Best Method To Dispatch

[RabbitDad]

I'm new here with a million questions.
First, I clearly understand the necessity of hunting... to maintain proper game population.
For decades I purchased hunting / fishing licenses every year. Not to hunt or fish but as a donation to a necessary cause.
While I've been in situations where starvation was a huge possibility, I never became desperate enough to kill for food.
I realize that I'd need to be pretty desperate to eat my pet rabbits.
I'm not here to judge anyone, just very curious... What is the preferred method of killing a rabbit for butchering?
Also, is everything useful used? Like pelts?
If I were to butcher an animal, I'd make use of everything possible.

 

[Preitler]

Of course viewpoints differ depending on if you think about breeding lifestock - whatever species - for good, healthy food, utilizing resources like grass and weeds that otherwise were useless, or if you are more, or solely accostumed to view them as pets.
I have both, free raoming house bunnies as pets (my buck and his spayed cuddlebun), my does are in between and retire to pet status when getting too old, and I raise enough rabbits to feed me.

What is useful, and what is not depends on the circumstances, like, I tanned quite some pelts, but apart from making a cap and some cat toys I didn't have much use for those, so I discard them now, not worth to put a lot of work in it now to just collect dust for years.

There are a million answeres, this topic is not an easy one for most of us. Use the "dispatch" as search term, and check the box at "Search titles only".
This thread is a good start (and a lot to read):
https://rabbittalk.com/threads/best-cleanest-fastest-dispatch.25080/

 

[RabbitDad]

Thanks.
I'm a Vietnam vet & retired peace officer. Looking from the outside, one might assume I wouldn't have any issues on this topic but the reality is... I'd need to be extremely desperate, or have kids to feed before I'd resort to killing. At least I'm aware of my limitations.
I'm not claiming to be a vegetarian, just that I'd lose my appetite if I had to kill my dinner.
The flip side of that, I have some serious respect for those who can.
This is beyond morbid but the closest analogy I can come up with is stories I've read about people in desperate situations, starving to death like The Donner Party & the plane crash is the mountains of South America.
Most people wouldn't be able to resort to cannibalism but I see there is a big difference since they were already dead. I hope that made sense.
While researching The Donner Party ordeal, I read the diray of one of the mothers desperately trying to feed her children. (All bets are off when it comes to that!)
She wrote that one of the first victims they sacrificed was their family dog.
Of course I took it out of context when she reminisced... "He was a good dog." I took it as "He was finger lickin' good!" I had to read it again to get back on track.
It really changes the meaning of "Having a friend for dinner." OK I'll stop LOL.
I mentioned previously that I invested everything we have in a ranch to raise bison. (Aka American Buffalo) After I was all in, I realized that while buffalo meat is my absolute favorite, I can't exploit these magnificent animals. Regardless of who actually does the dirty work.
So... things have slowed to a crawl. We are still raising them but as they reach maturity, they are slowly being transferred to reservation lands where they are relatively safe.
I can't bring back the massive herds that were once here, but I'm not the only one dumb enough to try to at least make a dent in it. The numbers are increasing... slowly.
As much as I enjoy a good steak, seeing our tiny herd outside my bedroom window each morning is far more enjoyable.

 

[ladysown]

My preferred method is the choke chain method. Fast, easy, works for all sizes, and the deed is done before the rabbit really gets that anything is off. Knowing how to dispatch an animal that needs dispatching to save them pain or a slow death... is a needful skill for people to have. Doesn't mean you need to eat them, just that it's another part of caretaking the animals you have under your care.

 

[RabbitDad]

My preferred method is the choke chain method. Fast, easy, works for all sizes, and the deed is done before the rabbit really gets that anything is off. Knowing how to dispatch an animal that needs dispatching to save them pain or a slow death... is a needful skill for people to have. Doesn't mean you need to eat them, just that it's another part of caretaking the animals you have under your care.

I don't understand the method but really like the thought that they aren't aware of what's happening.
I don't have a problem with being dead, it's becoming dead that I have issues with.
I want to die in my sleep. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in the car I'm driving at the time.

 

[ladysown]

To understand the choke chain method.... go to youtube and google it. for instance this one I watched to learn.

 

[RabbitDad]

Wow! That certainly did the job. At least it was instant & painless.
While that satisfied my curiosity, it's still not something I'm capable of... At least not for myself.
Thanks.

 

[RabbitDad]

The following can be quite disturbing to some so you may want to stop here.
After watching the video above, I was temporarily relieved that the rabbit died instantly, without any pain, suffering or even realizing what had happened.
Then logic took over causing me to do some research.
Severing the spinal cord wouldn't be the cause of death.
Eventual lack of oxygen to the brain would.
With the spinal cord severed, all signals to & from the body would cease, stopping the heart, lungs etc. However, there are still several minutes worth of oxygen rich blood within the brain.
Since communication with the body has stopped, it only appears as instant death.
Some excellent examples are victims of execution via guillotine. Several studies proved some of the victims were still alive & conscious for several minutes after having their head removed.
There has to be a better method!
Perhaps a retractive bolt like what is used on cattle be a viable solution?
As far as I'm aware, nobody has done a formal study on this for rabbits. Logic suggests that it's very possible that it's not painless.
Do I need to invent something that guarantees instant, pain free death?

 

[tambayo]

All signals stopping include communication between injured bodypart(s) and the pain receptors in the brain. I.e. there is no more pain signal being received that actually triggers a pain reflex/feeling of pain.

There are slaughterpin on a spring for small livestock, some use an airrifle, but even there only well placed shots will do the instant thing and they need time to reload if you mess up. Practice on dummies even if you never have to (if lucky) put down an animal that is suffering or for meat.

 

[ladysown]

then pick a method that works. if you can't cull a rabbit why are you even asking? Find someone who can do it for you if necessary.

A dead rabbit is a dead rabbit... if the head isn't attached, if there is no voluntary movement, if there is no breathing, the animal is dead.

Can you use a bolt gun on a rabbit? Sure... they make them. If that method works for you then use it. Don't overthink it so much.

 

[RabbitDad]

All signals stopping include communication between injured bodypart(s) and the pain receptors in the brain. I.e. there is no more pain signal being received that actually triggers a pain reflex/feeling of pain.

There are slaughterpin on a spring for small livestock, some use an airrifle, but even there only well placed shots will do the instant thing and they need time to reload if you mess up. Practice on dummies even if you never have to (if lucky) put down an animal that is suffering or for meat.

I really hope that's the case. To back up your claim, I thought again to the decapitation of people.
One would expect that having your head completely severed would be astonishingly painful, if... you could feel it. So painful in fact that 100% of your concentration would be on that.
So based on the experiments of decapitated victims where they responded to their names being called, looking around etc wouldn't make much sense if they were preoccupied with pain.
I suspect you have a very valid claim. Not merely because that's what I truly want to believe either. It just makes sense, with evidence to back it up.
THANK YOU!

 

[RabbitDad]

then pick a method that works. if you can't cull a rabbit why are you even asking? Find someone who can do it for you if necessary.

A dead rabbit is a dead rabbit... if the head isn't attached, if there is no voluntary movement, if there is no breathing, the animal is dead.

Can you use a bolt gun on a rabbit? Sure... they make them. If that method works for you then use it. Don't overthink it so much.

To answer your question... curiosity.
Like I said, I don't have any issues with death. Being a Vietnam vet and retired peace officer, I've seen far more than my fair share of it.
Perhaps that's part of my problem. It's becoming dead that I have problems with.
I grew up on a ranch where is was common to slaughter livestock.
Being forced into that lifestyle, my only option was to somehow tune it out.
One event that bothers me still was I was very young & my parents got us baby ducks for Easter. From the first day, my little duck followed me around like a puppy. We even went swimming together.
While that may sound stupid or trivial to most, I really liked that stupid duck.
Then one day, after they had grown up, I returned home from school & they were gone.
Of course I asked where they were & my father told me they must have flown south for the winter.
Being a naive little kid, and the fact that it was my own father telling me, I believed it.
Until the next day when I found the heads, feet & feathers in the garbage.
I was devastated. Besides losing my friend, learning that my father lied to me really sucked. I questioned everything after that.
I don't have problems butchering, in fact I'm quite proficient at it. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. The difference being, they are already dead.
The captive bolt is quite efficient on cattle but not 100% of the time. 1-2% doesn't go as planned.
Cows / pigs & such are pretty disgusting when dealing with them on a daily basis. They aren't cute & intelligent like rabbits. Somehow that seems to make a small difference.
Another thing you are correct about is... I am putting way too much thought into this.
I don't know exactly why but suspect it's mostly my personal history. Maybe my love & respect for animals, being a wimp... who knows?
Hopefully getting answers to my morbid questions will allow me to get past it.
FYI... My intent was only to satisfy my curiosity & learn more about properly caring for our new "pets". It was NEVER to create drama or problems here.
Thanks!

 

[dlynn]

The following can be quite disturbing to some so you may want to stop here.
After watching the video above, I was temporarily relieved that the rabbit died instantly, without any pain, suffering or even realizing what had happened.
Then logic took over causing me to do some research.
Severing the spinal cord wouldn't be the cause of death.
Eventual lack of oxygen to the brain would.
With the spinal cord severed, all signals to & from the body would cease, stopping the heart, lungs etc. However, there are still several minutes worth of oxygen rich blood within the brain.
Since communication with the body has stopped, it only appears as instant death.
Some excellent examples are victims of execution via guillotine. Several studies proved some of the victims were still alive & conscious for several minutes after having their head removed.
There has to be a better method!
Perhaps a retractive bolt like what is used on cattle be a viable solution?
As far as I'm aware, nobody has done a formal study on this for rabbits. Logic suggests that it's very possible that it's not painless.
Do I need to invent something that guarantees instant, pain free death?

Perhaps you should research how your grocery store meat lived and died. Some of us work hard at humainly raising healthy meat for our families. I do my best to let them be rabbits! They have , shelter, a yard to run in, dig in, socialize and mate as they choose. Fresh, organic goodies to eat, enough selection that they choose what...everything likes to eat rabbits so they have evolved to reproduce lots. My 3 rabbits have become 35 and the next generation has not started breeding. They will be eaten. Killing to eat is the way of life, even if it's a vegetable. Most do not enjoy the butchering. We do our best to do it with respect and appreciation. (Sometimes tears) You let someone else do it for you. It's not nice for you to make it harder for us. Guess that's the same mean streak that has you playing practical jokes on your poor wife.

 

[RabbitDad]

I didn't come here to fight or argue.

 

[dlynn]

I didn't come here to fight or argue.

Why did you come? I thought this was a safe place for rabbit people. So far what I see from you is you bragging about bullying your wife, teaching your son to do the same, and a bunch of dialogue designed to make the rest of us feel bad about a hard but necessary part of life. (More bullying)

 

[RabbitDad]

Why did you come? I thought this was a safe place for rabbit people. So far what I see from you is you bragging about bullying your wife, teaching your son to do the same, and a bunch of dialogue designed to make the rest of us feel bad about a hard but necessary part of life. (More bullying)

Dear ..... (we don't call people names on this forum) I came here to learn more about rabbits so I can provide the best care possible.
I had high hopes you were done but apparently I was wrong.
Note that you don't know me, my son or my wife.
As if it's any of your business, my wife and I have a great relationship. She was fully aware of my warped sense of humor long before we decided to spend our lives together. So back off!
As I stated twice, I'm not here to fight or make a scene but be advised that I am more than capable of defending myself & family.
If you'd like to continue this I suggest we take it private so other members aren't subjected to more unnecessary drama.
Furthermore, my previous and future donations were and will be via American Express. Their customer service is excellent and will be more than happy to refund that just for asking.
It might be in your best interest that you consider your chances of prevailing when you pick a fight.

PLEASE... stop the bullying behaviour. It would have been enough to say "you don't know me and my family so leave that out of it"

FOR BOTH SIDES of this issue... Just please, we have a nice forum here. Let's just tone it down and be respectful please. THAT goes for all parties. if you have issues, report the post and let us deal with it. THANK YOU.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Why don't BOTH of you just stop? If you don't want to see what the other has to say, just press Ignore on their profile

 

[RabbitDad]

Why don't BOTH of you just stop? If you don't want to see what the other has to say, just press Ignore on their profile

I tried that. Obviously it didn't work. I even sent a private message but the response has only been the sound of crickets.
Hopefully "someone" will read the TOS concerning personal attacks before they are subject to civil litigation.
I can afford a long legal battle, especially at their expense. Can they?
I'd really like to get back on topic & leave the drama behind.

 

[RabbitDad]

Getting back on topic...
This is obviously a very difficult topic. But, it needs to be discussed.
I realize using animals for food has been going on since the beginning of time.
I can't imagine any sane person that enjoys taking a life. Often necessity overides feelings.
This isn't about that. It's about... what if the methods are not so much wrong, but can it be done better?
Growing up on a ranch, we had supposedly the most efficient method for killing cattle. It worked rather well but only 98-99% of the time. That 1 or 2% was horrific. Disturbing as that was I still enjoy eating beef. I clearly understand the necessity.
The day may come when I'm forced to kill one or more rabbits. I need to be absolutely certain that I get it right, not just the first time but every time after that. I'm confident we are all on the same page.
Now this has been going on pretty much forever and many assume we already have it perfected. But... what if we don't?
It was mentioned earlier that I'm over-thinking this. That's highly likely, but the question remains.
With the advances in science & technology, why is it that we haven't progressed much beyond ancient methods in this?
All of us are here out of our love, respect & need for rabbits. If we could discover an absolute perfect, 100% of the time, foolproof method wouldn't it be worth brainstorming a repulsive topic?
There are multiple thoughts, opinions & ideas available. Without openly sharing them, we can't progress.

 

[DubiousOrchid]

So I saw your post about the guillotine and, having a background in science, I was curious about this. When doing any experiments that involve animals, breaking communication at the brain-spinal cord level is what is accepted as the most humane. It would follow that with butchering, it is similar.

Anyway, so I decided to do some "research" of my own. I try to go on PubMed for things if I can vs like google (not sure where you did your research) and found this article that I thought was interesting but basically said that over the past 250 years of this question, they concluded that "while the truth may never be fully known, all evidence appears to indicate that loss of consciousness appears to occur within seconds of decapitation"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9930870/

Otherwise, I think its important to bring up the alternatives just as much as what is the best method of dispatch. Whether you think of that in terms of "how would my rabbit die in the wild" OR "how does the meat I buy at the store meet its end" because I can probably almost guarantee that any method of dispatch that I do on my homestead is bound to be 1000x better than either of the above.

Like the video that ladysown posted said - its ok to cry. its ok for this to be tough. This is part of the natural cycle. But I can also understand that, because it is tough, you and probably everyone here that does their own butchering, it always thinking of ways to make it easier.