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Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of captive-bolt guns as a killing method without exsanguination for horned and unhorned sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

TJ Gibson ,
AL Ridler ,
CR Lamb ,
A Williams ,
S Giles  and
NG Gregory
TJ Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
AL Ridler
Affiliation:
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Pamerston North 4442, New Zealand
CR Lamb
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
A Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
S Giles
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol University, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
NG Gregory
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: tgibson@rvc.ac.uk
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Abstract

The current study aims to make welfare-based recommendations for gun/cartridge combinations and shooting positions that will ensure death of the sheep (horned, unhorned, rams and ewes), without the need for either sticking or pithing. The study examined the pathophysiology of captive-bolt gun (CBG) injuries that result in incomplete concussion leading to death. Behavioural, brainstem and cranial/spinal responses were examined along with gross pathology in 489 animals (116 polled ewes, 134 horned ewes, 117 polled rams and 122 horned rams) following a variety of CBG-cartridge combinations. Shooting horned rams was more challenging than unhorned sheep, partly because minor movements of the head at the time of shooting can result in deflection of the gun by the horns. Marksmanship was the definitive factor: 100% of animals that showed signs of incomplete concussion were found to have been shot incorrectly. The findings will have application when it is necessary to kill sheep on farms for disease control or euthanasia purposes.

Keywords

animal welfarecaptive boltdisease controlewesramssheep horned and polled
Type
Papers
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 21 , Issue S2: Proceedings of the HSA Centenary International Symposium ‘Recent Advances in the Welfare of Livestock at Slaughter’ Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, 2011 , June 2012 , pp. 35 - 42
Copyright
© 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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