Livestock Euthanasia

[RichZ]

My wife and I own a dairy goat farm, and also raise fiber sheep. Up until now, when one of the goats or sheep had to be put down, we'd call the vet to euthanize them. Not that it happens often, but it does happen often enough to get fairly expensive. What do other livestock people do for a humane and cost friendly method for euthanaisia? Our livestock are like pets to us, all of the goats and sheep are named, and most know their names, and are very bonded to us, despite the large numbers of livestock that we have. Is there a method that's quick, painless and inexpensive, or am I just looking for the impossible? I'm a biologist and my wife is an RN, so we can handle almost any medical emergency ourselves, and our vet is very good about working with us. I haven't discussed this topic with her yet, I figured I'd find out what the TBN braintrust had to say first.

Thanks!!!

 

[JESSE1]

If your goats and sheep are like pets I believe you're doing the right thing by calling the vet to euthanize them. If one of my cows had to be put down I would do it but it would be quick and as humane as possible. It would just depend on the circumstances and how quick it had to be done so that the animal would suffer the least.

 

[DennisArrow]

We raise registered Boer breeding stock and I really do understand about your need. This also happens to us from time to time and when one has polio or floppy kid it hurts even worse to watch them suffer. My wife gets this chore cause since Viet Nam I am kinda puny on that side of the scale; but what she uses is xylazine from a vet supply house with a perscription. She gives them a big dose maybe 1.5 CC per 100lb IM, which puts them into a deep coma and then covers their muzzle with her hand and they pass on.

Good luck and God bless your spirit.........Dennis

 

[greenmule]

Well,sometimes life [and death],is pretty hard to handle ain't it?

that old saying,mans gotta do what a mans gotta do,applies here.

 

[schmism]

how does your vet do it? lethal injection?

cant you get the same stuff? (or do you have to be licensed in some way?)

Tranquilize them and gas them with CO2. (regular welding gas)

 

[dmccarty]

In the old PBS show "All Creatures Great and Small" based on the UK books by vet James Herriot they have to put down animals frequently. What always caught my attention in the euthanasia scenes is that it looks like they had a hand held "gun" that fired a .22 short/long. The "gun" looks like a handle of a ski pole except made of wood. There has to a be a metal barrel in the wood handle and some sort of plunger firing pin.

The round went into one end of the "handle" some sort of cover was put in place. Then the "handle" was put barral first between the eyes of the animal, maybe a bit up on the forehead, and the other hand was slapped on top of the "hand" to fire the round. Seems very effecient, quick, and clean. Course it was a TV show but they followed the books.

If I had read Herriot's books in high school instead of college I would be a vet today.

The going to lead my kids to the books as the get old enough. One who over the weekend was keeping worms, a grasshopper and a slug should be a vet. Not sure what the other futurer TBNer should do in life.

Later,
Dan

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Rich,
Its got to be tough to put down any animal that your on a name basis with ! Hopefully you can come up with something that is humane and works for you and your wife.

On a lighter note, you could call me , no on second thought I wouldnt want to do it either !