Achieving humane outcomes in killing livestock by free bullet II: Target selection.

Killing infected or surplus-to-market livestock by free bullet is unavoidable in Foreign Animal Disease response in countries exporting large numbers of live animals. Correct targeting and placement of free bullet projectiles result in immediate death, thereby making this method acceptable for humane animal killing. Regulatory veterinarians will be responsible for animal welfare in overseeing emergency killing of livestock by free bullet. To assure humane fatal penetrating brain injury under field conditions, veterinarians as operational experts, need to fully understand the anatomy of all farmed animals and the pathophysiology of the terminal ballistics of weapon systems to make appropriate, on the ground decisions, in emergency situations. Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.