title: Factors affecting penetrating captive bolt gun performance.
abstract: Captive bolt stunning is used for rendering livestock insensible at slaughter. The mechanical factors relating to performance of 6 penetrating captive bolt gun (CBG) models were examined. The Matador Super Sécurit 3000 and the .25 Cash Euro Stunner had the highest kinetic energy values (443 J and 412 J, respectively) of the CBGs tested. Ninety percent (27/30) of CBGs held at a government gun repository (United Kingdom) were found to have performed at a normal standard for the model, while 53% (10/19) of commercial contractor CBGs tested were found to underperform for the gun model. When the .22 Cash Special was fired 500 times at 4 shots per min, the gun reached a peak temperature of 88.8°C after 2.05 hr. Repeat firing during extended periods significantly reduced the performance of the CBG. When deciding on the appropriate CBG/cartridge combination, the kinetic energy delivered to the head of the nonhuman animal, bolt penetration depth, and species/animal type must be considered. It is recommended that CBGs are routinely checked for wear to the bolt and barrel if they are repeatedly fired in a session.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Production and Population Health , Royal Veterinary College , Hatfield , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Troy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Jade Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Neville G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005389:Firearms / Q000592:standards; D007700:Kinetics; D016014:Linear Models; D058751:Livestock; D013696:Temperature; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: animal welfare; captive bolt; kinetic energy; slaughter; velocity