Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XXI - Animals and Animal Health
Chapter 21 - Animal Care Standards for Bovine, Equine, Poultry, Porcine, Ovine, and Caprine (Formerly Chapter 31)
Section XXI-2101 - Definitions (Formerly Section 3101)

A. In addition to the definitions listed below, and unless otherwise provided, the definitions in §101 of this Part shall apply to this Chapter.

B. The terms defined in this Chapter have the meanings given to them in this Section, except where the context expressly indicates otherwise.

C. Terms Defined in this Section

Ambulatory -state of biological function where an animal is capable of walking without pain for an extended period of time.

Animal Care and Well-Being Plan -a program or method for providing or ensuring that an animal's basic needs are met to maintain their health, biological function, and physical and behavioral needs.

Animal Health -physical state of an animal.

Animal Husbandry -the branch of agriculture concerned with the care and breeding of domestic animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep.

Animal Husbandry Procedures -a way of performing or effecting the care and breeding of livestock.

Beef Quality Assurance Guidelines (BQA) -accepted production standards for quality and safety, including biosecurity, animal health and well-being, production performance and environmental stewardship, that are appropriate to an operation and which can be met or exceeded in an objective manner.

Behavioral Needs -a particular animal's need to express behaviors given their species, age, sex, and physiologic state.

Biosecurity -preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, parasites and pests.

Body Condition -refers to the health or physical fitness of the animal.

Body Condition Score (BCS) -accepted management tool used by producers, veterinarians, extension personnel, and researchers to evaluate the nutritional level of livestock based on a numerical scale.

Conspecific Aggression -hostile actions or fighting among a group of animals of the same species.

Discomfort -unpleasant sensations other than pain caused by a disruption of normal biologic function or psychological needs.

Disease -pathologic condition of any part of an animal's biology.

Distress -state of mental or physical pain, intense anxiety, or suffering affecting the animal that may require immediate attention.

Electric Stunning -application of high amperage current passed through the brain which renders the animal instantly unconscious.

Electro-Immobilization -use of electricity to immobilize and paralyze animals that does not render them unconscious or insensible to pain.

Euthanasia -intentional causing humane death of an animal in order to relieve pain and suffering.

Facility -premises or something such as a fenced in area or a structure or structures constructed to serve a function related to livestock.

Good Animal Health -having good biological function and being free of disease and injury.

Handling -actions involving hands on treatment of livestock such as loading or unloading, restraining, or moving animals in a pen or chute.

Health -normal biologic and physiologic function free of disease.

Heat or Cold Stress -external temperature and/or humidity causing change of an animal's physiologic function and/or causing distress.

Humane Death -when an animal dies with minimum pain and suffering that may result through utilization of methods such as inhalant agents, injectable euthanasia agents, or other physical methods.

Humane Treatment -care an animal receives with the intention and result of promoting animal health as balanced with considerations of human health, food safety, and animal production.

Injury -disruption of tissue causing pain or impaired function.

Insensible -unable to perceive any stimulus or having no cortical brain function.

Knowledge -having an awareness of scientifically valid facts regarding animal health and animal husbandry and the ability to apply these facts so as to ensure the care and well-being of animals.

LDAF -Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Livestock -bovine, equine, porcine, ovine, caprine, and poultry used for show, profit, selling, or producing crops, plant or animal products for market.

Livestock Personnel -producer or person in charge of animals.

Mass Euthanasia -putting to death populations of animals in unusual conditions such as wide spread disease eradication and circumstances resulting from natural disasters, as authorized by the state veterinarian.

Minimize Heat Stress -systems utilizing one or more of the following to reduce the negative impact on animals due to heat stress- shade, facility design to improve air flow and ambient temperature from outside temperature and airflow, fans or forced air movement, water cooling systems such as misters, evaporative cooling systems, and climate controlled air conditioning.

Minimize Pain and Distress -actions taken to reduce or eliminate those stimuli resulting in pain or distress.

National Chicken Council (NCC) Guidelines -industry standard program for assessment of animal programs and practices in broiler and broiler breeder operations.

Pain -unpleasant stimulus associated with actual or potential tissue damage that is perceived as unpleasant.

Parturition -act of giving birth (i.e. calving, foaling, lambing, farrowing).

Person in Charge -person who has animal(s) under his supervision or control.

Physiologic Requirements -conditions needed to maintain an animal's normal body function given their physical, metabolic, and hormonal demands.

Physiologic State -functioning of an animal's body, including its current body systems, metabolism, and homeostasis.

Practical -method or technology which is easily available and economically viable as determined by acceptable standards.

Producer -person who owns and is responsible for the care of livestock that are raised for home use or for profit, especially on a farm.

Rapid Loss of Consciousness -that which causes an animal to lose consciousness within 60 seconds.

Remedial Action -any action taken to provide care, nutrition, treatment, veterinary treatment, or other action in order to eliminate the cause of compromised animal health.

Shelter -physical object or construct that provides protection from weather and climate to a specific animal; shelter may include manmade constructions, variations in the topography of land, plants, trees, and shrubbery as conditions may require.

Stress -reaction by an animal to an uncomfortable or unfamiliar physical or psychological stimulus that may include an increased state of alertness, anxiety, increased heart rate, or sweating.

Sufficient -enough to meet the physiological needs of the animal (i.e. adequate nutrition to maintain an average BCS).

Supervision -act or having the responsibility to ensure an animal is provided care.

Timely Manner -soon enough that is not too late.

Veterinary Treatment -procedure or care performed by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.