Tool-based euthanasia methods for broiler chicks: Evaluating welfare outcomes of Iris and Kelly scissors

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Poultry Husbandry

Background:

• Manual cervical dislocation (CD) is the standard poultry euthanasia method.
• CD is challenging in young chicks due to their small size, impacting consistency.
• Tool-assisted cervical dislocation (CD) methods may offer a more reliable alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Iris (ICD) and Kelly (KCD) scissor-assisted CD.
• To compare tool-assisted CD methods against manual CD in 1-day-old (1DOA) and 7-day-old (7DOA) broiler chicks.
• To assess metrics of insensibility, physical trauma, and procedural consistency.

Main Methods:

• Broiler chicks (1DOA and 7DOA) were randomly allocated to three euthanasia groups: manual CD, ICD, and KCD.
• Efficacy was assessed by time to cardiac arrest, loss of reflexes, and physical trauma (lacerations, hemorrhaging, fractures).
• Vertebral separation consistency was analyzed for each method.

Main Results:

• All methods rendered chicks insensible effectively, with cardiac arrest within 52-253 seconds.
• Manual CD resulted in faster insensibility metrics but caused more lacerations and decapitation.
• Iris (ICD) scissor-assisted CD demonstrated similar vertebral separation consistency to manual CD with fewer lesions and fractures.

Conclusions:

• While manual CD is faster, Iris (ICD) scissor-assisted cervical dislocation offers a viable alternative.
• ICD provides comparable consistency in cervical dislocation and brain trauma while minimizing physical damage.
• Tool-assisted methods, particularly ICD, may reduce the emotional burden associated with chick euthanasia.