Selected employee attributes and perceptions regarding methods and animal welfare concerns associated with swine euthanasia

by 1952- Matthis, Steven

MATTHIS, JOHN STEVEN. Selected Employee Attributes And Perceptions Regarding Methods And Animal Welfare Concerns Associated With Swine Euthanasia. (Under the direction of Dr. Richard T. Liles.) The purpose of this study is to determine selected employee attributes on their perceptions regarding swine euthanasia and to explore their animal welfare concerns associated with swine euthanasia. This study establishes the most prevalent personality types among swine employees in Eastern North Carolina. The following independent factors will be used to determine an employee’s willingness to perform euthanasia and attitude toward euthanasia. These factors include socio-demographic factors, socio-psychological factors, farm factors, and euthanasia methods. The information was obtained by visiting 47 swine farms in eastern North Carolina where a total of 388 surveys were administered with a 100% return rate. The objectives of the study were developed from the analysis of focus group participation and scrutinized by peer review. The selected objects for this research project include: 1. Which method of euthanasia, blunt trauma or carbon dioxide gas do employees prefer? 2. Does the employee perceive the pain of the pig an important factor when choosing a euthanasia method? 3. Do employees perceive safety as an important factor in performing euthanasia? 4. Which method of euthanasia, blunt trauma or carbon dioxide gas do employees perceive as being the fastest method of euthanasia for the pig? 5. What method of euthanasia training do employees prefer? 6. Do employees perceive the the time it takes to complete the euthanasia process an important factor in choosing a method? 7. Do employees perceive the euthanasia as being a stressful part of the job? 8. Is there a correlation between a employee’s temperament and his or her willingness to euthanize pigs and his or her attitude toward euthanizing? 9. Do selected socio-demographic factors influence an employee’s attitude toward euthanasia and/or willingness to euthanize pigs? 10. Selected socio-psychological factors do have an effect on an employee’s attitude and/or willingness to euthanize. 11. Do selected farm factors influence an employee’s attitude toward euthanasia and/or willingness to euthanize pigs? 12. Do selected euthanasia methods influence an employee’s attitude toward euthanasia and/or willingness to euthanize pigs? 13. Does a combination of independent variables in the multivariate model influence an employee’s attitude toward euthanasia and/or willingness to euthanize pigs? The results of the survey concluded that regardless of their age, gender, or ethnic background, employees preferred a method of euthanasia that was perceived as less painful to the pig. The majority of the respondents have a personality type of ESTJ based on the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II. The swine employees in this study did not represent the INTP personality type. Most of the employees did not feel stressed by having to perform euthanasia as long as the animal appeared sick. Most of the employees viewed euthanasia of a sick pig as a humane alternative to letting the animal die naturally. A majority of employees prefer to use a process that is less painful to the pig even though it may take longer. Most of the employees prefer to be trained on the farm. A majority of employees perceive blunt trauma to be the safest method for the 1 to 12 pound pig. A majority of employees perceive carbon dioxide gas to be safer than blunt trauma or the bolt gun method. A majority of the employees did not have a problem performing euthanasia as a part of their daily job functions. Selected Employee Attributes And Perceptions Regarding Methods And Animal Welfare Concerns Associated With Swine Euthanasia Steven Matthis A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctoral of Education