Hispanic worker attitudes toward pig euthanasia on U.S. farms

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Agricultural Workforce Studies
• Veterinary Ethics

Background:

• On-farm pig euthanasia involves animal welfare and economic considerations.
• Existing guidelines lack cultural sensitivity for a diverse agricultural workforce.
• Timely euthanasia is critical for Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA) compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a survey instrument to assess Hispanic caretakers' attitudes toward pig euthanasia.
• To evaluate swine caretakers' attitudes and identify barriers to performing euthanasia.
• To determine demographic and psychological factors influencing pig euthanasia practices.

Main Methods:

• A survey instrument was developed and administered to 163 participants across 16 farms in Iowa.
• Data collection occurred over two days, with 60 minutes allocated per day.
• Demographic, psychometric, and swine management data were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Less experienced employees demonstrated reduced knowledge of CSIA, lower ability to identify compromised pigs, and less willingness to perform euthanasia.
• Secondary traumatic stress was correlated with burnout and worker satisfaction.
• Female participants reported higher secondary traumatic stress and lower compassion satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Demographic, psychometric, and training factors influence Hispanic caretakers' views on pig euthanasia.
• Findings can inform targeted training programs to improve pig identification and timely euthanasia.
• Enhanced training can benefit human well-being, animal welfare, and industry audit performance.