Humane Handling

UPDATE: MARCH 6, 2008

Q. How are animals inspected on ante-mortem at slaughterhouses?

A. Every head of livestock is inspected ante-mortem, before slaughter, by a Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) or other inspection personnel.

The PHV or other FSIS in-plant inspectors randomly verify, during each shift, plant humane handling practices before, during and after ante-mortem inspection and will take immediate control action if inhumane handling is observed.

FSIS recognizes that plant employees might be aware of the presence of inspection program personnel, so inspectors are instructed to conduct humane handling verification activities in a way that they are not in plain view of plant employees, when possible.

During ante-mortem inspection, an animal will be condemned once the PHV has determined the animal to be non-ambulatory disabled.

The PHV may, on a case by case basis, can make a determination on whether an animal can proceed to slaughter if the animal becomes non-ambulatory after ante-mortem inspection has been performed.

Q. How does FSIS enforce humane handling violations?

A. In 2007, FSIS issued a total of 66 suspensions to federally inspected establishments, 18 percent (12 suspensions) of which were for egregious humane handling violations witnessed by inspection program personnel.

A suspension is an administrative action during which FSIS suspends the assignment of inspection personnel, which effectively shuts down all or part of the plant's operations.

Humane handling violations might occur and FSIS inspection program personnel are trained to identify these behaviors and act immediately if they witness animals being handled in an inhumane manner.

Note: After more thorough analysis of existing data, the following information has been updated:

Of 6,200 federally inspected establishments, approximately 800 slaughter livestock and are therefore subject to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. In 2007, FSIS conducted approximately 125,099 humane handling verification activities resulting in 524 noncompliance records (0.42 percent noncompliance rate) at federally inspected slaughter facilities. Noncompliance records for humane handling may be issued when the violation is less than egregious, such as not having water available in pens.

Q. How is the FSIS workforce able to enforce humane handling violations?

A. In 2002, FSIS appointed a District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) to each District Office to serve as the liaison between the district office and headquarters on all humane handling matters.

The DVMS serves as the primary contact in each district for humane handling and is the liaison between the district office and headquarters on all humane handling and good commercial practice matters.

In Fiscal Year 2007 approximately 600 DVMS correlation visits occurred at slaughter plants. Correlation visits are used to make an assessment of a plant's humane handling activities and to determine FSIS personnel's knowledge and appropriate application of humane handling verification procedures.

Q. What training is provided to FSIS veterinarians and inspectors?

A. DVMS personnel provide training for new veterinary employees on Agency humane handling and slaughter regulatory responsibilities, including ante-mortem inspection (before slaughter). Additionally, these specialists are responsible for on-site coordination of nationally prescribed humane slaughter procedures, verification of humane handling activities, good commercial practices and correlation of information in directives, notices, and other information from headquarters through the district office to Public Health Veterinarians in the field. Inspectors are provided on the job and classroom training.

Q. Are electric prods or other devices eligible for use on live animals?

A. Electric prodding devices are common handling tools and are humane when properly used. Electric prodding devices should be used minimally and in a humane manner on ambulatory animals.

The Agency considers it unacceptable and inhumane to repeatedly prod a non-ambulatory animal in any manner.

Mechanical means, such as by forklift, to elevate an animal is not considered humane, and would be considered egregious inhumane treatment.

FSIS can take immediate regulatory action and suspend inspection if inspection program personnel observe egregious violations of humane handling, thereby prohibiting the establishment from operating until they correct the problem.