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Request for an end to burying animals alive, an end to the use of succinyl choline as a euthanasia drug, and an amendment to Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) in response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
From November 2010 to February 9, 2011, around ten million animals were culled in Korea because of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza. Two primary means of culling were used: cattle were injected with the neuromuscular paralyzing agent called succinyl choline and then buried. Pigs and fowl were buried alive. Both of these methods, the live burials of animals and the use of succinyl choline, cause severe distress and suffering. Therefore, both methods are inappropriate for culling and both are in violation of international standards and must be ended immediately.
On January 27, 2011, the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Juan Lubroth, stated that when countries have to deal with an outbreak of FMD, they “should adhere to accepted practices that adequately take animal welfare and environmental impacts into account.”1 The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines also state that when animals are “killed for disease control purposes, the methods used to kill animals should result in immediate death,” and everything must be done to “ensure the welfare of the animals until they are dead.”2 The methods used must “result in immediate death or immediate loss of consciousness” (for example, by gunshot or electrocution) and should not cause prolonged “distress or suffering.”3
Culling that does not result in instant loss of consciousness and that causes suffering in animals cannot be considered humane euthanasia and is in direct violation of FAO and OIE recommendations. This describes what has been happening in Korea. To make matters worse, the succinyl choline used in Korea was imported from China and was less effective, resulting in some cattle suffering for more than an hour before dying. This clearly constitutes a horrific form of animal abuse and further violates FAO and OIE guidelines.4
It must be stressed that succinyl choline should not be used at all for euthanasia. An official Dutch veterinarian has stated the following in response to Korea’s disregard for FAO and OIE animal-welfare standards by using succinyl choline:
Succinyl choline does not comply at all because this drug only sedates the muscles but not the animal. The animal is fully conscious and aware of his surroundings ... He will suffocate and cannot do anything about it. This is totally unacceptable. The OIE is signed also by the Koreans so they should obey the rules.5
The Humane Society International (HSI) has issued a statement explaining why succinyl choline must not be used:
The animal is fully aware of the gradual loss of muscular function that occurs following administration of the drug, an experience that undoubtedly causes alarm and distress. The animal then gradually suffocates due to paralysis of the intercostal-diaphragmatic muscles, which regulate breathing. Succinylcholine ... additionally causes the simultaneous contraction of all skeletal muscles in the body and this is known (in humans) to be a painful experience. But whichever skeletal muscle relaxant is used, death is prolonged and painful, essentially through asphyxiation.6
Canadians for Ethical Treatment of Food Animals (CETFA) similarly stated the following in its online campaign against Korea’s inhumane culling methods:
Succinyl choline ... leaves animals fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. The animals ... slowly suffocate due to paralysis of their breathing muscles while saliva pools in their throat due to lack of functional swallowing muscles. In short, the drug causes the animals to slowly suffocate to death while choking ... we can deduce that Korean officials plan to continue using this inhumane means of killing.7
Quite clearly, better methods need to be used for culling instead of succinyl choline and live burials. In the case of large animals, such as pigs and cattle, captive bolts, electrocution, or euthanasia drugs should be used. If drugs are employed, then it is best to use sodium pentobarbital via intravenous injection. If any toxic drugs are used, they should only be administered after the animal is completely anesthetized. In the case of fowls, CO2 or electric water stunning should be used, so that they are quickly killed before burial.
It is shameful that the Korean government continues to insist on burying animals alive and using inadequate and cruel drugs. In 2010, the Japanese city of Miyazaki was also faced with foot-and-mouth disease and mass culling. But in contrast to Korea, the methods used in their culling operation was to anesthetize cattle and sows with Xylazine (the Korean name for this drug is Rumpoon, and in Japan it is called Serakutaru), and after that a lethal poison was administered. In the case of regular pigs, they used electrocution.
Moreover, in 2001, during a culling operation in Ireland, pigs and deer were electrocuted and then buried, cattle were electrically stunned and killed by way of pithing. Lambs were injected with sodium pentobarbital to painlessly kill them.8 In 2006, the European Nordic Nations cited acceptable methods such as firefighter’s CO2 foam to cull fowls and recommended use of sodium pentobarbital for geese and ducks.9 From the animal welfare perspective, and to ensure biosecurity, burying animals alive whether in bags or not must be avoided entirely.
The law for the prevention of infectious diseases among livestock animals was passed this January, and in article 49 it states that psychological help should be provided “to farmers and to personnel working on culling operations who experience mental duress and distress.” However, there was no mention of consideration for the distress and suffering of animals that choked to death while paralyzed by succinyl choline or were buried alive. It is because of this neglect of animal welfare that farmers and cull workers witness horrific suffering and consequently have a need for psychological help. If animals were euthanized humanely, it is only logical that farmers and cull personnel would not experience so much mental trauma.
A policy on culling methods must not neglect animal welfare. Humane culling should be done by adequately trained personnel who have the proper equipment. If that is impossible, vaccination should automatically apply and vaccines must be readily available in case of this contingency. The government must start abiding by international standards and stop using inappropriate methods of culling such as burying animals alive, which is unscientific, irrational and cruel. Some government officials, professionals, and citizens groups agree with current cull policies and voice opposition to using vaccines, but in doing so they make Korea look backward and incompetent in the eyes of the world. The failure to change culling and vaccination policies will only result in ineffective disease prevention and even more animal abuse and suffering on a massive scale in the future.
We at KARA regard life as precious and sentient beings as deserving of our humane consideration. One measure of a civilized society is the way it treats its animals, and so we urge the government to show compassion and respect for non-human species in its policy decisions.
Finally, upon the government’s request, KARA will support humane culling with the on-site presence of experienced overseas specialists, veterinarians, and inspectors who will be invited to Korea to provide specialized skills and advice. We will strive to offer practical advice and assistance and to establish long-term cooperation with the government.
We request a reply after you have considered our statements above and the following proposals.
1. Put a swift end to burying animals alive. Provide appropriate culling methods in accordance with the guidelines and standards of the OIE, of which Korea is a member.
2. Please do not use the paralyzing drug succinyl choline on individual animals without anesthesia. Do not call succinyl choline a euthanasia drug in media releases.
3. In the SOP for foot-and-mouth disease, detailed culling methods appropriate for each animal must be clearly stated. For example, electrocution for pigs, CO2 for fowl, and the use of captive-bolt guns on cows. These must be adhered to nationally. Also, it must be clearly stated to bury animals only after the confirmation of their deaths.
4. In the case of using drugs, an anesthetic must first be administered before the injection of any lethal drug. A detailed list of appropriate drugs such as sodium pentobarbital should be compiled. Sodium pentobarbital is reasonably priced and provides immediate loss of consciousness and death. Drugs such as sodium pentobarbital must be authorized for importation and used in culling operations.
5. All personnel involved in culling operations must be properly trained in the use of culling equipment and in the administering of lethal injections so that no unnecessary suffering of animals occurs.
Footnotes
[1] Foot-and-Mouth Disease in South Korea signals regional risk 27-01-2011. Coordinated, multinational response required: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/50098/icode/
[2] OIE - Terrestrail Animal Health Code: Killing of Animals for Disease Control Purpose (Chapter 7.6, Article 7.6.1)
[3] AVMA guideline on Euthanasia (AVMA, 2007)
[4] 중국산 가축 안락사 약 효과 떨어져..수의사 고통 http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2011011496378
[5] KARA 와의 서신 교환 내용 중 일부
[6] HSI Statement on the use of neuromuscular blocking agents for mass killing of animals for disease control purposes
[7] Olivier Berreville, Ph.D. Scientific Advisor, January 31, 2011, CETFA online campaign.
[8] Costelloe et al, “Control of foot and mouth disease: Lessons from the experience of Ireland.” Rev Sci Tech. 21 (2002):739–750.
[9] Emergency killing of poultry during disease outbreaks in the Nordic countries: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/10_berg.pdf
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