Investigation into the principal determinants of effective captive bolt stunning of sheep

Daly, C.C.; Whittington, P.E.

doi:10.1016/s0034-5288(18)31189-5

Cited by 47 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…with the cranium and damage produced by passage of the bolt through the brain, 16 but the relative contribution of these two factors to clinical outcome remains unresolved.…”

Section: Scientificmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain damage in sheep from penetrating captive bolt stunning

et al. 2002

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ObjectiveTo determine the severity and distribution of structural changes in the brains of adult sheep stunned by penetrating captive bolt.Procedure The unconstrained heads of ten, anaesthetised, unhorned, 2-year-old Merino sheep were impacted at the summit of the head with a penetrating captive bolt pistol. Six sheep were ventilated and four received no respiratory support. Two hours after impact, brains from the six ventilated sheep were perfusion-fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. Sixteen whole, serial coronal sections from each brain were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically for amyloid precursor protein, a sensitive marker of axonal and neuronal reaction in the brain after trauma. Pathological changes in these brains were then quantified by morphometric analysis. ResultsStructural change in all impacted brains was a mixture of focal injury around the wound track and more widely distributed damage in the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and brainstem, but varied considerably in severity between individual sheep. All nonventilated sheep died rapidly following respiratory arrest. ConclusionsAfter penetrating captive bolt stunning, damage to the central reticular formation, axonal connections, and the cortical mantle is the likely reason for failure of respiratory control and traumatic loss of consciousness. Aust Vet J 2002;80:67-69 APP Amyloid precursor protein A lthough penetrating captive bolt pistols are commonly used for euthanasia of sheep, 1-3 the structural changes in the brain after mechanical stunning have been little studied.The position on the head usually recommended for captive bolt stunning of sheep without horns, and that used in the present study, is the midline at the highest point, aiming straight down toward the angle of the jaw. 1-3 However, in the field, stunning should not be always relied upon to render an animal permanently unconscious and must be followed by an adjunctive method to ensure death. This paper reports the detailed neuropathology resulting from penetrating captive bolt stunning of adult sheep. Materials and methodsSix, 2-year-old, unhorned, Merino ewes were anaesthetised (isoflurane) and ventilated with a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen titrated against regular blood gas measurements to maintain a normal blood gas profile, and the arterial blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. These sheep were placed in the sphinx position with their heads supported to permit free movement after impact at the summit of the head with a penetrating stunner (Karl Schermer & Co, Karlsruhe, Germany), 15 min after induction of anaesthesia. A Schermer No 17 charge was inserted into a chamber behind the proximal end of the bolt to propel the captive bolt from the muzzle of the stunner into the head. Four control sheep were not impacted, but otherwise subjected to the same experimental protocol. Sheep remained anaesthetised until killed by perfusion fixation of the brain Four additional sheep were anaesthetised but not ventilated after impact, mean arterial blood press...

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“…with the cranium and damage produced by passage of the bolt through the brain, 16 but the relative contribution of these two factors to clinical outcome remains unresolved.…”

Section: Scientificmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain damage in sheep from penetrating captive bolt stunning

et al. 2002

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“…In human head injury, brain damage frequently, but not inevitably, accompanies skull fracture (7). While reversible or intractable dysfunction of the reticular activating system (RAS) is the substrate of unconsciousness, a penetrating captive bolt striking the cranium is considered to be the major determinant of effective stunning rather than the passage of the bolt through the brain parenchyma (8). In the present study, the concussive force associated with the impact of the mushroom head of the stunner on the skull probably also contributed substantially to RAS damage and loss of consciousness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Neuropathological changes produced by non-penetrating percussive captive bolt stunning of cattle

Finnie¹

1995

New Zealand Veterinary Journal

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A blunt, non-missile head injury inflicted by a non-penetrating captive bolt pistol in cattle at slaughter resulted in immediate loss of consciousness, a depressed fracture of the frontal bone and widespread subarachnoid haemorrhage, particularly beneath the impact site, in the temporal and frontal lobes, and around the brainstem. There was also invariably petechial haemorrhage in the basal ganglia and thalamus. The large concussive force applied to the cranium by the stunner was probably responsible for rendering the animal insensible and the vascular damage produced by this force and the sudden ventrocaudal acceleration of the brain after impact. These findings supported the use of this mode of stunning, followed by exsanguination, as an acceptable form of slaughter of cattle in abattoirs.

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“…This finding applies specifically to the CBG/ cartridge combination used in this study (Cash Special with 2.5 gr cartridge). Previous studies have suggested that it is the kinetic energy imparted to the cranium by the bolt that produces insensibility (Daly & Whittington, 1989), while the actual physical damage by the bolt to specific brain structures is responsible for producing irrecoverable A B Fig. 1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Gibson

Whitehead²,

Taylor

et al. 2015

Meat Science

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The aim of this study was to examine the behavioural and cranial/spinal responses of alpacas culled by captive bolt shooting and the resulting pathophysiology of captive bolt injury. Ninety-six alpacas were shot (103 shots) in a range of locations with a penetrating captive bolt gun (CBG). Ten (9.8%) alpacas were incompletely concussed following the first shot. No animals required more than two shots. Incorrectly placed shots accounted for all of the animals that displayed signs of sensibility. Damage to the thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, medulla, cerebellum, parietal and occipital lobes were significantly associated with decreasing odds of incomplete concussion. In conclusion, the study confirmed that CBG stunning can induce insensibility in alpacas and suggests that the top of the head (crown) position maximises damage to structures of the thalamus and brainstem.

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Investigation into the principal determinants of effective captive bolt stunning of sheep

Cited by 47 publications

References 7 publications

Brain damage in sheep from penetrating captive bolt stunning

Brain damage in sheep from penetrating captive bolt stunning

Neuropathological changes produced by non-penetrating percussive captive bolt stunning of cattle

Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

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