Assessment of Time to Death, Brain Tissue Damage and Clinical Signs of Consciousness in Mature Jersey x Holstein Cattle Receiving a Secondary Penetrating Captive Bolt Gunshot at the Poll or Frontal Sinus Locations

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AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Jesse Robbins and Dr. Brett Boyum to discuss this recent publication in the AABP peer-reviewed journal The Bovine Practitioner. This is a follow-up publication that evaluated a secondary method for euthanasia using a penetrating captive bolt (PCB) in youngstock to validate this procedure in adult animals. The primary method of euthanasia using a PCB in the frontal sinus location was the same for both groups of animals. This paper evaluated time to death, loss of consciousness and brain tissue damage between a second frontal sinus shot versus the other group of animals who received a second poll shot with the PCB. Our guests discuss the importance of the veterinarian reviewing humane euthanasia protocols with caregivers and owners on beef and dairy farms, ensure that these protocols are in compliance with AVMA and/or AABP guidelines, provide training and follow-up monitoring. Robbins discusses some of the advantages of PCB euthanasia versus gunshot or chemical methods.

This investigation found no significant differences in time to loss of consciousness or death (defined as lack of rhythmic respirations and no auscultable heartbeat) between the frontal-frontal group and the frontal-poll group. The average time to death was 7-8 minutes with a range of 2-12 minutes for all cattle enrolled in the study.

The authors recommend that veterinarians develop a checklist for ensuring appropriate euthanasia using a PCB is being performed on your client’s farms. This includes correct landmarks, training, checking for consciousness, maintaining proper functioning of equipment, and confirming death. The authors remind listeners that it can take up to 12 minutes for unconscious animals to lack a heartbeat after appropriate PCB euthanasia and caregivers should monitor animals until confirmation of death as part of a humane euthanasia protocol.

Links:

Robbins, J. A., Sanchez, H., Spangler, C., Vazquez, S., Spatz, N., & Boyum, B. (2023). Assessment of time to death, brain tissue damage and clinical signs of consciousness in mature Jersey x Holstein cattle receiving a secondary penetrating captive bolt gunshot at the poll or frontal sinus locations. The Bovine Practitioner, 57(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol27no2p67-73

Robbins, J. A. ., Williams, R., Derscheid, R. J. ., Boyum, B., & Spangler, C. (2021). Comparison of frontal-sinus and poll shot locations as secondary methods for euthanizing dairy cattle with a penetrating captive bolt gun. The Bovine Practitioner, 55(2), 115–119. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol55no2p115-119

AABP Guidelines for the Humane Euthanasia of Cattle