Animal slaughter

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
I have a booklet here somewhere, from the humane slaughter association, and they recommend a 12 bore from about 12" into the front of the skull, as being suitable to euthanise an animal, especially as a lot of farmers have a 12 bore and it is quick and easy with little skill involved. Free bullet, more chance of it shooting out and missing the vital parts of the brain, and as has been posted above a captive bolt stunner, stuns, it does not kill, have to cut the throat and blood vessels after stunning. A gun is far more humane than an injection, however I have read that horse racing now uses an injection as the public do no like to hear a gun although the horse suffers more. Was talking to the vet about this, and she said in her old job, they always used a free bullet to dispatch animals, but in this practice they inject if they need to. Renewing my shotgun certificate, I said to the visiting ex police officer, I am more likely to use to shotgun to euthanise a sick animal than go shooting and I notice a look of distaste pass over his face.
 

BAF

Member
Livestock Farmer
I have a booklet here somewhere, from the humane slaughter association, and they recommend a 12 bore from about 12" into the front of the skull, as being suitable to euthanise an animal, especially as a lot of farmers have a 12 bore and it is quick and easy with little skill involved. Free bullet, more chance of it shooting out and missing the vital parts of the brain, and as has been posted above a captive bolt stunner, stuns, it does not kill, have to cut the throat and blood vessels after stunning. A gun is far more humane than an injection, however I have read that horse racing now uses an injection as the public do no like to hear a gun although the horse suffers more. Was talking to the vet about this, and she said in her old job, they always used a free bullet to dispatch animals, but in this practice they inject if they need to. Renewing my shotgun certificate, I said to the visiting ex police officer, I am more likely to use to shotgun to euthanise a sick animal than go shooting and I notice a look of distaste pass over his face.
That's true the BHA decided its the "nicer" way to put horses down in the public eye. Nowadays the Racecourse vets do their utmost to patch the horses up and send them off home full of drugs because it goes against the Racecourse statistics for every horse that dies or they have to put down on course (that includes in the stables).
I'll never have a horse injected if it's my decision. Some of the best people for shooting horses are the lads in the kennels. We had a bloke at our kennels who was brilliant. He was so patient and quiet with them even the real scumbag horses.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
That's true the BHA decided its the "nicer" way to put horses down in the public eye. Nowadays the Racecourse vets do their utmost to patch the horses up and send them off home full of drugs because it goes against the Racecourse statistics for every horse that dies or they have to put down on course (that includes in the stables).
I'll never have a horse injected if it's my decision. Some of the best people for shooting horses are the lads in the kennels. We had a bloke at our kennels who was brilliant. He was so patient and quiet with them even the real scumbag horses.
Nevermind a horse. I wouldn't have a dog injected. But people think me brutal and cruel for shooting them.

Welcome to 21 century UK, where the truth is irrelevant and perception is everything.
 
I haven't read unlacedgeto's quote from DEFRA as it will apply to England and I'm in Scotland but I've always understood it was not illegal to kill your own animals. What is illegal is to kill animals belonging to someone else which is why slaughter men have to be licensed!

In fact, less than a month ago I had two police officers at my door following up on a complaint about "two dead horses and vicious dogs" on my land. I openly and promptly admitted to having shot two old horses which the cops quickly acknowledge as OK. "You are perfectly entitled to do so as they are your own property". I always put down my own animals as then I know it is done humanely. These two went down like a pack of cards as they were grazing in the field and neither knew anything about it. Horses are shot in the forehead but cattle are shot in the back of the head because their skulls are particularly thick in the front.

The police were also introduced to the "vicious dogs" who came out of the kennel with tails wagging to make friends. (Might have been different if they had tried to arrest me!). The police were duly impressed and said so. No problems.
You are right about horses, high on the forehead, but cattle should be shot in the middle of the forehead. In fact, I think it used to be an offence for them to be shot in the back of the head. Depends what you shoot them with, I suppose. I have seen a water buffalo shot in the back of the head and it seemed to be effective. Shooting him in the forehead would have been daft as the base of his horns were over the sweet spot.
 

MRT

Member
Livestock Farmer
You are right about horses, high on the forehead, but cattle should be shot in the middle of the forehead. In fact, I think it used to be an offence for them to be shot in the back of the head. Depends what you shoot them with, I suppose. I have seen a water buffalo shot in the back of the head and it seemed to be effective. Shooting him in the forehead would have been daft as the base of his horns were over the sweet spot.
People can get too excitable by the rules and regs. I saw a red faced perspiring guy shooting at/through an RTA deer down next to motorway crash barriers once. Sight the size of my arm. Refused my suggestion to use a shotgun as illegal to use on deer and on the third shot (through the jaw/sinuses) refused my suggestion to stand behind it and shoot down into the chest as cruel. Ignored my point that any one of his shots could kill someone/himself. Do you wrestle the gun off him or walk away?.. I left and stood behind a car. 7 shots IIRC.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
A 12g shotgun is a very effective tool to euthanase animals at close range, I can't remember but a 12g is something like .75 caliber which is a big hole! The shot column doesn't start to disperse immediately and acts like a solid slug and makes a large entry wound and causes a significant amount of trauma to the brain. It leaves quite a margin for error. Free bullets are also incredibly effective but need a little more accuracy. A humane killer requires extra steps to make sure the animal is dead.
That is essentially what I was told. Our present chap told me a 3" 410 cartridge would also work at close range like that..
 

sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
You are right about horses, high on the forehead, but cattle should be shot in the middle of the forehead. In fact, I think it used to be an offence for them to be shot in the back of the head. Depends what you shoot them with, I suppose. I have seen a water buffalo shot in the back of the head and it seemed to be effective. Shooting him in the forehead would have been daft as the base of his horns were over the sweet spot.

was aloud to use shot gun on back of head as humane slaughter in NZ for cattle and shot feral cattle with creedmoor 6.5 at 800 meters with clean shot and good placement.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
People can get too excitable by the rules and regs. I saw a red faced perspiring guy shooting at/through an RTA deer down next to motorway crash barriers once. Sight the size of my arm. Refused my suggestion to use a shotgun as illegal to use on deer and on the third shot (through the jaw/sinuses) refused my suggestion to stand behind it and shoot down into the chest as cruel. Ignored my point that any one of his shots could kill someone/himself. Do you wrestle the gun off him or walk away?.. I left and stood behind a car. 7 shots IIRC.
f**king idiot.

Shotgun is perfectly legal to use to despatch wounded deer. In fact British Deer Society recommend its use for RTA casualties as less chance of ricochets at close range.

I've despatched many an RTA deer with a knife, much to the unhappiness of witnesses. But animal welfare is my main concern.
 

BAF

Member
Livestock Farmer
That is essentially what I was told. Our present chap told me a 3" 410 cartridge would also work at close range like that..
410 is equally as good but less messy. Its still a substantial lump of lead travelling at just under 1000 mph. It's sometimes preferable to a 12g because a little 410 weighs virtually nothing and is easily wielded one handed.

I think in terms of emergency, humane dispatch you can use any means necessary as long as you don't cause undue suffering. So walloping an injured deer over the head with a lump hammer is legal as long as it stuns/kills it out right but repeatedly stoving its head in with a hammer would be causing undue suffering and get you in a lot of bother! It's generally not worth the potential bother by busybodies and the police to deal with RTA's.
 

MRT

Member
Livestock Farmer
410 is equally as good but less messy. Its still a substantial lump of lead travelling at just under 1000 mph. It's sometimes preferable to a 12g because a little 410 weighs virtually nothing and is easily wielded one handed.

I think in terms of emergency, humane dispatch you can use any means necessary as long as you don't cause undue suffering. So walloping an injured deer over the head with a lump hammer is legal as long as it stuns/kills it out right but repeatedly stoving its head in with a hammer would be causing undue suffering and get you in a lot of bother! It's generally not worth the potential bother by busybodies and the police to deal with RTA's.
I use a .410 on sheep and pigs and am told it will stop any farm animal which I think true. That being said I would still reach for the 12b for larger animals
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
410 is equally as good but less messy. Its still a substantial lump of lead travelling at just under 1000 mph. It's sometimes preferable to a 12g because a little 410 weighs virtually nothing and is easily wielded one handed.

I think in terms of emergency, humane dispatch you can use any means necessary as long as you don't cause undue suffering. So walloping an injured deer over the head with a lump hammer is legal as long as it stuns/kills it out right but repeatedly stoving its head in with a hammer would be causing undue suffering and get you in a lot of bother! It's generally not worth the potential bother by busybodies and the police to deal with RTA's.
Head shot I assume, as appropriate/legal....
 

Longlowdog

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
I have on my firearms licence along with all the hunting and target clauses 'humane destruction of wildlife and domesticated stock'. I used to be on call out for Lanc's constabulary for injured wildlife and used a .22 rf with sub's for everything up to red deer in front of the police present at the incidents. Also used it on a shearling tup for home consumption.
I told my vet I shot favourite elderly ewes that I would not put through the mart and he questioned the legality, I replied they were elderly and unsuited to a lorry drive to Bradford to become kebabs and that I had H.D on my licence and he said fair enough.
You know instantly if you have done the job cleanly by checking eye reflex. Touch the eye and if there is a hint of a blink you've messed up.
 

nails

Member
Location
East Dorset
410 is equally as good but less messy. Its still a substantial lump of lead travelling at just under 1000 mph. It's sometimes preferable to a 12g because a little 410 weighs virtually nothing and is easily wielded one handed.

I think in terms of emergency, humane dispatch you can use any means necessary as long as you don't cause undue suffering. So walloping an injured deer over the head with a lump hammer is legal as long as it stuns/kills it out right but repeatedly stoving its head in with a hammer would be causing undue suffering and get you in a lot of bother! It's generally not worth the potential bother by busybodies and the police to deal with RTA's.

I have always used a .410 on cattle and our local hunt kennelman always uses a .410 pistol So far never needed a second cartridge
 

Longlowdog

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
I should also point out that Lanc's constabulary pointed out that although the H.D clause was a 'given upon request' clause failure to have it should you undertake a roadside or in field killing and be queried then some awkward questions might arise.
It is not unheard of for officers present to question the right of those folk called out by their superiors to perform the deeds they have just done. I always asked for an incident number so that it would be recorded that they (the police) called me.
 

theboytheboy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Portsmouth
f**king idiot.

Shotgun is perfectly legal to use to despatch wounded deer. In fact British Deer Society recommend its use for RTA casualties as less chance of ricochets at close range.

I've despatched many an RTA deer with a knife, much to the unhappiness of witnesses. But animal welfare is my main concern.
My dad once dispatched a deer with a claw hammer. With me and my brother (both kids at the time) stood blocking oncoming traffic.

It did not go down well with the bystanders and onlookers! It was the right thing to do in the circumstances as all the people we called with guns were unavailable and the animal was suffering with no hope of recovery.

I still remember the onlookers calling him a "f**king psychopath". He said something like "what does that make you who would drive away and leave it suffering in the ditch"
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
We have had vets in to dispatch sheep in pain and they have done the job quickly and professionally. On one occasion, on the advice of our vet who was unable to kill an adult boar, we called in a rifleman from the knackers. Instead a chap turned up with a captive bolt gun who said it would be sufficient to do the job. It was not. After four shots and the boar screaming in pain for almost an hour, the rifleman was called in. For each shot I had to get into the pen to get the crazed animal (with tusks) near enough to the side of the pen to be shot. With me doing most of the work, the pig was eventually loaded onto the truck which left with a trail of blood down the road. I didn't ask whether the knackerman had WATOK training.
A vet I know went to put a few boars and sows down at a pig farm nearby and he asked if I would go along with both 12b and 22-250 incase things turned bad as he said injections weren’t always the best with larger pigs.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
People can get too excitable by the rules and regs. I saw a red faced perspiring guy shooting at/through an RTA deer down next to motorway crash barriers once. Sight the size of my arm. Refused my suggestion to use a shotgun as illegal to use on deer and on the third shot (through the jaw/sinuses) refused my suggestion to stand behind it and shoot down into the chest as cruel. Ignored my point that any one of his shots could kill someone/himself. Do you wrestle the gun off him or walk away?.. I left and stood behind a car. 7 shots IIRC.
Was asked to do a deer last year which was stuck on a rocky outcrop in the sea. Sea was rough and the boat was small, I insisted on using a 36g SG or BB but legally they said only centre fires. chances of hitting it was so small regardless of distance in such big waves. Someone else got called I think
 

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