Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2007 EditionCriteria for Vocalization of Pigs in Conveyor RestrainersDo not score grunts, squeals that can be attributed to a misapplied stun wand or squeals thatappear unprovoked by humans or by equipment. Score a minimum of 100 pigs in large plantsand 50 pigs in smaller plants.• Excellent – Two percent or less of the pigs squeal.• Acceptable – Five percent or less of the pigs squeal due to the restrainer; none due to amisapplied stunner• Not Acceptable – Six percent or more squeal in the restrainer• Serious Problem – 10 percent or more squeal in the restrainerWhen 50 or less pigs are scored, a single squealing pig is acceptable. When more data iscollected and averaged, use the five percent level for an acceptable rating.Criteria for Room Vocalization(Should be used in internal audits only and not compared across plants)Score a minimum of 100 pigs in large plants and 50 pigs in smaller plants.• Acceptable – 50 percent or less of the pigs in the room vocalizeVocalization Scoring of SheepObservations at a sheep slaughter plant indicated that vocalization during handling is not aneffective measure of handling problems in sheep. Sheep walking quietly up the stunning chuteoften vocalized to each other. Sheep which balked and had to be pushed by a person nevervocalized. This is a species difference between cattle and sheep and neither the presencenor absence of vocalization should be used as a measure.Core Criteria 5: Electric Prod UseReducing the use of electric prods will improve animal welfare. Shocking livestock withelectric prods significantly raises heart rate, open mouth breathing and many otherphysiological measures.Revisions to this standard are based on data collected from 26 plants that were audited byMcDonald’s during 1999 and 2000 (www.grandin.com). In 2000, 68 percent of the plants usedno electric prods in the crowd pen and 62 percent used an electric prod on fifteen percent orless of the pigs at the restrainer entrance.47AMIHandlingSlaughterGuidelines07.1AMIJune 11, 2007