Humane Euthanasia Procedures for Sick, Injured, and/or Debilitated Livestock, Desk Card on Euthanasia of Cattle
Click here to view a PDF version of this document.
Home Search What's New Products Survey Help
Humane Euthanasia Procedures for Sick, Injured, and/or Debilitated Livestock, Desk Card on Euthanasia of Cattle

   

Humane Euthanasia Procedures for Sick, Injured, and/or Debilitated Livestock, Desk Card on Euthanasia of Cattle1

Jan K. Shearer and Paul Nicoletti2

This desk card is best viewed as a pdf at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM12400.pdf .

Not Between the Eyes!

Point of entry of projectile in cattle should be at the intersection of two imaginary lines, each drawn from the inside corner of the eye to the base of the opposite horn (or to a point slightly above the opposite ear in a cow without horns). Center of forehead, but NOT BETWEEN THE EYES!

Gunshot

Hold firearm perpendicular to the skull and within inches of the intended target when possible. A .22 caliber hollow or soft point bullet is sufficient for young animals. However, larger adult animals require at least a .22 magnum solid point bullet or preferably a 9 mm or .357 caliber bullet. Proper placement of the bullet is essential and best achieved by holding the firearm within a few inches of the intended target. The firearm should not be held or placed against the head.

Penetrating Captive Bolt

Restrain animal so that the device can be held firmly against the skull over the intended site. As described for gunshot, the penetrating captive bolt should be positioned perpendicular to the skull. Always insure death by exsanguination (bleeding out).

Footnotes

1. This document isVM154, one of a series of the College of Veterinary Medicine - Large Animal Climical Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April, 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Jan K. Shearer, D.V.M., Professor, and Paul Nicoletti, D.V. M., Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine - Large Animal Climical Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.