and firearms to ensure reliable function, effective humane use, and to reduce the risk of malfunctions that could compromise the procedure, animal welfare or operator safety.

Target site and angle

The captive bolt or firearm should penetrate the skull at the intersection of 2 imaginary lines extending from the lower base of each side of the horn bed, to the outside corner of the opposite eye, as shown in Figure 1.

Steps for using a captive bolt

1. Ensure the animal is securely restrained.
2. Ensure the captive bolt has the appropriate length bolt and use the appropriate cartridge strength for the animal (refer to the manufacturer's manual).
3. Place the captive bolt pistol firmly against the animal's head on the correctly landmarked target site and shoot.
4. Be careful to avoid injury from thrashing limbs when the animal collapses.
5. Although one correctly placed shot should result in rapid unconsciousness, be prepared to administer a second shot if necessary.
6. Ensure the animal is unconscious by touching the surface of the eye to check for the blink response. Any eye movement or blinking shows sustained consciousness. If there are any signs of consciousness, repeat the euthanasia method or use an alternative procedure.
7. While the captive bolt causes immediate loss of consciousness and brain damage, it may not immediately kill the animal, and the animal could regain consciousness. A second step is required to ensure the animal is dead and will not regain consciousness. This should be done quickly after confirming loss of consciousness and can be done by either bleed-out or pithing. To bleed-out the animal, cut both the carotid arteries and jugular veins in the neck with a sharp knife. These arteries and veins are on both sides of the throat. Pithing is the practice to increase the destruction of the brain and spinal cord tissue. It is performed by inserting a pithing rod or similar tool through the hole, created by the penetrating captive bolt, and manipulating the tool to destroy the brain stem and spinal cord, resulting in death.

Using a firearm

Firearms should only be used by trained and licensed people who understand the potential dangers. Gun owners responsible for cattle euthanasia must maintain their skills. Regular practice ensures safe handling and the ability to deliver a prompt, humane outcome while minimizing risk to people and animals.

The steps for using a firearm are as follows:

1. Set up a backstop (such as an earth berm or manure pile) to stop the bullet if you miss or it over-penetrates. Shoot outdoors when possible. Consider the animal’s mobility, and animal handling and restraint options that are available outdoors. Ensure the animal is securely restrained.
2. Use a firearm and ammunition that are appropriate for the size, age and type of animal. The ammunition used to euthanize an animal must be powerful enough to make the animal immediately unconscious and to penetrate the head deeply enough to destroy the areas of the brain that control breathing and circulation.
3. To avoid personal injury, do not place the firearm muzzle against the animal's skull. Follow the guidelines of the firearm and ammunition type being used.
4. Be careful to avoid injury from thrashing limbs when the animal collapses.

Special considerations for calves and bulls

Regardless of their size, it is equally important to restrain calves prior to euthanasia for the safety of the calf and the person operating the firearm or captive bolt.

Bulls require special considerations and planning before euthanizing. A bull’s size and temperament pose a safety concern for the person performing the euthanasia. Be sure the bull is safely handled and well restrained to protect those involved. If using a penetrating captive bolt, ensure the rod is long enough and the charge is sufficient to penetrate the thicker skull. If euthanizing with a gunshot, ensure the firearm and ammunition are suitable for the size and thickness of a bull skull.

Confirming death

You must confirm the animal's death immediately after euthanasia.

A standing animal should collapse right away. Muscles may involuntarily contract for up to 20 seconds, followed by uncoordinated kicking or paddling movements before the muscles completely relax.

Check the animal for breathing, heartbeat and blinking response (corneal reflex). There should be none. The eyes should be fixed and dilated. To check the blinking response, touch the surface of the eye. Any eye movement or blinking shows sustained or recovering brain activity. If there are any signs of life, repeat the euthanasia method or use an alternative procedure.

Disposing of mortalities

Proper disposal of livestock mortalities is critical in preventing environmental contamination and the spread of disease. In Ontario, disposal is regulated under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, O. Reg. 106/09 (NMA) and the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001, O. Reg. 105/09 (FSQA).

Under the NMA, producers are required to properly dispose of on-farm mortalities within 48 hours of death in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. When euthanizing an animal, choose a location where you can access and dispose of the animal quickly.

Consider biosecurity and disease control when choosing a method for disposal. Maintain good hygiene, thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces, and take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of infectious agents to other animals, people or the environment.

Approved on-farm disposal methods include:

• using a licensed collector
• on-farm burial
• on-farm incineration
• on-farm composting
• on-farm disposal vessel
• delivery to an approved anaerobic digester
• delivery to an approved waste disposal site
• delivery to a licensed disposal facility under the FSQA
• delivery to a licensed veterinarian for purposes of a postmortem

Learn more about deadstock disposal options on-farm.

Movement of bovine deadstock requires federal specified risk material (SRM) permitting. Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for conditions and requirements governing the transport of bovine deadstock.

Disclaimer

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) does not recommend any specific method described on this page. Producers should choose which method is appropriate for their individual circumstances and ensure they are properly trained and competent to carry out the chosen method.

Possession and use of firearms are governed by federal legislation.

Producers should ensure compliance with all legislative requirements and ensure adequate safety precautions are used.

OMAFA is not liable for injuries or damages resulting from the use of the methods discussed on this webpage.