Humane-Slaughter-Guidelines

slaughter plants shows that vocalizations in cattle are
associated with electric prod use. In well-managed beef
plants in one report, 56 the average percentages of cattle
moved with an electric prod with well-trained handlers
were 10% entering stun boxes and 16% entering a center
track conveyor restrainer. In plants where there
is no supervision, electric prod use can be excessive
and problematic. In another study, 10 electric prod use
in pigs varied greatly depending on whether a group
of pigs was easy or difficult to drive. On easy-to-drive
pigs, an electric prod was used on 4% of the pigs, and
on a difficult group of pigs, 20% of the pigs had to be
electrically prodded to move them into the single-file
chute. 10 D1.5.2 Corrective actions for handling problems
1. Crowd pens that lead to the single-file race (chute)
should not be overloaded
For pigs, cattle, bison, and many other animals, the
crowd pen that leads to the single-file chute should be
half full. 10,28,29 Cattle, pigs, deer, and bison should be
moved into the crowd pen in small, separate groups.
This principle does not apply to sheep. They should
be moved in a large, continuous group because of their
intense following behavior.
When horses are handled in a tub system, the tub
should only be half full, and the crowd gate should
never be used to push animals. For all species, handlers
should work alongside the tub and single-file chute,
and overhead catwalks should be avoided. Overfilling
the tub or overcrowding with the gate will cause animals
to bunch up and turn back from the single-file
entry. Animals should be allowed time to move through
the system, without being rushed. When the animals
are moving through the system themselves, they should
be left alone. If the lead animal balks, allow it time to
investigate and move forward. 9
2. Use natural following behavior and timing of
bunches
The next group of cattle or pigs should not be
brought into the crowd pen that leads to the single-file
chute until there is space in the single-file chute. This
enables the animals to immediately enter,promotes
natural following behavior, 28 and prevents them from
turning around. Unlike domestic cattle and pigs, bison
often become agitated while standing and waiting in
single file; therefore, it may be best to put only one or
two bison in the single-file race at a time.
Horses arriving at auction markets and processing
plants come from a variety of backgrounds and with
various degrees of training. This can make their behavior
more unpredictable than that of other species.
Handlers should always use caution and treat these
animals as though they are untrained. Handlers should
approach a horse on the left side, as traditionally horses
are trained to be left-side dominant. This is because
most humans are righthanded and must stand on the
left side of the horse to lead with their right hand. It is
important for horses to have visual contact with other
horses at all times until they enter the kill box. This
will aid in keeping them calm and will motivate them
to move forward as their herdmates do. 9 3. Teach handlers behavioral principles
Handlers need to understand behavioral principles
such as flight zone and point of balance. 5,59,60 The most
common mistake when moving animals through chutes
is a handler who stands at the head of an animal and
pokes its rear in an attempt to make it move forward.
Standing in front of an animal prevents it from moving
forward. Handlers should be taught to use the movement
pattern shown in Figure 2. 55 When a person
quickly walks back past the shoulder of an animal, in
the opposite direction of desired movement, the animal
will move forward. This is an effective method for many
species.
4. Prohibit routine carrying and use of electric prods
In most plants that have adequate facilities, the
only place where an electric prod is occasionally needed
is at the entrance to the stun box or restrainer. The
prod should be kept in a convenient location and only
used when needed. After it is used to move the occasional
stubborn animal, it should be put away. Alternatives,
such as vibrating prods or plastic paddles, should
be the handler’s primary driving tool. A vibrating prod
can be made from a pneumatic engraving tool where
the sharp tip has been removed. A total prohibition of
electric prods is not recommended, as a single shock
from an electric prod is preferable to hard tail twisting
or hitting.
5. Use powered gates carefully
When a powered gate is used to move animals, it
should be equipped with controls that enable a person
to immediately stop its movement if an animal falls
down. Automated powered gates must be equipped
with pressure-limiting devices to prevent the gate from
either knocking animals over or dragging animals along
the floor.
6. Remove distractions that cause balking
Movement of animals through a handling facility
can often be greatly improved by making many small
changes in the facility that remove visual and aural
distractions that cause animals to balk and refuse to
move. 5,28,33,49
a. When an animal enters a stun box or restrainer,
it must not have air blowing in its face. 10,48
Figure 2—Handler movement pattern to move an animal into a
stun box or restrainer. The handler walks quickly in the opposite
direction of desired animal movement. The animal will typically
walk forward as the handler crosses the point of balance at the
shoulder.
AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition 17