Captive bolt stunners

[Bev]

Those of you who keep them on the farm, where did you purchase? Having had to call a vet out to pts a sheep at a cost of £70 because the knackerman doesnt do out of hours I am thinking of purchasing a captive bolt stunner. I know someone local to me who use to work in a slaughter house and would be happy to use it when I asked, if fact we are thinking of buying one between us for both our use.
So which ones are recommended and where can I purchase?

 

[nowtofajob]

Got ours by mail order from entwistle guns. Only use it occasionaly, seems to do the job alright.

 

[llamedos]

I am sure you are aware, but you also need to be proficient at bleeding & pithing, not just the use of the captive bolt.

 

[Bev]

Yes it wouldn't be me doing the deed, I have a tame local ex slaughterman!

 

[TechWise]

We got ours from Entwistle guns. I believe you don't need to be a qualified slaughter man if you are carrying out humane despatch in an emergency. It's up to you if you feel confident with the pithing/bleeding process though.

 

[Grassman]

Would a 410 do a better job?

 

[llamedos]

We got ours from Entwistle guns. I believe you don't need to be a qualified slaughter man if you are carrying out humane despatch in an emergency. It's up to you if you feel confident with the pithing/bleeding process though.

No you dont need to be a slaughterman, but you still need to be competent enough, not just to stun, but to then pith or bleed, also you cant legally pith if for human consumption.

 

[Gatehouse Farm]

Would a 410 do a better job?

Yep that's what I've always used on woolys

 

[Grassman]

I did one with the 410 and there was little mess and was a nicer job (nicer isn't the right word really) than with the captive bolt. You can get a decent secondhand 410 for little money but you do need a shotgun licence for it.

 

[Blue.]

Have a captive bolt from entwistle guns,the odd one do come up for sale 2nd hand.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

this is where the local hunt kennel man comes in handy to all you none hunt supporters i find my .22 rimfire does the job when needed tho

 

[muppet]

Sorry if this sounds like a really dumb question...

For slaughter on welfare grounds, why does a captive bolt get used more than a pistol?

My horses have always been shot with a pistol and not been pithed or bled. Is a captive bolt less effective? I'll confess to being really taken aback the first time I saw a cow being pithed, as I never realised it was done and (after dealling with horses) thought the bolt alone would be enough

 

[multi power]

Sorry if this sounds like a really dumb question...

For slaughter on welfare grounds, why does a captive bolt get used more than a pistol?

My horses have always been shot with a pistol and not been pithed or bled. Is a captive bolt less effective? I'll confess to being really taken aback the first time I saw a cow being pithed, as I never realised it was done and (after dealling with horses) thought the bolt alone would be enough

I think the bolt actually only stuns them?

 

[David.]

The bolt makes a hole in the skull and punctures the brain some, but to ensure proper dead the pithing mashes up the brain stem.

 

[borderterribles]

H

Sorry if this sounds like a really dumb question...

For slaughter on welfare grounds, why does a captive bolt get used more than a pistol?

My horses have always been shot with a pistol and not been pithed or bled. Is a captive bolt less effective? I'll confess to being really taken aback the first time I saw a cow being pithed, as I never realised it was done and (after dealling with horses) thought the bolt alone would be enough

A captive bolt gun doesn't require the operator to hold a firearms licence or, as far as I am aware, a slaughtermans licence either, so is much more commonly used in welfare slaughter situations. As others have said, pithing is a requirement, as the bolt only stuns some animals without killing them.

 

[CopperBeech]

.410

 

[muppet]

Thanks @multi power and @borderterribles found this online which explains the difference (and reasons) quite well

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1852607/#!po=37.5000

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

Thanks @multi power and @borderterribles found this online which explains the difference (and reasons) quite well

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1852607/#!po=37.5000

Aye whey, that's nicely put me off me breakfast

 

[SRRC]

Most assurance schemes will want to see a plan of how you will deal with euthanasia, if you use a captive bolt then pithing is required. Proof of training and assessment of competence is also needed.