Humane dispatch

[Woodsmoke]

I hold a .22 on my open ticket with AOLQ. I also have a shotgun certificate. We're shortly to move onto a smallholding, and have a small flock of sheep (8 at the moment, but that will increase to maybe 20) I'm just wondering if I should put a variation in for a .410 pistol or similar in case I have a need to put any of them down at some point, or whether anyone in a similar situation would just use what they have to hand? I've previously used both to dispatch sheep, but I'm thinking a pistol would perhaps be a bit safer for the job or easier to handle? Any thoughts?

 

[enfieldspares]

I'd actually ask you veterinary surgeon as to what he or she would recommend? That way you've some input from a professional to offer to the police. Also the HSA leaflets might be usefaul too? Only you know what is and isn't going to be a PITA to carry to where you need it. Cheapest "short" option would be a cheap single shot .22LR with barrel cut to the legal 12" and the stock sawn off at the back to still maintain a legal overall length so it isn't classed by small size as s5. Cost would be less than twenty quid if bought at auction and, with police fore-knowledge, done yourself.

https://www.hsa.org.uk/downloads/publications/hsa-humane-killing-of-livestock-using-firearms.pdf

 

[Alantoo]

I am sure @VSS will be along soon but an ordinary .410 will be easier to acquire and safer to use. So far I have had to use a 22lr once and a .308W once but otherwise a folding .410 SBS or a .410 Mossberg Hushpower have been fine for RTC humane animal dispatch.

As @enfieldspares recommends, I have downloaded the HSA POA .pdf leaflets and have them on my phone as reference.

Alan

 

[Hudson12]

Just buy a cheap captive bolt gun ideal for sheep pop them on the back of the head no licence required less hassle than applying g for a pistol ect

 

[Woodsmoke]

Thanks fellas. @Hudson12 I hadn't even considered a bolt gun. That's an option I'll have to look into, thanks!

 

[VSS]

Just buy a cheap captive bolt gun ideal for sheep pop them on the back of the head no licence required less hassle than applying g for a pistol ect

No, don't do this ^^^
A captive bolt is a stunner. You still need to slaughter the animal afterwards (OK, so in most cases it would die just with the pistol, but not very quickly). Captive bolt stunners are fine in the hands of professional slaughtermen, but for home slaughterers a. 410 is the tool for the job, and is what's recommended by the HSA.
Here's a link to a magazine article I wrote on the subject years ago:

Killing and butchering sheep

Feeding the family with produce from the smallholding is the ultimate goal for many of us. Tim Tyne gives a guide to slaughtering and...

www.countrysmallholding.com

Sorry, I think all the step-by-step photos have gone (at least, I can't see them if I follow the link, but they might be there).
I've subsequently updated it, and done step-by-step guides for other livestock too, all of which have been published, so if you need any more info give me a shout.

 

[Alantoo]

Only disadvantage with a captive bolt is that it is a two stage process. Stun and pith. .410 is just one bang.

Alan

 

[enfieldspares]

Stun and pith.

Ah but at least he can use the rifle cleaning rod he already has. LOL!

 

[Norfolk Horn]

I've used my .22 rimfire on numerous occasions. No mess, no fuss and very little disturbance you just need to know the location of the brain.
Like others have said reference the HSA website it's all there.
I don't own a 410 but have shot large sows and boars with a 12 bore.

 

[Hudson12]

Lads I worked collecting fallen stock and all I used most of the time was a captive bolt gun on everything from lambs to horses the pithing cane is no longer used or at least we didn’t and we never stuck them either they were shot once with a captive bolt and winched into the truck and not one ever recovered there dead once the bolt penetrates the brain

 

[Alantoo]

Lads I worked collecting fallen stock and all I used most of the time was a captive bolt gun on everything from lambs to horses the pithing cane is no longer used or at least we didn’t and we never stuck them either they were shot once with a captive bolt and winched into the truck and not one ever recovered there dead once the bolt penetrates the brain

Strangely enough the only time I have seen a captive bolt used it was on a fallow buck and it started to come round before the pithing was done. The operator had used it hundreds of times during foot and mouth and had only had it happen once before!

Alan

 

[Hudson12]

Strangely enough the only time I have seen a captive bolt used it was on a fallow buck and it started to come round before the pithing was done. The operator had used it hundreds of times during foot and mouth and had only had it happen once before!

Alan

He will of just shot the wrong place slaughter houses aren’t allowed to use a pithing cane anymore due to bse

 

[Hudson12]

All the pithing cane does is severe the spinal cord to stop kicking ect or at least reduce

 

[VSS]

Lads I worked collecting fallen stock and all I used most of the time was a captive bolt gun on everything from lambs to horses the pithing cane is no longer used or at least we didn’t and we never stuck them either they were shot once with a captive bolt and winched into the truck and not one ever recovered there dead once the bolt penetrates the brain

You were doing it on a professional basis, and clearly had enough practice to ensure that what you did worked in the situation you were in. Whether or not those animals died as quick as they should have done is a moot point.
However, what the OP is talking about is occasional slaughter of his own animals in a smallholding situation. A very different set of circumstances, I think you'll agree?

 

[Alantoo]

He will of just shot the wrong place slaughter houses aren’t allowed to use a pithing cane anymore due to bse

The pithing rods he had were cruciform section plastic serrated single-use devices two or three feet long with a foam sealing pad and were left in the animal. I had understood from him that they were designed like that because of BSE.

I have one somewhere I will post a photo of it.

Alan

PS sorry should have said barbed not serrated...it was so they couldn’t come out easily and be used in another animal.

 

[levigsp]

You will find the Police will not allow 4.10 pistol, sec 5. Use a standard 410 for sheep small pigs and calves, 12bore for big pigs and cattle. I have seen too many injured sheep etc with .22 lr. And Vets and good practice state shot gun at very close range. I
I used to shoot my pigs on site with vet present and they were then taken straight to slaughter house to be finished, the vet refused to inspect if shot with .22!.

 

[Hudson12]

The pithing rods he had were cruciform section plastic serrated single-use devices two or three feet long with a foam sealing pad and were left in the animal. I had understood from him that they were designed like that because of BSE.

I have one somewhere I will post a photo of it.

Alan

PS sorry should have said barbed not serrated...it was so they couldn’t come out easily and be used in another animal.

You were doing it on a professional basis, and clearly had enough practice to ensure that what you did worked in the situation you were in. Whether or not those animals died as quick as they should have done is a moot point.
However, what the OP is talking about is occasional slaughter of his own animals in a smallholding situation. A very different set of circumstances, I think you'll agree?

Possibly so but

 

[Hudson12]

Yes blue in colour seen them after the reusable metal spring type

 

[VSS]

You will find the Police will not allow 4.10 pistol, sec 5. Use a standard 410 for sheep small pigs and calves, 12bore for big pigs and cattle. I have seen too many injured sheep etc with .22 lr. And Vets and good practice state shot gun at very close range. I
I used to shoot my pigs on site with vet present and they were then taken straight to slaughter house to be finished, the vet refused to inspect if shot with .22!.

410 is good for cattle and pigs too. Just use 3" cartridge if worried. 12 bore is messy.

 

[Benji53]

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