This project aims to improve the effectiveness of penetrating captive bolt (PCB) stunning and euthanasia in cattle by refining placement recommendations based on anatomical evidence. Specifically, it focuses on three understudied groups—cull Jersey cows, Holstein breeding bulls, and fed Holstein cattle—for which current guidelines lack strong scientific validation. By examining how bolt placement relates to tissue depth, brain structures, and particularly the thalamus (a critical region for maintaining sensibility), the study seeks to identify placements that reliably produce rapid and sustained unconsciousness.

To achieve this, researchers will analyze cadaver heads collected from slaughter facilities, measuring tissue thickness and mapping bolt trajectories to determine whether key brain regions are impacted. The study will compare multiple commonly recommended placement positions and define an “ideal” placement that maximizes the likelihood of thalamic damage. Findings will provide evidence-based guidance for industry stakeholders, including veterinarians, producers, and processors, ultimately enhancing animal welfare by improving the consistency and humaneness of stunning and euthanasia practices.