actually here is a cut and paste from a thread that was on BYC a couple months ago about the wringer. It also lists other ways to dispatch the rabbit.
Steve
Hello, everyone--glad to see a rabbit discussion, and I may be able to help answer some questions on humane killing.
Humane killing:
Humane killing is called 'euthanasia' and means giving the animal a fast
and painless death, minimizing or eliminating all avoidable fear, stress,
and distress.
In rabbits, this is done by disrupting brain function as quickly as
possible, usually by way of direct trauma to either the brain or brainstem,
which results in a stun OR a kill. Immediate decapitation or at very least
complete bleed-out of the stunned/killed animal is imperative to both ensure
death and from a food safety standpoint.
From a humane standpoint, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a back-up method.
Messing it up is traumatic and painful for all concerned, not to mention
embarassing.
There are a zillion different methods, but here are some of the most
common techniques and their humane issues:
Blunt trauma: The old 'hit 'em on the head'. Works well to stun or
kill; immediate decapitation or throat-slitting to the spine is required to
ensure death while the rabbit is definitely unconscious. May be more
difficult to remove the head due to the spine remaining intact.
Gunshot: A shot with a .22 or larger (be reasonable here, and DON'T EVER
FORGET the safety factor!!!), directed from the base of the skull toward the
mouth or tip of the nose, is generally sufficient. NEVER perform on
anything that can cause a ricochet, even with snakeshot/birdshot loads!
Deep, soft soil free of rocks is best; a bottomless small enclosure with a
little pile of treats keeps the bun content and still.
Note: when I trialed the use of an 'average' (non-CO2) pellet
gun, I was very disappointed with the result, which was an injurious stun
rather than the kill I'd hoped for, so be aware--decapitate or bleed out
QUICK! once stunned.
Cervical dislocation: Breaking the neck at the base of the skull is
probably one of the more difficult skills to master doing with one's bare
hands, but there are mechanical aids which can make this more certain and
easier on all concerned. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should one use a method
which causes pain before the spine separates from the base of the
skull...that comes under 'avoidable pain' and is NOT a humane death.
Manual cervical dislocation is a time-honored, humane skill which I
definitely recommend one have a tutor for! The point of pressure and the
angle at which the skull is held relative to the spine is vital to the
success of the method (that, and remembering to NEVER close one's hand
around the jaw...). Those with limited strength or short arms may need help
adjusting the technique for success.
'Broomsticking', done properly, is quite humane. Use a narrow,
STRONG rod and your sense of balance to lay the rod across, stepping lightly
but firmly on one end. Use your other foot (tip on the heel to bring the
toe and rod to the ground when ready) to pin the rabbit's head to the ground
and pull UP on the hindlegs at the same instant. If your timing is off,
this is not a humane method.
All of these methods of cervical dislocation may be humanely
performed/practiced on a rabbit which has been stunned by the blunt trauma
method, by the way--as long as the skull is intact and you work quickly.
I hope this is helpful information, and invite you to the Meatrabbits group
on YahooGroups if you have further questions, or you can email me directly
at [email protected] . There's a TON of information on butchering in the
Meatrabbits archives.
Thank you for your time.
Pamela Alley, RVT
Director, Rabbit Industry Council
ListSis, Meatrabbits
Steve
Hello, everyone--glad to see a rabbit discussion, and I may be able to help answer some questions on humane killing.
Humane killing:
Humane killing is called 'euthanasia' and means giving the animal a fast
and painless death, minimizing or eliminating all avoidable fear, stress,
and distress.
In rabbits, this is done by disrupting brain function as quickly as
possible, usually by way of direct trauma to either the brain or brainstem,
which results in a stun OR a kill. Immediate decapitation or at very least
complete bleed-out of the stunned/killed animal is imperative to both ensure
death and from a food safety standpoint.
From a humane standpoint, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a back-up method.
Messing it up is traumatic and painful for all concerned, not to mention
embarassing.
There are a zillion different methods, but here are some of the most
common techniques and their humane issues:
Blunt trauma: The old 'hit 'em on the head'. Works well to stun or
kill; immediate decapitation or throat-slitting to the spine is required to
ensure death while the rabbit is definitely unconscious. May be more
difficult to remove the head due to the spine remaining intact.
Gunshot: A shot with a .22 or larger (be reasonable here, and DON'T EVER
FORGET the safety factor!!!), directed from the base of the skull toward the
mouth or tip of the nose, is generally sufficient. NEVER perform on
anything that can cause a ricochet, even with snakeshot/birdshot loads!
Deep, soft soil free of rocks is best; a bottomless small enclosure with a
little pile of treats keeps the bun content and still.
Note: when I trialed the use of an 'average' (non-CO2) pellet
gun, I was very disappointed with the result, which was an injurious stun
rather than the kill I'd hoped for, so be aware--decapitate or bleed out
QUICK! once stunned.
Cervical dislocation: Breaking the neck at the base of the skull is
probably one of the more difficult skills to master doing with one's bare
hands, but there are mechanical aids which can make this more certain and
easier on all concerned. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should one use a method
which causes pain before the spine separates from the base of the
skull...that comes under 'avoidable pain' and is NOT a humane death.
Manual cervical dislocation is a time-honored, humane skill which I
definitely recommend one have a tutor for! The point of pressure and the
angle at which the skull is held relative to the spine is vital to the
success of the method (that, and remembering to NEVER close one's hand
around the jaw...). Those with limited strength or short arms may need help
adjusting the technique for success.
'Broomsticking', done properly, is quite humane. Use a narrow,
STRONG rod and your sense of balance to lay the rod across, stepping lightly
but firmly on one end. Use your other foot (tip on the heel to bring the
toe and rod to the ground when ready) to pin the rabbit's head to the ground
and pull UP on the hindlegs at the same instant. If your timing is off,
this is not a humane method.
All of these methods of cervical dislocation may be humanely
performed/practiced on a rabbit which has been stunned by the blunt trauma
method, by the way--as long as the skull is intact and you work quickly.
I hope this is helpful information, and invite you to the Meatrabbits group
on YahooGroups if you have further questions, or you can email me directly
at [email protected] . There's a TON of information on butchering in the
Meatrabbits archives.
Thank you for your time.
Pamela Alley, RVT
Director, Rabbit Industry Council
ListSis, Meatrabbits
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