Head-restraint and stunning

Extract

Sir, I write in response to the article in the first issue of your journal. I was pleased to note that the welfare advantages of improved accuracy of shooting that can be expected from the restraint of bovine heads prior to stunning have been recognised. Earlier research work, commissioned by the MAFF, had indicated that deficiencies existed in the accuracy of captive bolt positioning in cattle whose heads had not been restrained. Clearly the distress experienced by an animal that has been mis-stunned would be very considerable, and would outweigh the stress associated with temporary head-restraint.