How does a captive-bolt gun work and what ammunition is suitable for each species?
A 15. A captive-bolt device induces instantaneous insensibility by administering a severe blow to the skull of an animal. There are two broad categories of device, penetrative and non-penetrative. Penetration of the skull is not required to induce insensibility, concussion can be caused by massive shearing forces which accelerate the brain within the skull in the absence of actual penetration of the skull or brain tissue. An effective percussive stun is characterised by immediate collapse, exaggerated tonic activity (rigid muscle tension), no rhythmic breathing, no corneal reflex and a relaxed jaw. Captive-bolt stunners may be trigger-fired or fired on contact with the animal’s head. Captive-bolt devices are used mainly for stunning cattle, sheep and goats. Pigs are usually electrically stunned as they show exaggerated clonic activity (convulsive spasms and paddling of the legs) when percussively stunned, resulting in heath and safety issues when hoisting, bleeding or further processin
