USDA Regulations for Slaughter Houses
The United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and World Organization for Animal Health regulates most slaughterhouses in the United States. Meats raised for human consumption that are regulated by the USDA are cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, deer, horses, pigs, ratites (flightless birds) and poultry. Additionally, the USDA regulates personnel employed by slaughterhouses, as well as pre-slaughter methods used in the production of meat for human consumption.
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Personel Employed by Slaughterhouses
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The USDA and World Organization for Animal Health requires that a veterinarian be on site at all times and that personnel handling, herding, stunning, moving, transporting, or otherwise working with live animals be patient, considerate, competent, and familiar with USDA guidelines. Additionally, all handlers must be experienced and knowledgeable with the animals behavior patterns.
Pre-Slaughter Regulations
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Pre-slaughter regulations are mainly concerned with transporting, herding, and gating animals to be slaughtered. Moreover, each animal is inspected for illness, disease, injury, and welfare before they are taken into the slaughtering facility. Any animal that is suspect of disease or illness is killed immediately.
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Slaughter Regulations
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Slaughter regulations take into consideration the type of animal and its behavior. For example, equipment used for chickens differ from equipment used for cattle; however, all equipment and procedures used at the time of slaughter are designed to kill without unnecessary harm or distress to the animal. Furthermore, animals in groups or herds are not restrained and the positioning of individual animals must be upright.
Gates, Pens, and Walkways
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USDA and the World Organization for Animal Health regulates that gates, pens and walkways are free from distractions that can cause animals to balk, stop, or turn around while they are being herded. For example, lights, reflections or the sound of equipment must not cause or result in the animal fleeing or becoming distressed. Also, the use of restraints and equipment such as yokes and herding chutes must not cause the animal to struggle or vocalize due to excessive force or pressure.
Stunning Procedure Regulations
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Stunning procedures are used to only kill animals in slaughterhouses, but they are regulated. The stunning regulations by the USDA provide by the state that stunning equipment span the brain, be cleaned regularly, and have the required level of electrical current to stun the animal within one second. Stunning equipment is strictly prohibited in the moving, guiding, or herding of live animals. Dr. Temple Grandin's website discusses in depth handling and stunning practices used to regulate USDA guidelines.
Considerations
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The regulations set for the slaughter of animals for non-human consumption may differ from those set by the USDA for animals intended for human consumption.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cow image by david purday from Fotolia.com
