The following suggestions are intended to help farmers move their animals in a low stress
\nmanner. Animals that are over stressed will tend to have more health problems, less desirable
\nmeat characteristics (including greater shrinkage), and are more dangerous when handled.
\nConditions for the handler and the animal are much better when using low stress practices. It is
\nimportant to respect livestock \u2013 and not to fear them.<\/p>\n
Animals sense their surroundings differently than humans.64 Prey animals such as cattle and
\nsheep are unable to differentiate colors as well as humans. As a result, they move more readily
\nfrom dark areas into lighter ones but will avoid layouts that make them look directly into the sun.
\nLighting should be even and diffused. Bright spots and shadows tend to make animals more
\nskittish, especially near crowding or loading areas. Handlers should wear clothing that will not
\ncause them to stand out, which may cause the animal to balk or turn away.<\/p>\n
Loud noise should be kept to a minimum and quick movements avoided. Most animals will
\nrespond to routine; especially when handlers remain calm and deliberate. Handlers are reminded
\nto be patient; and should never prod an animal when it has nowhere to go. Slow and deliberate movement around livestock is more effective, as is gentle touching, rather than shoving or bumping them.<\/p>\n
Animals have a flight zone (see Diagram 1 on next page)65. When a person enters this zone, the
\nanimal will begin to move away from the person or thing that is approaching. Animals also have
\na point of balance from which their movement can be directed forward or backward. This point
\nof balance is generally located at the shoulder of the animal and \u201cis determined by the animal\u2019s
\nwide-angle vision.\u201d66 If a person moves toward an animal from the front, the animal will move to
\nthe rear. On the other hand, if the animal is approached from the rear or side it will move forward
\nand in a circular motion around the approaching being. When moving animals try to move them
\nin small groups, rather than individually. Many animals cannot see directly behind themselves,
\nso caution should be used when approaching from the rear (Diagrams 2A and 2B).<\/p>\n
Farmers should avoid using electric prods because they usually agitate the animals more than
\nthey help in moving them along. By law, prods cannot carry a charge higher than 50 volts
\n(AC).67 In place of electric prods, handlers can use sticks with cloth on them. Large plastic
\npaddles can also be purchased for this use. Sticks and paddles should be used as extension of the
\narm, to direct–but never to hit–the animal.<\/p>\n
Dangling chains, bags, pipes, or similar items in the path of animals discourage their forward
\nmovement and will cause the animal to balk or turn back, away from the direction of travel.
\nReflections from metal or puddles of water can also distract animals and cause them to stop, as
\ncan out of place objects or movements.<\/p>\n
Handlers should always have an escape route when working with an animal in close quarters.
\nAlleys and chutes should be wide enough to allow animals to pass, but not wide enough to allow
\nthem to turn around. Solid wall chutes, instead of fencing, will lower the number of animals that
\nbalk in the chute. Animals move better if directed through a circular solid walled chute.
\nAppropriate handling equipment can speed up livestock confinement work operations, reduce
\ntime and labor requirements, cut costs, and decrease the risk of injury.<\/p>\n
Diagram 1: Flight Zone and Point of Balance<\/p>\n
Diagrams 2A and 2B: Animal Vision Area<\/p>\n
1. Systematic Approach
\nFSIS recommends the use of a \u201csystematic approach\u201d for working with slaughter animals. As
\noutlined in the FSIS notice entitled \u201cHumane Handling and Slaughter Requirements and the
\nMerits of a Systematic Approach to Meet Such Requirements,\u201d the four steps of this approach
\nare:<\/p>\n
1. Conduct an initial assessment of where, and under what circumstances, livestock may
\nexperience excitement, discomfort, or accidental injury while being handled in
\nconnection with slaughter, and of where, and under what circumstances, stunning
\nproblems may occur;<\/p>\n
2. Design facilities and implement practices that will minimize excitement, discomfort,
\nand accidental injury to livestock;<\/p>\n
3. Evaluate periodically the handling methods the establishment employs to ensure that
\nthose methods minimize excitement, discomfort, or accidental injury and evaluate those
\nstunning methods periodically to ensure that all livestock are rendered insensible to pain
\nby a single blow; and<\/p>\n
4. Respond to the evaluations, as appropriate, by addressing problems immediately and
\nby improving those practices and modifying facilities when necessary to minimize
\nexcitement, discomfort, and accidental injury to livestock.68<\/p>\n
FSIS provided additional guidance in 2011 in FSIS Directive 6900.2, Revision 2, including the
\nrecommendation to implement the aforementioned four steps in a \u201crobust way\u201d through a written
\nhandling program.69<\/p>\n
For a comprehensive overview of this topic, see the guide that FSIS released in 2013:
\nFSIS Compliance Guide for a Systemic Approach to Humane Handling of Livestock,
\nhttps:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/wps\/wcm\/connect\/da6cb63d-5818-4999-84f1
\n72e6dabb9501\/Comp-Guide-Systematic-Approach-Humane-Handling
\nLivestock.pdf?MOD=AJPERES<\/p>\n
Dr. Temple Grandin provides excellent resources on humane handling and
\ntransportation of slaughter animals on her website at Dr. Temple Grandin\u2019s Website:
\nLivestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane Slaughter,
\nhttp:\/\/www.grandin.com\/. Dr. Grandin also co-wrote the following very helpful guide:
\nTemple Grandin & North American Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee,
\nRecommended Animal Handling Guidelines & Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach to
\nAnimal Welfare (2017), http:\/\/animalhandling.org\/sites\/default\/files\/forms\/animal
\nhandling-guidelines-Nov32017.pdf.<\/p>\n
For more information on humane handling, see the following chapter from an FSIS
\nmanual: Humane Handling of Livestock and Good Commercial Practices in Poultry, in
\nLivestock Slaughter Inspection Training Manual (2017), https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/wps\/wcm\/connect\/f01f41d1-bc55-42f3-8880
\n991814f35533\/LSIT_HumaneHandling.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.70 See also Humane
\nHandling of Livestock (2008), http:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/PDF\/Humane_Handling_of_Livestock.pdf.
\nThere are also various certification programs relating to humane treatment. For more
\ninformation, see below in Part XV. \u201cCertification Programs and Product Claims.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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