The animal should be killed as quickly and humanely as possible. In
most slaughter plants, hogs are immobilized either by electrical
stunning or carbon dioxide gas suffocation. On the farm a hog can be
stunned by striking it one sharp blow with a mechanical stunner or by
shooting it in the forehead midway between and slightly above the
eyes. The first attempt should be successful (fig. 2). Improperly
placed bullets could cause the animal much pain and injure helpers or
other livestock. Animals that become excited during stunning will not
bleed as well as those less excited. _As always the case whenever using
firearms, exercise all appropriate safety precautions_.
[Illustration: Rifle muzzle pointed at forehead of hog]
Figure 2.—Stunning.