Injured animal, how long is too long

[General-Lee]

Don’t have cows anymore but will always put sheep out of there misery if out of hours, knacker service is very good if something needs shooting. Prefer to use my hmr now as apposed to 12 bore when I started it was a bit messy but with a 12 bore can stand back and not be too close.

When we did have our cattle was very handy to have a old boy/seasoned vet who had shot pretty much all animals with most weapons, whether it was an animal climbing pit walls or mad in a field will down it efficiently, calmly and precisely not sure what they’ll do when he actually properly retires or passes. Don’t believe the younger vets have the same impetus or experience.

 

[multi power]

Except on hunting days?

I was more meaning weekend, evening etc, plenty of people available if or when needed

 

[unlacedgecko]

Don’t have cows anymore but will always put sheep out of there misery if out of hours, knacker service is very good if something needs shooting. Prefer to use my hmr now as apposed to 12 bore when I started it was a bit messy but with a 12 bore can stand back and not be too close.

When we did have our cattle was very handy to have a old boy/seasoned vet who had shot pretty much all animals with most weapons, whether it was an animal climbing pit walls or mad in a field will down it efficiently, calmly and precisely not sure what they’ll do when he actually properly retires or passes. Don’t believe the younger vets have the same impetus or experience.

The only way to get experience is to do it. What are the older generation doing to encourage the younger vets to gain this experience?

Any shooter who says they've never messed up is a liar. I bet your old boy will have miss shot things plenty over the years.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Plenty gun shops have old guns in the back they’ll give away rather than pay to scrap that are more than good enough for dispatching animals and a licence is only £98

True, but when push comes to shove and there's an injured bull to deal with in an open straw yard, I'd want a safe tool I know I can rely on with full confidence.

EDIT: Just seeing on the news that Lincs Police ARV have shot an escaped bull...

 

[michael N123]

True, but when push comes to shove and there's an injured bull to deal with in an open straw yard, I'd want a safe tool I know I can rely on with full confidence.

EDIT: Just seeing on the news that Lincs Police ARV have shot an escaped bull...

My baikal was £90 bought it as my first gun its never missed a beat and will proberly still be working when I’m long gone

I don’t understand why all farmers don’t have gun licences £90ish pound for 5 years and £50 for 5 year after that there a very cheap thing to own even if you only use it to shoot/scare crows and pigeons around buildings and crops one day you might need it for livestock

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

My baikal was £90 bought it as my first gun its never missed a beat and will proberly still be working when I’m long gone

And you can also use it for knocking in fence posts

My Baikal was £120, must have been the deluxe version

 

[Al R]

And you can also use it for knocking in fence posts

My Baikal was £120, must have been the deluxe version

And I bet yours and @michael N123 ’ s both kick like blooming mules! My dads baikal does, he must’ve had the free version as it’s bad with 28’s let alone 36’s like i chuck through my Brownings!

 

[MRT]

It is unrealistic to say the Vet should have taken it upon themselves to get a gun out and shoot the animal. The animal does not belong to the Vet, if it was your animal and you disagreed with the Vet as to the best course of action who would support the Vet that shoots the animal? Not the farmer, nor the farmers mates, nor the practice, nor the law

 

[Al R]

It is unrealistic to say the Vet should have taken it upon themselves to get a gun out and shoot the animal. The animal does not belong to the Vet, if it was your animal and you disagreed with the Vet as to the best course of action who would support the Vet that shoots the animal? Not the farmer, nor the farmers mates, nor the practice, nor the law

I think what others on here are annoyed about is the farmer trying to save money over animal welfare and instead of asking the vet to put it down, waited for the knackerman. Whether the vet in question is capable or has the means to put an animal down is another question..

 

[unlacedgecko]

It is unrealistic to say the Vet should have taken it upon themselves to get a gun out and shoot the animal. The animal does not belong to the Vet, if it was your animal and you disagreed with the Vet as to the best course of action who would support the Vet that shoots the animal? Not the farmer, nor the farmers mates, nor the practice, nor the law

I think what others on here are annoyed about is the farmer trying to save money over animal welfare and instead of asking the vet to put it down, waited for the knackerman. Whether the vet in question is capable or has the means to put an animal down is another question..

The animal in question was not seen by a vet, the vet did not attend the farm. Diagnosis was made over the phone.

Thanks for the replies. Confirms what I thought about unacceptable delays.

Is part of the problem that the fallen stock trade is mainly in the hands of the big operators?

Just to confirm, vet diagnosed over the phone, but it was fairly obvious anyway

 

[Sharpy]

The animal in question was not seen by a vet, the vet did not attend the farm. Diagnosis was made over the phone.

To be fair, when the farmer knew the knacker would not be quickly he could have called the vet out to end the animals suffering but chose not to. We all suspect that this was to save money. It's the money before welfare bit that has incensed people.

 

[michael N123]

And you can also use it for knocking in fence posts

My Baikal was £120, must have been the deluxe version

My under an over ejector was £125 but I can never be arsed to carry the heavy thing and pick cartridges off the floor so always pickup the cheaper sbs non ejector model

 

[michael N123]

And I bet yours and @michael N123 ’ s both kick like blooming mules! My dads baikal does, he must’ve had the free version as it’s bad with 28’s let alone 36’s like i chuck through my Brownings!

Fine gets fed high pheasant 36s

I’ve got 3 baikal shotguns tho so don’t no any better
Even my rifles a BRNO I picked up for 130

 

[Highland Mule]

To be fair, when the farmer knew the knacker would not be quickly he could have called the vet out to end the animals suffering but chose not to. We all suspect that this was to save money. It's the money before welfare bit that has incensed people.

I'm amazed that the farmer wouldn't just call their nearest friend with firearm - doesn't everyone have one of those in the countryside?

A few years ago I had a 6 month old calf to PTS - it broke its leg below the knee. I decided my .22 was too small to be quick and the .303 too big for use inside, so called upon neighbour with a .243 instead. With hindsight I could have used a shotgun, but didn't want to spook the calf by getting too close when she was already distressed.

 

[michael N123]

I'm amazed that the farmer wouldn't just call their nearest friend with firearm - doesn't everyone have one of those in the countryside?

A few years ago I had a 6 month old calf to PTS - it broke its leg below the knee. I decided my .22 was too small to be quick and the .303 too big for use inside, so called upon neighbour with a .243 instead. With hindsight I could have used a shotgun, but didn't want to spook the calf by getting too close when she was already distressed.

How can a shot be safe with a .243 but not a .303?

Off topic but out of interest what’s your .303 rifle

 

[Highland Mule]

How can a shot be safe with a .243 but not a .303?

Off topic but out of interest what’s your .303 rifle

.303 was hard point ammo in a Long Lee - it's a hell of a thing to carry around and the hard point not ideal either. Besides, the friend-with-firearm was more experienced at shooting than me (ex-mil).

 

[Bruce Almighty]

I recently had to shoot a badly prolapsed ewe with a 12 bore, it wasn't messy, the key is to get close. It made one of her eyes bulge, but not burst out. We had tried to get hold of a couple of mates with.22s but they weren't available
A 410 would've been a better job, same for calves, we ought to get one.

Going back to earlier, shooting a down cow with a 12 bore from 12" away leaves a hole an inch in diameter with black around it, no pithing like you have to do with a captive bolt or perhaps a .22

The whole job is not pleasant, I hate it - but you if you are responsible for animals you have to be prepared to have to do this kind of thing

Edit
I might add, I'm not into pheasant shooting etc I don't really like it.
I just use a cheap old side by side for euthanasing casualty animals

 

[Highland Mule]

I recently had to shoot a badly prolapsed ewe with a 12 bore, it wasn't messy, the key is to get close. It made one of her eyes bulge, but not burst out. We had tried to get hold of a couple of mates with.22s but they weren't available
A 410 would've been a better job, same for calves, we ought to get one.

Going back to earlier, shooting a down cow with a 12 bore from 12" away leaves a hole an inch in diameter with black around it, no pithing like you have to do with a captive bolt or perhaps a .22

The whole job is not pleasant, I hate it - but you if you are responsible for animals you have to be prepared to have to do this kind of thing

Interested in your thoughts on maximum distance for a shotgun - I've always used a .22 for a ewe, but it's not always as rapid as I'd like. I could use .410 or 12 bore.

 

[balerman]

Don't go there as asked my vets to put a cow down a few years ago as my wife wont allow me to have a shot gun and vets coming here anyways and instead of getting my local vet thats pretty much always passing so instead they sent the stupid febble horsey vet woman (Rachel F) that forgot the gun and dosed a suckler cow with half the drugs in the back of her car and cow was still alive 4 hours later.

Same year they forgot the scanner when scanning cows and tubuculine when TB testing.

Same vets I use,been with them 35 years and never had a cross word but been sold now and service maybe not so good anymore.Im not giving any names but some of them are much better than others for farm work,too much small animal bias.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Interested in your thoughts on maximum distance for a shotgun - I've always used a .22 for a ewe, but it's not always as rapid as I'd like. I could use .410 or 12 bore.

My neighbour uses a 410 for sheep, the ewe last week with 12 bore was about 12" away, any further & there may be too much spread
Aim between the eyes & down the line of the neck
I guess with a .410 the eye wouldn't have bulged

The guidance notes further up the thread I think say 10 - 25 cm ? From the skull, I'd have thought 4" was a bit close myself ?