TITLE 9—ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
CHAPTER III—FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE, MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
PART 313—HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF LIVESTOCK
Sec. 313.2 Handling of livestock
(a) Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Livestock shall not be forced to move faster than a normal walking speed.
(b) Electric prods, canvas slappers, or other implements employed to drive animals shall be used as little as possible in order to minimize excitement and injury. Any use of such implements which, in the opinion of the inspector, is excessive, is prohibited. Electrical prods attached to AC house current shall be reduced by a transformer to the lowest effective voltage not to exceed 50 volts AC.
(c) Pipes, sharp or pointed objects, and other items which, in the opinion of the inspector, would cause injury or unnecessary pain to the animal shall not be used to drive livestock.
(d) Disabled livestock and other animals unable to move.
(1) Disabled animals and other animals unable to move shall be separated from normal ambulatory animals and placed in the covered pen provided for in Sec. 313.1(c).
(2) The dragging of disabled animals and other animals unable to move, while conscious, is prohibited. Stunned animals may, however, be dragged.
(3) Disabled animals and other animals unable to move may be moved, while conscious, on equipment suitable for such purposes; e.g., stone boats.
(e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in theholding pen for animals held overnight to lie down.
(f) Stunning methods approved in Sec. 313.30 shall be effectively applied to animals prior to their being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.
The Code of Federal Regulations, and other Federal publications, can be searched on the web site of the U.S. Government Printing Office at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html
This article appeared in the Animal Welfare Information Center Bulletin, Volume 9, Number 1/2, Fall 1998
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Related article: Handling of Crippled and Nonambulatory Livestock
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