Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a)
The following are general provisions for the safe and humane handling and
transportation of fallow deer:
(1) Deer shall
be handled humanely and quietly, with care and patience.
(2) Persons handling or transporting deer
shall be knowledgeable about deer behavior and welfare and shall comply with
these regulations.
(3) It is
recommended but not required that groups of deer intended for shipment be
allowed to establish social relationships before loading.
(4) It is recommended but not required that
transportation of deer be by the most direct and appropriate route from point
of origin to final destination and be completed without delay.
(5) All rooms, compartments, alleyways,
ramps, chutes and doors used for transporting, moving, and holding deer shall
be free from dangerous projections, such as nails and bolts, and sharp edges
that might cause pain and/or injury.
(6) All rooms, pens, compartments, alleyways,
ramps, chutes and doors used for transporting, moving, and holding deer shall
be constructed in a way that prevents deer from jumping out of the
area.
(7) All rooms, vehicle
compartments, pens, alleyways, ramps and chutes used for transporting, moving,
and holding deer shall have secure footing and shall be properly
drained.
(8) If deer are held
longer than one hour, clean bedding material shall be provided in deer areas in
transportation vehicles and in holding pens. Deer held in excess of 24 hours
shall be provided new or additional clean bedding.
(9) There shall be no gaps between floors and
walls, ramps and vehicles, gates and walls or other such objects which would
probably result in injury to deer.
(10) Downers (deer unable to stand even with
assistance) shall not be brought onto a custom livestock slaughter
establishment premises, unless they became disabled during transport to the
establishment. In that case, they shall be immediately stunned on the vehicle
and removed from the vehicle and bled prior to regaining
consciousness.
(b)
Loading Equipment. All ramps, chutes, doors, and gates used for loading and
unloading deer shall be constructed and maintained in a manner that prevents
injury or suffering.
(1) Doors and gates shall
be sufficiently wide to permit deer to pass through readily, without bruising
or injury.
(2) The bottom edge of
drop gates shall be padded.
(c) Transportation Vehicles. Vehicles used to
transport deer shall permit easy loading and unloading and shall provide for
the safety of deer and personnel during loading, transport and unloading.
(1) Vehicles shall be constructed in a manner
that prevents injury to deer, including ensuring that no deer limbs or heads
can project from the vehicle.
(2)
Vehicles shall have doors that close firmly and securely.
(3) Vehicles shall be constructed to provide
deer with adequate ventilation at all times, while avoiding drafts. Care shall
be taken to minimize entry of vehicle exhaust into areas containing
deer.
(4) If deer are kept in the
transport vehicle for greater than one hour, sufficient floor space to allow
all animals to lie down comfortably at the same time shall be
provided.
(5) Deer shall be loaded
only into vehicles that are clean.
(6) Deer shall be protected from extremes of
temperature during transport.
(d) Water and Feed. Deer shall be fed and
watered before loading for transport. For trips longer than 12 hours, feed and
water shall be provided every four hours. Holding pens shall provide deer with
access to clean water at all times and with feed if they are held in excess of
12 hours.
(e) Unloading. Deer shall
be unloaded as soon as it is reasonable and practical to do so upon arrival at
the custom livestock slaughter establishment, but not later than 12 hours after
arrival.
(f) Humane Handling at
Custom Livestock Slaughter Establishments. Operators of all custom livestock
slaughter establishments are responsible for humane handling of deer on the
plant premises.
(1) Sufficient pens shall be
provided to prevent overcrowding, to permit necessary segregation of animals,
and to enable all animals to lie down at the same time.
(2) Deer pens shall be segregated from those
holding other species of food animals.
(3) Holding facilities shall protect deer
adequately from the elements.
(4)
Holding pens shall be adequately ventilated to minimize stress to animals and
to prevent excessive accumulation of odors and condensation.
(5) Deer that are sick, injured, or disabled
shall immediately be separated from healthy animals.
(6) Objects that might cause pain and/or
injury, such as sticks, boards, canes, or electric prods, shall not be used on
deer. However, a staff or similar object may be used judiciously to assist in
guiding deer or for safety when handling larger or aggressive
deer.
1.
Renumbering and amendment of former sections
950,
951,
952,
953,
954 and
955 to new section 906.1 filed
5-31-2007; operative 6-30-2007 (Register 2007, No. 22).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
18960
and
18963,
Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Section
18963,
Food and Agricultural Code.
