Considerations for Timely Euthanasia in Calf Care

By Alycia Drwencke and Betsy Hicks

SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team, SCNY Dairy and Field Crops Team

Calf care can be a tricky and frustrating task on farms. When everything runs smoothly, calves can be a source of joy for the care givers. However, when calves are sick or experience an injury, particularly if recovery is unlikely, stress for both the animal and caregiver increases. This highlights the importance of preventing illness and injury in calves, but unfortunately preventative measure aren't always successful. When a calf does become sick or injured, farms should work quickly to identify the problem and treat it accordingly, or perform timely euthanasia if prognosis is poor. 

When a problem arises with a calf, physical and behavioral measures can be used to determine and monitor the severity of the situation. These same measures may also be used to evaluate the prognosis. Indicators of health can include hydration, feed or milk intake, amount of time spend lying down, posture such as arched back or droopy head, vigor scores, and so on. A calf that is identified as sick or injured should be checked for signs of distress, which include increased respiration rate, body temperature, heart rate, paddling/thrashing, or non-ambulatory status. Calves in distress may need to be euthanized immediately to minimize suffering for the calf and caregiver. If the cause of illness is unknown, performing a necropsy after euthanasia may be useful for farms. This resource from Colorado State University is extremely useful in performing on farm necropsies.

While the decision to euthanize an animal (particularly a calf) is extremely difficult, it is also important to make the decision in a timely manner. According to research, 95% of pre-weaned calf mortality on dairy farms in the U.S. occurred without euthanasia in 2014 (Walker et al. 2019). This is a concern for the welfare of the calves, the caregivers, and public perception. Within the dairy industry there is a need to focus more on timely euthanasia, especially in pre-weaned calves. While the decision to euthanize can be extremely difficult to make, having established protocols on farm can help alleviate some of the stress and guesswork of when to perform timely euthanasia. The emphasis here should be on the timely aspect. If an animal needs to be euthanized, reducing the amount of time they spend suffering is crucial. We have put together a "Euthanasia Decision Tree" that can help guide a farm when creating protocols to make the best decisions for calves in their care. It can be accessed at: https://cornell.box.com/v/criticalcalfcare.

Several things should be kept in mind when euthanasia is performed. First, only trained personnel should perform the procedure, and they should do so as soon as the decision is made. Second, during the euthanasia only an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved method should be used. For dairy calves, these include three approved methods. 1) An intravenous (IV) administration of a lethal dose of a barbiturate or barbituric acid, 2) gunshot using an appropriate firearm, ammunition and anatomic site, or 3) non-penetrating captive bolt can be used for the euthanasia of neonates and calves less than 2-3 months of age. After the procedure has been performed, calves should be checked for signs of life and a second method used if needed. Farmers and calf care givers should request training from their veterinarian on the method they choose, as well as how to monitor for signs of life after the procedure. Finally, don't overlook the toll that performing euthanasia can have on the humans involved. It's important to provide a supportive environment to promote the mental health of caregivers performing euthanasia, and to rotate those responsibilities among trained employees if necessary. Euthanasia can often be viewed as a form of failure in caregivers, making it emotionally straining to both make the decision and perform euthanasia. This emotional strain can result in pushing off the decision to euthanize an animal, even if it's the most appropriate next step.

Additionally, farms should have a protocol in place for a severe disease outbreak on their farm which may result in mass euthanasia or mortality. This protocol should include contacting your local and state veterinarians, the plan for carcass disposal, and how other animals on farm will be protected along with the physical and mental health of humans. Risk factors for disease outbreaks include exposure to older animals, poor cleanliness or ventilation, damp bedding, crowding, and inadequate colostrum or nutrition. Especially when disease is present, humans working with sick calves should wear gloves, wash their hands regularly, and avoid touching their face to reduce the risk of contracting a disease that can pass between them and the calf.

Even while farms work hard to promote calf health, illness and injury are bound to happen from time to time. To those who care for calves, making the final decision of euthanasia can take a toll and it's important to account for the mental strain of making the decision as well as the procedure.  When these situations arise, it's important to be prepared and have protocols in place to promote the welfare of both calves and caregivers.