title: Pathophysiology of free-bullet slaughter of horses and ponies.
abstract: Forty-six equines were observed during routine commercial slaughter in an abattoir. The animals were shot once with a .22 calibre long rifle with hollow point rounds. Indicators of sensibility/insensibility were evaluated immediately after the shot (prior to exsanguination) and the resulting pathophysiology of free-bullet injury was assessed. All animals were rendered immediately insensible, with only one pony showing signs of a shallow depth of concussion, with an intermittently positive palpebral reflex but no other signs of brainstem function. All animals (100%) had some degree of damage to the structures of the brainstem or lobes of the cerebrums, while 41 (89%) had damage to the thalamus/hypothalamus. The bullet in one pony missed the brain but still caused mild damage to the thalamus, midbrain, pons and cerebellum, this animal had no signs of sensibility. The findings confirm that free-bullet shooting is an effective dispatch method for horses and ponies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: tgibson@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Troy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elisabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bedford
authors.affiliation: Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Chancellor
authors.affiliation: Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limon
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male
keywords: Behaviour; Equine; Pathophysiology; Rifle; Slaughter