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Stunning tool

Captive Bolt Pistol

Pre-slaughter stunning gun

  • Slaughter systems
  • Slaughter
  • Cattle, sheep, pigs
Photograph of Captive Bolt Pistol
Context photograph related to Captive Bolt Pistol and Cattle, sheep, pigs

What it is

A steel bolt is driven into or against the animal's skull at high energy. The blow is meant to end consciousness before the animal is bled.

Where it sits in the system

Bleeding an animal to death requires it to be unconscious first. The pistol is built to produce that state with a single blow, delivered by hand at the point of kill.

Welfare concern

A shot placed correctly drops the animal at once. When the aim is off, the restraint is poor, the cartridge is weak, or the tool is badly maintained, the animal is shot again or stays conscious.

Worth being precise about

The captive bolt exists to protect welfare at slaughter, not to make production cheaper. Whether it does so depends on accuracy, restraint, cartridge strength, maintenance, and an immediate second shot when the first fails.

Sources

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