AASV Position Statement: Stop Movement Situations

Swine producers should work with their veterinarian to develop situation-specific strategies to deliver optimal care for pigs affected by stop movement orders that occur for any reason.

In exercising their professional responsibilities, veterinarians should ensure:

• Actions are consistent with veterinary professional obligations, and conform to acceptable standards of veterinary practice and available scientific literature;
• Actions optimize the health, safety, and welfare outcomes for the animals and humans within the constraints of the situation; and
• Actions are consistent with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

If depopulation must be considered, veterinarians should reference the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals. Priority should be given to those methods classified as “Preferred” but the circumstances surrounding the stop movement order may require the use of methods classified as “Permitted in Constrained Circumstances.”

We acknowledge that in certain situations, stop movements are in the best interest to protect the health and welfare of the larger swine population and food supply. Farm specific plans should be developed in advance of such emergency situations, including contingency plans for constrained circumstances.

Stop movement situations with indefinite time frames will cause welfare issues. In considering these stop movement decisions, we encourage all parties to keep the pigs’ welfare at the forefront of decision making.

Approved by the AASV Board of Directors on April 27, 2023

This statement replaces previous AASV position statements Pig Welfare During Stop Movement Situations and Strategies for Responding to Processing Disruption Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.