Insights into Ostrich Euthanasia Guidelines in Canada: A Look at the Culling Methods and Legal Challenges
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has guidelines for culling birds, including ostriches, which can involve methods like breaking their necks, lethal injection, gassing, or shooting. While the agency has not disclosed details about a potential cull at an ostrich farm in British Columbia, an internal manual from 2016 outlines various strategies for euthanizing ostriches. The Supreme Court of Canada is set to decide on Universal Ostrich Farms' appeal against a cull of hundreds of birds due to an avian flu outbreak.
According to the manual, lethal drugs can be injected into an ostrich's jugular or wing vein, or through an intercranial injection that requires three people to administer. Sedation is recommended before euthanasia, especially for large and potentially dangerous ostriches. The manual also mentions using carbon dioxide gas in a sealed chamber for euthanasia, but notes that it is slower and more stressful for the birds.
Gunshots are considered a last resort for euthanasia, while breaking a bird's neck is suitable for larger birds like emus and ostriches. However, the manual emphasizes that cervical dislocation should only be done by trained personnel who are physically capable of completing the task swiftly. If the Supreme Court does not hear Universal Ostrich Farms' appeal, the cull of the birds would proceed without legal obstacles.
The full document detailing the euthanasia procedures for ostriches is not publicly available without a specific request. The Investigative Journalism Foundation has uploaded details from the document obtained through the access-to-information system. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not verified the authenticity of the document upon request.