Captive bolt pistol

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Captive bolt pistol

A captive bolt pistol (also variously known as a cattle gun, stunbolt gun, bolt gun, or stunner) is a device used for stunning animals prior to slaughter. Proper stunning is essential to prevent the pain and suffering of the animal during the bleeding (exsanguination) process (which is itself necessary to prevent meat spoilage) during butchering. The principle behind captive bolt stunning is a forceful strike on the forehead using a bolt to induce unconsciousness. The bolt may or may not destroy part of the brain.

The bolt itself is a heavy rod made of non-rusting alloys, such as stainless steel. It is held in position inside the barrel of the stunner by means of rubber washers. The bolt is usually not visible in a stunner in good condition. The bolt is actuated by a trigger pull and is propelled forward by compressed air or by the discharge of a blank round ignited by a firing pin. After striking a shallow but forceful blow on (or through) the forehead of the animal, spring tension causes the bolt to recoil back into the barrel.

The captive bolt pistol was invented by Dr. Hugo Heiss (* August 5, 1863, † September 27, 1936), former director of a slaughterhouse in Straubing, Germany.^{[citation needed]}

The device has gained a certain notoriety in popular culture:

It featured first in the 1992 film Benny's Video by Austrian director Michael Haneke and later as the killer's weapon-of-choice in the Coen brothers 2007 film No Country for Old Men.

Variations

The captive bolt pistols are of three types: penetrating, non-penetrating, and free bolt.

In the penetrating type, the stunner uses a pointed bolt which is propelled by pressurized air or a blank cartridge. The bolt penetrates the skull of the animal, enters the cranium, and catastrophically damages the cerebrum and part of the cerebellum. Due to concussion, destruction of vital centres of brain and an increase in intracranial pressure, the animal loses consciousness. This method is currently the most effective and widely used type of stunning, since it physically destroys brain matter (increasing the probability of a successful stun), while also leaving the brain stem intact (thus ensuring the heart continues to beat, facilitating a successful bleed). One disadvantage of this method is that brain matter is allowed into the blood stream, possibly contaminating other tissue with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease) .

A captive bolt pistol

The action of a non-penetrating stunner is similar, but the bolt is blunt with a mushroom-shaped tip. The bolt strikes the forehead with great force and immediately retracts. This concussion is responsible for the unconsciousness of the animal. This type of stunner is less reliable at causing immediate and permanent unconsciousness than penetrating types; however, it has undergone a resurgence of popularity due to concerns about mad cow disease. In the European Union, this captive bolt design is required for slaughter of animals that will be used for pharmaceutical manufacture.^[1]

The free bolt stunner is used for the emergency in-the-field euthanasia of large farm-animals who cannot be restrained. It differs from a true captive bolt gun in that the projectile is not retractable; it is similar in operation to a powder-actuated nail gun or conventional firearm. Capable of firing only when pressed firmly against a surface (typically the animal's forehead), the device fires a small projectile through the animal's skull. The veterinarian can then either leave the animal to expire from the projectile wound, or administer lethal drugs.

Use

With cattle, goats, sheep, and horses,^[2] a penetrating stunner is typically used since it destroys the cerebrum while leaving the brain stem intact; this results in a more consistently reliable stun, and ensures the animal's heart continues to beat during the bleeding process. Captive bolts allow for meat trimmings from the head to be salvaged. In some veal operations, a non-penetrating concussive stunner is used in order to preserve the brains for further processing.

Stunning a cow

Captive bolt stunners are safer to use in most red meat slaughter situations. There is no danger of ricochet or overpenetration as there is with regular firearms.

The cartridges typically use 2 to 3 grains (130 to 190 mg) of gunpowder, but can use up to 7 grains (450 mg) in the case of large animals such as bulls. The velocity of the bolt is usually 55 m/s in the case of small animals and 75 m/s in the case of large animals.

There are certain specific stunning sites for various animals:

• Polled livestock generally: At the center of forehead, the shot being directed towards the gullet. Some animals, such as old Hereford cattle, which have too much hair on the forehead, and bulls, which have too thick a skull, are stunned at the back of the poll. This is known as "poll knocking". It can render livestock unconscious, but may require more attempts since the placement of the bolt is more difficult.
• Other cattle: At or below the point of intersection of two imaginary lines drawn from the base of each horn to the inner canthus of the opposite eye.
• Pig: On the forehead at a point 25 mm above the eyes, with the stunner directed towards the gullet.
• Sheep and goat: Below the ridge which runs under the base of the horn. The direction of the shot is towards the gullet.

References