Bovine Euthanasia Guidelines Available in English and Spanish

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) offers its members, other beef and dairy veterinarians and livestock producers Practical Euthanasia of Cattle guidelines. These guidelines are intended to aid caretakers, animal owners, livestock market operators, animal transporters, and veterinarians in choosing effective euthanasia methods.

The guidelines, which were posted on AABP’s website in September 2013, have recently been translated into Spanish. Both versions can be found here.  

Both the English and Spanish versions are in accordance with euthanasia recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AABP guidelines include information on human safety, animal welfare, restraint, practicality, skill, cost, aesthetics, diagnostics and carcass disposal.

AABP Animal Welfare Committee Chairman Dr. Dave Sjeklocha, Satanta, Kan., says, "Veterinarians, farmers and farm employees need to understand that euthanasia should not be taken lightly. There are acceptable methods that we must employ and it is in the best interest of the animal to use these methods.

"Euthanasia means ‘good death’," Sjeklocha explains. "The goal of euthanasia is to end the suffering of an animal as quickly and painlessly as possible. These guidelines are key to making that goal a reality, and we must be aware of the proper methods for the good of our livestock."

Having these guidelines translated into Spanish is important, Sjeklocha adds. "I am pleased that AABP has the foresight to offer these guidelines in both English and Spanish," he says. "The value to this also relates to ending animal suffering as expeditiously as possible. We have many Spanish-speaking workers on our farms and ranches today, so we must be sure they are also aware of the correct methods of euthanasia."

Find the English and Spanish Practical Euthanasia of Cattle guidelines here. 

AABP is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization serving cattle veterinary
medicine professionals across the United States, Canada and other countries. Visit http://www.aabp.org/