Evaluating attitudes toward piglet euthanasia among Spanish-speaking animal caretakers on U.S. commercial swine farms: A comparison of CO₂ and non-penetrating captive bolt methods.

The use of a non-penetrating captive bolt (NPCB) gun to euthanize suckling pigs may be visually challenging and stressful to animal caretakers, influencing their ability to make timely euthanasia decisions. The objective of this study was to utilize a survey to characterize the emotional and practical challenges of Spanish-speaking animal caretakers (n = 257) employed on commercial swine farms in the United States, as they transitioned from carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas euthanasia to NPCB as the primary method of euthanasia in suckling piglets. The survey results indicated concerns primarily centered on perceived inhumaneness and potential pain inflicted on piglets, particularly with the NPCB method. Caretakers expressed concerns about the psychological impact of CO2, but felt it was a more humane alternative than NPCB. Male caretakers were less likely than females to dislike euthanizing piglets (p = 0.013). Animal caretakers who were aware of the Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA; p = 0.010), animal caretakers with a college degree (p < 0.05), and those who decided when to euthanize an animal and conducted the procedure themselves preferred to have someone else perform the task of euthanasia (p < 0.01). These findings highlight how demographics and knowledge of the CSIA influence animal caretakers' decisions and preferences regarding piglet euthanasia. These findings also emphasize a challenge with animal caretakers' reluctance to accept science-based animal welfare practices.