[Lostlambs]

I had a lamb yesterday  that I think got stepped on by a cow on his back end,leg and foot.Poor little thing was beyond any help and as such had to dispatch him but didn't know the quickest and most humanely way to do it. Called the neighbor to see if they would be able to shoot him but they also don't have a gun.He came over and put the poor thing out of it's misery but I am looking for the best way to handle something like this. I know it's an awful question but if anyone knows a good method that causes the least trauma to the lamb if I have to face this again I'd really want to know what I'm doing. Thanks

[woollyval]

I really feel for you over this one as I had an incident several years ago where my flock was chased by children trying to catch a lamb Unfortunately in the melee and panic a small lamb had been trampled. The vet destroyed it for me as very local. However in the extreme circumstances you describe and no vet to hand I personally would have to use something v quick and v effective......I will leave it at that.....

[SallyintNorth]

We take them to the vet.

[onnyview]

Take it to your vet.

[Fleecewife]

Probably best to find out what is legal in your country first, then what is most humane of those options.  Certainly with that kind of injury you would want to put the animal out of its misery quickly, especially if you are far from a vet.  We are lucky to have a licensed gun, and most farmers round here have one, or rely on a neighbour with one.
I think it's great that you are investigating this before you have to do it again.

[SteveHants]

I have a gun, but if you haven't got one and you don't want to drag a suffering animal all the way to the vets, the only way you can kill it quickly without a gun is by slitting its throat. Not nice, I know, and I wouldn't reccomend it if you don't know what you are doing, but when the alternative is trying to drag a maimed animal to a trailer/truck and then drive it 1/2 an hour to get it euthanaised, its definitely the kinder option.

I know of shepherds who will do it where footpaths are close, because of a (perhaps misplaced) fear of 'anti' types witnessing a sheep being shot and then complaning etc, as it is, at least, quiet.

[SallyintNorth]

If you are talking a full-grown sheep then you can get the dead cart to shoot it when they come to pick it up.  If it's a lamb it's easy enough transported to the vet, although the dead cart will dispatch and collect lambs too.  We're only 15 mins from the vet so it's not an issue for us with lambs, I guess if it were much further I might ask the vet if we could have anything here we could use. 

Similarly, we normally get the dead cart pretty promptly but if I had a ewe going to suffer for days I'd ask the vet to stop by when they were passing and put her out of her misery.

If you are planning on shooting anything yourself, best get some training on how to kill cleanly.

[jaykay]

I'm glad you came in Steve. I was going to say you cut it's throat. Sounds terrible and I hope I don't have to do it (seen it done once) but very quick. Like you, I think it's better than leaving an animal in bad pain waiting for the vet/kill cart or whatever.

The Tim Tyne book shows how it's done, for home butchering (in his defence he points out you are supposed to stun the animal first, for a normal kill).

[Lostlambs]

I will have to learn to shoot, seems here that growing up boys were taught to handle a gun but not us girls as most weren't interested in going hunting. Here a course of firearms safety is required and will book into the next available one. Since I'm here by myself as OH works away all winter and most summer ,come to think of it ,I need to learn how to do a few things that I didn't before. The vets are a least 1 hour away - 2 hrs if he's out on call to the next one. With an animal suffering that long  it's just not feasible many times to get to a vet We don't have any dead pickup other than for cattle either so it's alot of neighbor and self help here. Maybe I will go talk to the local meat processor they might be able to show me the best way. Some things I wish I didn't have learn or know about!

[jaykay]

I know, it's definitely the down side! But being able to do what's needed, however distressing we find it, I think is part of of the responsibility we owe our animals.
Anyway, good on you for facing up to it 

[Mel Rice]

Here our home kill butcher uses a bolt gun to stun then throat slits.....you could (if vet trip is too dificult) use a heavy (ish) hammer to stun then throat slit. (My german friend dispatches meat bunnies this way)

[SallyintNorth]

Here our home kill butcher uses a bolt gun to stun then throat slits.....you could (if vet trip is too dificult) use a heavy (ish) hammer to stun

Please don't hit a sheep on the head with a hammer.  I think it would rather wait for the dead cart or be taken to the vet.

[robert waddell]

if the bunnie huggers were to read some of the posts on here  they would have a field day with livestock keepers and there dispatch methods

[mmu]

Yes they would, but I wonder what their alternative suggestions would be.  I used to use chloroform years ago, but you can't get it now.  Not everyone agreed with that, but we always found it to be humane and painless, as long as you made sure to use enough.

[robert waddell]

if you have not got a bolt gun or rifle you would need to get the vet  plain and simple