Pigs And Sheep

[sussex 5,777]

Good reply mat ,intresting, was getting rid of my old 410 but it just got a reprieve

[nod 285]

one of the first things i ever shot with a shotgun was a pig, at 4 inches away from the head it aint going no where. 28gm 7.5 shot was used, bolt gun was used on smaller pigs upto 15kg

[Matt 160]

One of my neighbours always used to do his pigs and the odd bullock with a .22-250 rifle. He'd lean on the gate and drop them from about 10 feet. Noise was incredible, but the carcass damage was minimal amazingly.

 

Get the shot placement right (frontal aiming to leave the bullet in the neck) and there is little or no damage to the meat. In fact, I've seen beef with more damage in an abattoir.

 

There is a margin for error with a shotgun, and as Nod says, they don't get up again. You can also do it from a foot or so, which means less restraint, and therefore less stress.

 

A captive bolt needs skill and practice, and can go horribly wrong.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Matt the Rat

[riflehunter583 58]

i always found the captive bolt and plastic rod to be very effective on cows and horses that i could get close to. never had a problem. this method also reduced the spread of infection /disease. line a cross between ears and eyes from the front. bolt goes into the center cross. make sure your out the way. wait for the legs to stop kicking then don't forget to pith well and leave the rod in.

 

shot gun and rifle also useful with problem animals.

[Matt 160]

The only issue with the captive bolt on horses is that they fall forward.... Pithing is one of the most dangerous aspects of slaughter, and needs to be done while standing in the right place.

 

Horses have very thin skulls; I've done loads with a .22 with no problem at all. Sheep and goats on the other hand can be problematic with a .22.

[sussex 5,777]

Mat whats Pithing ?

[Ausnick 190]

I use a 223 on sheep and cattle, frontal shots using 45gr hollow points up to 200m, I found 55gr soft points do too much damage... I use a 17hmr on calves and sheep up to 30m, and will shoot cows from about 4 inches away with it, don't have to worry about ricochets or a pass through with either gun.

[Born Hunter 17,763]

So for the record, a 410 with a standard 3" load inches from the target area is perfectly humane for anything but perhaps large bulls, yes?

[sussex 5,777]

Thanks stalker....sounds intresting !!!

[Matt 160]

Mat whats Pithing ?

 

A captive bolt is just a stunner. It causes damage to the front part of the brain, which renders the animal unconscious and 'insensible' to pain.

 

A pith rod is usually a plastic rod these days which is about 2 and a half feet long. You push it into the hole as far as it will go and it causes damage to the rear part of the brain and spinal cord. The modern canes have barbs on the end so that once you put it right in you can't get it back out. That is to stop any SRM leaving the animal (in theory).

 

Pithing is rarely carried out in modern abattoirs due to the risk to the slaughtermen. When you pith, the nervous reaction is exaserbated and the animal will kick violently and thrash around. They don't really need to do it anyway because they are supposed to follow up the stun with a stick within 30 seconds.

 

Some on farm slaughterers and knackermen still pith, but you need to watch yourself when you do it.

 

Further to the earlier point, yes, a .410 is perfectly adequate for most slaughtering jobs. If you've got to do a big bull for some reason, then reach for the 12.

[riflehunter583 58]

ive used the captive bolt many times and never had an animal fall on me or kick me while stunning or while pithing.

 

its just a case of watching where you stand relative to the situation and each procedure.

 

just remember to pith or you may find one 'wake up' when on route to the incinerator!