Day 018 - 26 Jul 94 - Page 49
1 guns is that there is a cylinder of metal, a bolt, within
the barrel of the instrument which is fired by a cartridge
2 in each case?
A. Yes.
3
Q. So that the bolt penetrates the skull of the animal?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. But does not leave the gun completely -- it is not a
bullet?
6 A. That is correct. That is why it is called "captive";
it is captive within the gun.
7
Q. In the achievement of an effective stun of the cow, first,
8 is it important where this slaughterman aims?
A. Yes, it can be.
9
Q. Is it important how much of the charge propels the bolt
10 into the animal's skull?
A. Yes, it is.
11
Q. With those considerations, which in your informed opinion
12 is the more important?
A. It is the two together. If you have a large calibre
13 cartridge, large grain cartridge, your target area
increases, so the accuracy of the shot becomes less
14 important but with a low grain cartridge accuracy is
critical.
15
Q. That leads to my final question before the adjournment,
16 Dr. Gregory: What is it in the discharge of this bolt at
the head of the animal that actually achieves the stunning
17 effect?
A. Scientifically it is the imparting of energy to the
18 whole cranium. You are trying to concuss the animal by
imparting energy and accelerating the head.
19
MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, I do not know if that would be a
20 convenient moment?
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, certainly.
22 (Short Adjournment)
23 2.00 pm.
24 MR. RAMPTON: Dr. Gregory, before the adjournment I had asked
you what were the important considerations in the use of
25 the captive bolt pistol for the achievement of an
efficient or effective stun. You had said one was the
26 power of the cartridge and the other was the accuracy of
the shot.
27
When you went to Midland Meat Packers, did you measure
28 both accuracy of shot and power of the cartridge?
A. I assessed in ten scales the accuracy of the
29 shooting. I looked to see whether the grain of cartridge,
that is, the power of the firing cartridge was compatible
30 with the manufacturers' recommendations for the type of
animal which they were slaughtering and the gun they were
