Ethicists’ commentary on humane killing of healthy surplus animals
Ethical question of the month, March 2022
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) position statement on the Care of Neonatal Calves on Dairy Farms states that euthanasia/humane killing of surplus calves is the preferable option to the suffering endured by calves without a ready place to care for them. This practice of euthanasia/humane killing of newborn calves may put the dairy industry, and the veterinarians that provide care, at risk of losing public trust — specifically the public statement indicating that the CVMA condones euthanasia of healthy calves if there is no other avenue for marketing these calves. It must be considered that many veterinarians ethically object to killing healthy companion animals for the convenience of the owners. In Europe, euthanasia of healthy calves is already outlawed in some countries (e.g., Denmark) and in others there is a commitment to ending this practice (Ireland, Great Britain). There is a clear expectation by society that farmers accept the role that they are experts in animal care, and with this comes responsibilities regarding duty of care for all animals, including low-value surplus offspring that are born to sustain the farmer’s business. Are veterinarians at risk of losing public trust if they condone euthanasia/humane killing of these animals in a position statement?
Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, & Dan Weary comment on this dilemma and you can read it here: Ethicists’ commentary on humane killing of healthy surplus animals (pdf)