SINCE 1999, MORE THAN 20 UNDERCOVER VIDEOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN COMMERCIAL DAIRY FACILITIESTHROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. UNDERCOVER VIDEOS ARE A TOOL UTILIZED BY ANIMAL ACTIVIST GROUPS TODISPARAGE MODERN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND EXPOSE CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. ALTHOUGH MOST OFWHAT IS PRESENTED ON THESE VIDEOS ARE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, ONE AREA OF CONCERN TO THE INDUSTRY IS THEIDENTIFICATION OF COMPROMISED ANIMALS THAT FAILED TO RECEIVE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AND REQUIREEUTHANASIA. THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, AND IN FACT, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH PUBLICSCRUTINY ON THE METHODS, PERFORMANCE AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF EUTHANASIA IN THE ENTIRELIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. EUTHANASIA IS A NECESSARY ACT FOR ANY OPERATION KEEPING LIVE ANIMALS AND THEEUTHANASIA METHOD USED SHOULD BE HUMANE, PRACTICAL, ECONOMICAL, AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.CURRENTLY, INFORMATION IS DEFICIENT FOR TRAINING EMPLOYEES ON TIMELY AND HUMANE EUTHANASIADECISIONS THAT ARE STANDARD ACROSS THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.THISPROPOSED PROJECT WILL BENEFIT DAIRY PRODUCERS BY IDENTIFYING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVEDECISION CRITERIA FOR ON-FARM EUTHANASIA OF DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH USE OF A NATIONAL SURVEY. IN ADDITION,IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO EUTHANASIA ON-FARM WILL BE ADDRESSED UTILIZING FOCUS GROUPS IN SPANISH ANDENGLISH AND INCLUDE ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF CARETAKER TRAINING, FARM CULTURE AND ATTITUDES ON THEEUTHANASIA DECISION MAKING PROCESS. LASTLY, THIS PROJECT WILL CULMINATE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANINNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR ON-FARM EUTHANASIA OF DAIRY CATTLE. THIS PROPOSALDIRECTLY MEETS THE METHODS OF HUMANE SLAUGHTER OR ON-FARM EUTHANASIA PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY.