2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of this project is to validate a humane method of pig euthanasia. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Previous research thus far has euthanazied animals and used measures of the stress response and the amount of time to unconsciousness as validation of humaneness. However, a better method is to measure how aversive the pig perceives the procedure. Thus we will allow the pig to choose between a chamber with a reward and a noxious gas, or a chamber with no reward. If the pig truly has no aversion to the gas then it will stay in the gas chamber until it loses consciousness and is euthanazied. 3.Progress Report: This project went very well this year and was completed on schedule. Two separate experiments were conducted to determine the aversiveness of gases used to euthanize pigs. A third experiment was conducted to determine which gas was more humane. The accomplishment of this research is reported in the parent project 3602-32000-009D and supports its objective to: develop scientific measures of, identify husbandry and environmental challenges to, and develop sustainable alternatives that safeguard well-being of swine.