Postmortem, food- and fiber-producing, poultry and fur-bearing animal

Specimen Type/Volume

Whole carcass/animal and placenta (if applicable).

Shipping Information

Ship poultry and other smaller carcasses in an insulated container on ice.

Collection Protocol

Additional Information

Animals included in the “food- and fiber-producing, poultry, and fur-bearing animal” group are cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, agricultural rabbits, commercial poultry, meat pigeons, farmed ratites, farmed game species & waterfowl, fur-bearing animals, llamas, alpacas, and bees. All submissions must be accompanied by a completed submission form (available on the AHL website). Please refer to Reporting of lab test results - AHL LabNote 43* and Diagnosing respiratory disease in backyard chickens AHL LabNote 62*. Note that a 'case' is defined as carcasses of food/fiber/fur-bearing animals or poultry of similar age, similar disease problem, submitted same day, same owner and location (max of 3 litters, 3 mammals (each <40 kg), 5 mink, 5 growing or adult poultry greater than 5 wks of age, 10 chicks up to 5 weeks of age, 2 meat pigeons, 2 ratite chicks, 1 juvenile/adult ratite, or 4 farmed fish). Extra animals will be treated as separate case(s). Carcass disposal fees apply. Submission of live animals for immediate euthanasia and postmortem is encouraged to help ensure a high rate of diagnostic accuracy in cases such as outbreaks of diarrhea in young pigs, ruminants, poultry, and agricultural rabbit submissions. Euthanasia fees will apply. Livestock weighing >50kg will be transferred to the OVC-Large Animal Hospital to be euthanized by the large animal clinician - extra fees will apply. Adult animal euthanasia is not available at AHL Kemptville; please contact the AHL in advance at 613-258-8320 for ALL live animal submissions with an estimated arrival time to facilitate preparations. Live animals must be transported humanely. Refer to instructions under Postmortem, euthanasia charge.