U.S. Bans Live‑Fire Shooting Of Pigs And Goats In Medic Training As Simulators Take Over

The U.S. military will end the practice of shooting pigs and goats in "live fire" medic training under this year’s annual defense bill, a change driven by advances in simulation technology and led by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). Lawmakers and advocacy groups say the move reflects growing confidence in realistic, human-centered training tools.

What the Ban Covers

The prohibition targets exercises in which animals are shot specifically to train medics. The defense bill language stops that form of "live fire" training, while other animal-based practices — including training that involves stabbing, burning, blunt-force trauma or so-called "weapon wounding" for weapons testing — remain permitted under current policy. Officials and advocates say animals used in many of these remaining exercises are typically anesthetized and then euthanized.

Why Lawmakers Backed The Change

Rep. Vern Buchanan, a longtime proponent of animal welfare measures and co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, called the ban "a major step forward in reducing unnecessary suffering in military practices." He and supporters argue that modern simulation tools can prepare medics for battlefield conditions without inflicting pain on animals.

“With today’s advanced simulation technology, we can prepare our medics for the battlefield while reducing harm to animals,” Buchanan said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Defense Health Agency Response

The Defense Health Agency, which oversees military medical training, said the department "remains committed to replacement of animal models without compromising the quality of medical training." The agency pointed to the Defense Medical Modeling and Simulation Office and other efforts to develop realistic scenarios so medical personnel are prepared to treat combat-wounded service members.

Advocates, Critics and Alternatives

Advocacy groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hailed the ban as a victory, saying it will spare thousands of animals annually and mark "a historic shift toward state-of-the-art, human-relevant simulation technology."

Critics of animal use — including the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and some retired military medical personnel — argue that anesthetized animals do not accurately replicate the responses of wounded, conscious humans. They point to alternatives such as "cut suits" (worn by actors or volunteers) and high-fidelity simulators that can mimic bleeding, pain responses and movement.

“Replicating what it’s like when their buddy is shot and bleeding and awake is very different,” said Dr. Erin Griffith, a retired Navy physician and member of the Physicians Committee, noting that modern simulations can better reproduce those critical human reactions.

Context And Legal History

How often the military has used animals for trauma training is unclear. A 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report cited earlier legislative efforts to reduce animal use: the 2013 defense bill required the Pentagon to outline a strategy for transitioning to human-based training, and a 2018 law directed the secretary of defense to use simulation technology "to the maximum extent practicable" unless animal use was deemed necessary by medical command. The GAO also reported that animals used in trauma training are placed under anesthesia and subsequently euthanized.

As the Pentagon phases out one specific type of animal use — shooting animals during medic exercises — the broader shift toward simulation reflects both technological progress and ongoing ethical and policy debates about medical readiness, training realism and animal welfare.