Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2007 EditionASPCA Pen—This device consists of a narrow stallwith an opening in the front for the animal’s head.After the animal enters the box, it is nudged forwardwith a pusher gate and a belly lift comes up under thebrisket. The head is restrained by a chin lift that holdsit still for the throat cut. Vertical travel of the belly liftshould be restricted to 28 inches (71.1 cm) so that itdoes not lift the animal off the floor. The rear pushergate should be equipped with either a separate pressureregulator or special pilot-operated check valvesto allow the operator to control the amount of pressureexerted on the animal. Pilot operated check valves enablethe operator to stop the air cylinders that controlthe apparatus at mid-stroke positions. The pen shouldbe operated from the rear toward the front.Head restraint is the last step. The operator shouldavoid sudden jerking of the controls. Many cattle willstand still if the box is slowly closed up around themand less pressure will be required to hold them. Ritualslaughter should be performed immediately after thehead is restrained (within 10 seconds of restraint).ASPCA Pen for religiousslaughter of cattleAn ASPCA pen can be easily installed in one weekendwith minimum disruption of plant operations. It has amaximum capacity of 100 cattle per hour and it worksbest at 75 head per hour or less. A small version ofthis pen could be easily built for calf plants.Conveyor Restrainer Systems—Either V restrainer orcenter track restrainer systems can be used for holdingcattle, sheep or calves in an upright position during shehitaor Halal slaughter. The restrainer is stopped for each animaland a head holder positions the head for the ritual slaughterofficial. For cattle, a head holder similar to the front ofthe ASPCA pen can be used on the center track conveyorrestrainer. A bi-parting chin lift is attached to two horizontalsliding doors.Restrainer system for religiousslaughter of calves and sheepSmall Restrainer Systems—For small locker plants thatritually slaughter a few calves or sheep per week, an inexpensiverack constructed from pipe can be used to hold theanimal in a manner similar to the center track restrainer. Animalsmust be allowed to bleed out and become completelyinsensible before any other slaughter procedure is performed(shackling, hoisting, cutting, etc.).Center track restrainer beingused for ritual slaughter.36AMIHandlingSlaughterGuidelines07.1AMIJune 11, 2007