Euthanasia is often thought of as a single act, but in practice, it is a process shaped by how quickly problems are recognized, how clearly decisions are made and how reliably systems support follow-through.
Farm systems do not consistently support acting at the right time, even when the need is recognized. Andrea Bedford describes the two-clock model which is especially useful for veterinarians trying to diagnose system failures on farm.
Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 30, 2026. Link. The two-clock model separates euthanasia into two distinct types of delay:
- Clock 1: Recognition-to-decision delay
- Clock 2: Decision-to-action delay
Late euthanasia creates three types of risk: clinical risk, animal welfare risk and business or compliance risk.”
Image: Link.
Leave a Reply