Animals dont become unconscious as soon as their throat is cut.
That is axiomatic and I did not say that they did.
Also, peta.org says that the bolt is meant to stun the cow. I’m only quoting them. Also, some years ago someone who worked at a slaughtering house who used the rod on cows told me all about it but I don’t remember. I remember he said that the cow was lifted and hung with chains after the air piston to the brain. I don’t remember if he said they first used electricity before the rod to the brain.
However cows slaughtered in today’s gov approved slaughter houses seems more merciful than production slaughtering with a knife by religious butchers— but I don’t know. JW only require that the animal be bled. Cruelty to animals is also forbidden in the Bible but killing an animal for food is not.