In Chile, stunning large cattle is mandatory. Most slaughter plants use a captive-bolt, with or without penetration of the skull, for the humane killing of cattle. The aim of this method is to administer a severe blow to the animal’s head, inducing immediate loss of consciousness and causing temporary or permanent damage to the brain function of the animal. Specific indicators must be verified, such as the absence of rhythmic breathing, vocalisation and corneal reflex, among others. However, cattle stunning may be ineffective due to lack of trained personnel, equipment failure or inadequate infrastructure. This review aimed to compare bone and nerve injuries caused by penetrating and non-penetrating captive-bolt stunning in cattle. It was concluded that both methods are effective in inducing instantaneous unconsciousness of the animal. However, penetrating captive-bolt is considered safer when stunning cattle of different breeds and ages.