Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2007 Edition A restraint device must either fully support an animal or have non-slip footing so theanimal can stand without slipping. Animals panic if they feel like they may fall. Restraint devices should hold fully sensible animals in a comfortable, uprightposition. Shackling and hoisting, shackling and dragging, trip floor boxes and legclamping boxes are not acceptable. Restrainers that rotate animals on their backs areused rarely in glatt Kosher operations in the United States, but more commonly inglatt Kosher operation in South America and Europe. For information on using andauditing these devices, refer to: www.grandin.com (Ritual Slaughter Section). Restraint devices must have controls that enable the operator to control the amountof pressure that is applied. Different sized animals may require differing amounts ofpressure. Hydraulic or pneumatic systems should have controls that enable a cylinderon the device to be stopped in mid-stroke. Never hold an animal in a head restraint device for more than a few seconds. Theanimal should be stunned or ritually slaughtered immediately after the head holderis applied. Head restraint is much more aversive than body restraint. Animals can beheld in a comfortable body restraint for longer periods. The animal’s reaction shouldbe observed. If the animal struggles or vocalizes, it is an indication that the device iscausing discomfort. Restraint devices should not have sharp edges that dig into an animal. Parts thatcontact the animal should have smooth rounded surfaces and be designed so thatuncomfortable pressure points are avoided. On V conveyor restrainers, both sides should move at the same speed. To test this,mark each side with tape or a crayon. If after a minute of movement the marks donot appear in synch, the speed should be adjusted.It is possible to modify existing restraint devices to lower vocalization and agitation scores. Balkingat the entrance is also easy to reduce. Most of the modifications that would reduce animalagitation and vocalizations can be installed at a minimum expense. Floor grating, lighting andshields to block vision are examples of some relatively inexpensive but effective modifications.Section 6: Recommended Stunning PracticesGood stunning practices are also required to achieve compliance with federal humane slaughterregulations. Good stunning also promotes animal welfare and meat quality. When stunning isdone correctly, the animal feels no pain and it becomes instantly unconscious. Stunning an animalcorrectly also results in better meat quality. When using electric stunning systems, improperstunning will cause blood spots in the meat and bone fractures.24AMIHandlingSlaughterGuidelines07.1AMIJune 11, 2007