PORK INFORMATION GATEWAY SPOTLIGHT

Proper Euthanasia of Unruly Boars

There are 4 methods approved by the National Pork Board for euthanizing boars: gunshot, captive bolt, electrocution, and anesthetic overdoes. For the difficult-to-manage boar the easiest and most efficient on-farm technique is gunshot, assuming that the boar is too dangerous to snare and captive bolt.

Extra care must be taken to ensure human safety when using firearms. The user should be trained in firearm safety and understand the potential for ricochet. A .22 caliber rifle is most commonly used. Shotguns are sometimes used to reduce the potential for ricochet. Animals should be secured by a rope or snare over the upper jaw held by an assistant. The assistant should always stand behind the shooter. The boar should be restrained outside of the building on soil where danger from ricochet is reduced.

Correct positioning for this method is critical. The shot should be directed at the midline of the forehead 1 finger width above eye level.  The firearm to be held about 2 to 10 inches from the skull as detailed in the figure. Gunshot in these big boars may only stun, therefore it is recommended that the carotid (neck) or brachial (armpit) artery be severed once the boar is stunned.