The AVMA's guidance to the pork and poultry industries approves and permits Ventilation Shutdown (VSD+) for the killing of chickens and pigs in “constrained circumstances.” Ventilation Shutdown fails to render the animals insensitive to pain or cause death quickly without distress. A 2015 animal industry presentation stated “VSD not considered humane.”
Ventilation Shutdown is performed by shutting off airflow in a barn and adding heat. According to the AVMA Guidelines, “death may result from any combination of excessive temperature, CO2, or toxic gases from slurry or manure below the barn.” These animals die from hyperthermia (overheating) and suffocation.
This process is traumatic and painful and has been shown to take several hours for animals to die. In the 2019 AVMA Depopulation Guidelines, they cite a study demonstrating pigs survived up to 16 hours after Ventilation Shutdown. The June 9, 2020 American Association of Swine Veterinarians Depopulation Recommendations also state that some pigs will survive VSD/VSD+ and alternate killing methods need to be available.
The use of any killing method that does not cause immediate loss of consciousness is considered inhumane and unacceptable. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) - an intergovernmental body responsible for improving animal health worldwide - does not condone Ventilation Shutdown even for emergency disease control.
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians lists 10 other methods for depopulation in their June 9, 2020 Depopulation Recommendations.
It is important for veterinarians to know that all forms of Ventilation Shutdown are NOT listed in the AVMA’s Euthanasia Guidelines but that many other methods are considered humane enough to be included in both the Euthanasia and Depopulation Guidelines.
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