Using a shotgun for humane dispatch of a horse

[Dougy]

Pith rod around a meter in length, inserted into the hole created by a captive bolt gun to push through the brain and down into the foramen magnum. It destroys the spinal cord and finishes off the job, it also ends the very sporadic involuntary muscle spasms more quickly.

 

There you go, how did I remember that, my in surprised myself lol

 

PS it's a long piece of coiled spring steel like a pipe bender. .

Edited January 8, 2016 by Dougy

[HDAV]

PS it's a long piece of coiled spring steel like a pipe bender. .

Didn't know that thanks. Not something I hope to ever need to know lol

[islandgun]

Didn't know that thanks. Not something I hope to ever need to know lol

are but might come in useful when we run out of food, all you will need is black and decker (or one of those auger bits with a wooden handle) a lengh of spring steel, some stout rope and a pair of goggles to keep the blood out your eyes

[derbyduck]

The clue is in the name

 

Here's one we used in earlier days

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All the best

Of

the household cavalary display team still carry one ! trooping of the colour and shows.

I was under the impression that hunt workers where licensed to dispact horses and other stock .

Edited January 9, 2016 by derbyduck

[keg]

The clue is in the name

 

Here's one we used in earlier days

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All the best

Of

That looks like it might smart a bit!

[toxo]

This reminds me of a story from Colin Willocks "Town Gun" I think it was.

 

Two New York cops were on their annual hunting vacation but they knew the land was under new ownership so they went to ask the new owner if it was still ok to hunt the land. When they got there one cop said to the other "You stay here, it doesn't take two of us.".

The new owner said of course it was ok and asked a favour of the cop. His old horse was in the barn on it's last legs and he asked the cop if he would put it down for him as he hadn't the heart. The cop said yes of course he would.

On his way back to the car he decided to play a trick on his friend. As he got his rifle from the car he was muttering about what a miserable *** the new guy was and he'd show him he couldn't mess with New York cops.

He marched into the barn and shot the horse. His mate who had followed him muttered "Miserable ******" and shot the cow.

[dob]

As said. A shotgun (with 'normal' shot) basically acts like solid slug at a range of a couple of feet. Like 'islandgun', I've had to humanely dispatch ewes in the past, and a 410 (12-14g of 6 or 7 shot) does the job perfectly.

 

 

Wouldn't happen. Done properly, a horse, cow, bull dispatched with a captive bolt gun just drops on the spot. A shotgun would be identical in effect.

+1 seen lots of cows shot by vets many years ago using one of the old .22 devices that is placed on the animals head then struck with a mallet to strike the bullet and they drop like a stone.

[Alpha Mule]

Pith rod around a meter in length, inserted into the hole created by a captive bolt gun to push through the brain and down into the foramen magnum. It destroys the spinal cord and finishes off the job, it also ends the very sporadic involuntary muscle spasms more quickly.

 

There you go, how did I remember that, my in surprised myself lol

 

PS it's a long piece of coiled spring steel like a pipe bender. .

In my yoof, I worked in an abattoir and saw these used. They certainly finish the job.

I've also seen bolt shot cattle get back up. They were held still in a big barrel affair with a 'collar' that was wound up under the chin to hold the head still.

The bolt was 'applied', then one side of the barrel is released to allow the cow to flop onto its side. then the pith was up and down inside. However: occasionally one of the cows would roll out and straight over and onto its feet.

I have never seen so many people clear a 'room' as fast after hearing the shout "SHE'S UP AGAIN!"

[Dougy]

This reminds me of a story from Colin Willocks "Town Gun" I think it was.

 

Two New York cops were on their annual hunting vacation but they knew the land was under new ownership so they went to ask the new owner if it was still ok to hunt the land. When they got there one cop said to the other "You stay here, it doesn't take two of us.".

The new owner said of course it was ok and asked a favour of the cop. His old horse was in the barn on it's last legs and he asked the cop if he would put it down for him as he hadn't the heart. The cop said yes of course he would.

On his way back to the car he decided to play a trick on his friend. As he got his rifle from the car he was muttering about what a miserable *** the new guy was and he'd show him he couldn't mess with New York cops.

He marched into the barn and shot the horse. His mate who had followed him muttered "Miserable *******" and shot the cow.

Wrong section,

I think it should be in the wanted section ...

 

 

 

As in wanted bad jokes section.

 

(smiling sweetly)

[kyska]

I'm a licensed slaughterman, a shotgun is the recommended tool for emergency humane dispatch, read the info on the Humane Slaughter Association website.

[Twistedsanity]

As said. A shotgun (with 'normal' shot) basically acts like solid slug at a range of a couple of feet. Like 'islandgun', I've had to humanely dispatch ewes in the past, and a 410 (12-14g of 6 or 7 shot) does the job perfectly.

 

 

Wouldn't happen. Done properly, a horse, cow, bull dispatched with a captive bolt gun just drops on the spot. A shotgun would be identical in effect.

My old man was an RSPCA inspector in the early 70's and they were told that captive bolt guns are not a guaranteed finish and were taught to "poke a stick in through the hole and wiggle it about" after use to ensure the animal was dead

[kyska]

My old man was an RSPCA inspector in the early 70's and they were told that captive bolt guns are not a guaranteed finish and were taught to "poke a stick in through the hole and wiggle it about" after use to ensure the animal was dead

The captive bolt has never ever been used for killing animals, it's designed to stun, to facilitate bleeding as the heart theoretically is still beating after a 'good' decerebrating shot. Wiggling a stick still doesn't confirm a 'humane' or painless death, the animal has to be bled within 50 seconds or so.

 

Although it's very unlikely an animal will recover from a captive bolt shot, there is evidence that they become sentient after time, and die 'locked in' or in the state of Leduc.

 

My time as a slaughterman was scientific, I've seen some data proffering horrendous suffering in the uk's slaughter houses.

Edited January 10, 2016 by kyska

[scotslad]

Like kyska said u have to 'pith' beast after, used both the flexible wire ones but a few folk now using diposable plastic ones, u throw away after doing so many beasts

 

Long story and not going to say too much but i found a lamb that survived over night after being shot with a captive bolt. They were not meant to be in that shed at all never mind doing the lambs as vet was meant to inject them.

Almost ended in a battle between a few of us and the slaughtering team, was not a good job to be on

[Benthejockey]

Like kyska said u have to 'pith' beast after, used both the flexible wire ones but a few folk now using diposable plastic ones, u throw away after doing so many beasts

 

Long story and not going to say too much but i found a lamb that survived over night after being shot with a captive bolt. They were not meant to be in that shed at all never mind doing the lambs as vet was meant to inject them.

Almost ended in a battle between a few of us and the slaughtering team, was not a good job to be on

Foot and mouth time?

[scotslad]

Fraid so. last slaughter/fire i worked on. Some of the best stock i've seen too, crying shame, just glad it was me and not the farmer who found it

Edited January 10, 2016 by scotslad

[Benthejockey]

We lived in the line of some of the pyres. The smell was bad enough. I was 16. Pre shotgun/fac and had no stock other than the horses so it didn't affect us too bad. Uncle however worked on a dairy farm that was a preventative cull. The ministry had him helping with the cull and my cousin a farrier, worked in the offices. The stories they can tell you about the vets are unreal. You wouldn't let them put your hamster down.

[scotslad]

Must admit on the scottish side i found all the vets to be spot on, could not meet better or more professional vets. or workers in general, 1 or 2 of the slaughter teams were not so good and 1 was rubbish (but in fairness more the drovers, not used to working with stock in less than ideal places) and that was the final one i had to supervise, had a few different problems with them

 

Heard some horror stories from the english side thou, from wot i can gather not as well organised, or it was so big and widespread for them to cope.done some work down there later on but had enough of it by then

 

Lot of decent local boys worked it on our side with a lot of common sense and the bosses usually let u get on with it (althou i got a few warnings for buying all the men breakfast lunch and tea on the ministry expense account, least u could do on a horrible job)

[Tedly47]

I've been called out many times to humanely dispatch injured or aggressive animals, if it's calm I use a 12 bore does the job fine....

 

Tedly

[Marksman1997]

On a farm most farmers will agree that due to vet prices not many people want to phone the vet. My dad included. When young lambs or sheep get injured or have a severe problem and it costs say £60-£80 for the vet. Even more in some cases and the sheep can be around the same price it just isn't logical to call for the vet. I have only ever put down one ewe for my dad and that was with .22lr Stingers as they are the most powerful. I went with the B option as i felt front of the skull may have deflected it. Had a Round bale behind incase it went through and it did. And was a bit shocked as the ewe didn't even twitch. Still wasn't a pretty site blood pouring out of both sides of its head. I would imagine it would be worse with a Shotgun? Didn't use a shotgun as i didn't honestly think it would do it as i only had 7.5 and 6. This may be a gruesome question so i apologise in advance but when you do it with a shotgun i assume it would need to be 5 yards or closer. And shooting at it i would almost feel i would have to turn my head away incase pickles would come back at you off the skull and blind you and would you get any mess come back at you or on the gun??

[CharlieT]

I have only ever put down one ewe for my dad and that was with .22lr Stingers as they are the most powerful. I went with the B option as i felt front of the skull may have deflected it. Had a Round bale behind incase it went through and it did. And was a bit shocked as the ewe didn't even twitch.

I would imagine it would be worse with a Shotgun? Didn't use a shotgun as i didn't honestly think it would do it as i only had 7.5 and 6. This may be a gruesome question so i apologise in advance but when you do it with a shotgun i assume it would need to be 5 yards or closer.

 

A shotgun, using any size shot, is more than adequate to do the job. When used at very short distances the shot has not had time to spread and is just like a solid ball. Aiming at the front of the skul in the correct place and the shot will go into the neck with very little mess and just leave one round hole. I never fire at more than say a foot.

 

In the, what now must be 1000's of sheep I have despatched over many years, a .22rf using subsonic's works a treat. Much better and less messy on lamb's than a shotgun. Never once, to my knowledge have I had an exit.

 

Just remember that if using a rifle, your rifles must be specifically conditioned for the humaine killing of animals. This is not an automatic condition and you will only get it if you specifically ask for it.

Edited January 11, 2016 by CharlieT

[Marksman1997]

what size of shot would be needed for say 3-5 yards as some times a crazy cow wouldn't let you get to within a foot. Maybe too much spread at that distance. Any chance of deflected pickles?

[Benthejockey]

what size of shot would be needed for say 3-5 yards as some times a crazy cow wouldn't let you get to within a foot. Maybe too much spread at that distance. Any chance of deflected pickles?

Next time you're out and about find a foot square piece of wood and shoot it dead centre from 3-5 yards away and see the hole it makes.

Best thing is to get her in a shed and pen her up somewhere quiet and get her settled with a bucket of corn.

 

If you were knocking her over to eat her as soon as she's down you need to bleed her and get her lifted off the ground to make sure all the blood is out.

[HuskyRich]

Funnily enough I was trying to google up on this subject about 6 or so months back as had a call from a mate about one of his mums horses that was in a very bad way but they couldn't get hold of the nearest vet so as I lived down the road they asked if I could help.

I was actually away at the time so couldn't help (luckily ), and even if I was available I'm not sure I would have fancied it although I'd like to think that I wouldn't have left an animal to suffer a long drawn out death...

Oddly though as morbid as it sounds, I've been thinking about what (12g) cartridges would be best and was wondering if theres a general consensus or rule on the matter?

I was quite surprised reading through this thread at people using (and apparently, to good effect) smaller shot such as 6 etc.

I always keep a range of cartridges in me cupboard from no.8 through to magnums and SG and personally I would have gone straight to the heavier end of the spectrum as my logic tends to suggest bigger lead & bigger bang = more dead - although, admittedly I have no experience or knowledge in putting down large animals (and hope I never have to) ...
Would bigger not be better in such an instance?

 

Out of the carts I have on hand I would have gone for the gamebore mammoth magnums (50gms no.3 though I also have them in BB) or the lyalvale xtreme game (36gms SG 9-buckshot).
Obviously with the SG theres more chance of richochet etc but would make a pretty decent mess of anything it's fired at...

Also is the best option always to go for the brain? Is this to try and get the animal to drop on the spot and KO it with the least drama possible?
What if its a situation where you can't get close enough and/or its moving its head too much but can get a heart shot? With SG or magnums would that be viable from a reasonable distance or would you not get the penetration like you would with a bullet?

Might be odd questions, but its just something I've wondered...
It's purely curiosity.

[Benthejockey]

Imagine a magnum load agains a watermelon and that's the outcome of that scenario, Trigger would be very dead but you've also redecorated half the county with horse brains. Any standard shotgun load will do, a horses skull isn't all that thick. I once shot the side of an old shed we were about to burn, the timber was a similar thickness to skull thickness (ok it was a different density but it gives you an idea) from about 10yds away. It punched a hole the size of your fist through the wood and carried on going I think that was 28g 6's.

Typically shooting Silver the muzzle is less than an inch away from the skull. If you had a difficult horse you could give them a bucket of corn to get them to settle and shoot them with the head in the bucket which isn't ideal but still doable. There's a reason the kennels use pistols and that's because they're less unwieldy than a shotgun. If you want to see a bloke who is excellent at his job have a scout through YouTube for the animal rights video from inside Potters abbatoir. I can't find it at the minute but if I do I'll post it. The bloke is poetry in motion. Horse walks in, stands still and bang it's dead. Ignore the animal rights carp, if we shot more and ate horse in this country the horse population in this country would be a lot better off!

Also no heart shots! That's a big no no.

[bluesj]

Funnily enough I was trying to google up on this subject about 6 or so months back as had a call from a mate about one of his mums horses that was in a very bad way but they couldn't get hold of the nearest vet so as I lived down the road they asked if I could help.

I was actually away at the time so couldn't help (luckily ), and even if I was available I'm not sure I would have fancied it although I'd like to think that I wouldn't have left an animal to suffer a long drawn out death...

 

Oddly though as morbid as it sounds, I've been thinking about what (12g) cartridges would be best and was wondering if theres a general consensus or rule on the matter?

I was quite surprised reading through this thread at people using (and apparently, to good effect) smaller shot such as 6 etc.

I always keep a range of cartridges in me cupboard from no.8 through to magnums and SG and personally I would have gone straight to the heavier end of the spectrum as my logic tends to suggest bigger lead & bigger bang = more dead - although, admittedly I have no experience or knowledge in putting down large animals (and hope I never have to) ...

Would bigger not be better in such an instance?

 

Out of the carts I have on hand I would have gone for the gamebore mammoth magnums (50gms no.3 though I also have them in BB) or the lyalvale xtreme game (36gms SG 9-buckshot).

Obviously with the SG theres more chance of richochet etc but would make a pretty decent mess of anything it's fired at...

 

Also is the best option always to go for the brain? Is this to try and get the animal to drop on the spot and KO it with the least drama possible?

What if its a situation where you can't get close enough and/or its moving its head too much but can get a heart shot? With SG or magnums would that be viable from a reasonable distance or would you not get the penetration like you would with a bullet?

 

Might be odd questions, but its just something I've wondered...

It's purely curiosity.

If you have never put an animal down a horse isn't the one to be starting on (the only thing worse for me is dogs pigs aren't easy ether). As has been said at up a shot gun with any size shot will do the job up to about 3 to 4 feet away, try it on a bit of wood. If the distance is greater that 4 foot its time for a rifle with an experienced man behind it. .

If you really do feel that it is something you may be called upon to do have a look at info available on the net, you could also see if your local knacker man will run you through it for the price of a couple of pints.