Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2007 EditionNON-LIMBICLIMBICScoring of Slipping and Falling in the Unloading Area (All Species)— In largeplants where multiple vehicles are continuously unloaded, 100 cattle, pigs or sheep should bescored. For cattle, unloading is continuously observed until 100 cattle from three different vehiclesare scored. For pigs and sheep where a large truck holds more than 100 animals, a minimumof two vehicles should be observed. Fifty animals are scored from each truck. For all species,an equal number of animals from each deck should be scored. Vehicles should be scored in theorder of arrival at the unloading ramp.In small plants where vehicles are not continuously unloaded, a single vehicle should be scored.If no vehicle arrives, the score sheet is marked “unloading not observed.”• Excellent – No slipping or falling• Acceptable – Fewer than three percent slipping; fewer than one percent falling(body touches floor)• Not Acceptable – More than three percent slipping; more than one percent falling down• Serious Problem – Five percent falling down or 15 percent or more slippingScoring of Slipping and Falling in the Stunning Chute Area (All Species)—Score a minimum of 50 animals in large plants. In most plants that have non-slip flooring, fallingseldom occurs. In fact, problems with slipping or falling are usually either a big problem oralmost no problem. Formal scoring should be done if slipping or falling is observed.Score in the restrainer entrance, stunning box, lead up chute, crowd pen and in the final loadingpen where pigs move into a gondola or other conveyance for gas stunning. Observation withoutformal scoring should be made in the stockyard pens and scales.• Excellent – No slipping or falling• Acceptable – Three percent or less slipping; fewer than one or less percent falling(body touches floor)• Not Acceptable – More than three percent slipping; more than one percent falling down• Serious Problem – Five percent falling down or 15 percent or more slipping44AMIHandlingSlaughterGuidelines07.1AMIJune 11, 2007