Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Chapter 348 - POULTRY SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING WITH GROWER/PRODUCER EXEMPTION
Appendix 001-348-A - HUMANE HANDLING & SLAUGHTER GUIDELINES FOR BROILERS, TURKEYS AND OTHER FOWL
Good Commercial Practices
Based on recommendations from:
NATIONAL CHICKEN COUNCIL
ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDELINES FOR BROILERS
January 28, 2010
NATIONAL CHICKEN COUNCIL
1015 15TH Street NW Suite 930
Washington DC 20005
phone (202) 296-2622
fax (202) 293-4005
AND
ANIMAL WELFARE APPROVED (AWA)
WELFARE STANDARDS FOR CHICKEN, TURKEY, DUCK
2010
ANIMAL WELFARE APPROVED
1007 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
202-564-5292
FAX: 202-446-2151
Preface
Under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), all live poultry must be handled in a manner that is consistent with good commercial practices, which means they should be treated humanely. Poultry product resulting from birds that are killed in a manner that is not consistent with good commercial practices, is considered adulterated under the PPIA.
The following guidelines are consistent with good commercial practices, and are to be used to assure the humane treatment of poultry, and to promote the production of quality poultry products.
Humane Handling During Catching
1. The producer has a person in charge of promoting animal welfare and adherence to these Guidelines.
2. Feed is withdrawn up to 8 hours prior to transport but not exceed 24 hours prior to slaughter. Water is continuously available until the birds are crated.
3. Birds are crated immediately prior to loading.
4. Unfit animals are not transported, and are euthanized the same day, at the farm, by trained individuals.
5. Employees of the producer are trained before handling live birds. A training program is conducted annually for all employees involved in handling live poultry (multi-lingual if necessary).
6. Supervisors of producer catching crews have the responsibility for training crew members in handling of birds so as to minimize injury to the birds.
7. Whenever birds are handled for any reason, handling is accomplished in such a manner as to avoid injuries. Abuse of the birds is not tolerated under any circumstances. Chickens are not dragged, kicked, or mishandled in any way.
8. Catchers are not to catch or carry birds by the wings, necks or head, and are not to throw them or step on them.
9. Chickens are caught calmly and with a minimum of chasing. It is recommended that birds be caught in dimmed light to minimize the stress for the birds.
10. If chickens are to be picked up by the legs, they will be held by both legs without crossing the birds' legs. Catchers are not to carry more than two birds in one hand.
11. The producer monitors birds for wing and leg damage.
12. Transport coops:
a) Are appropriately sized to permit the birds to sit during transport without being on top of one another (in a single layer)
b) Are designed to prevent chickens' toes and heads from being injured.
c) Are in good repair so that birds cannot be injured or escape during transit.
d) Have doors large enough for the chickens to be easily loaded and removed from the crates.
e) Have solid floors.
f) Are cleaned and sanitized between each group of birds.
g) Are monitored and repaired.
13. Transport density:
a) Will not exceed 12 lbs per square foot in weather below 60º F.
b) Will not exceed 10 lbs per square foot in weather above 60 ºF.
Humane Handling During Transport (not applicable for Grower-Producer Exemption who must slaughter on their own premises, in their own facilities, and therefore not transport to another slaughterhouse)
1. Truck drivers transporting chickens will maintain a log:
a) To record loading start and end times
b) To record departure and arrival times
c) To record reasons for and duration of any stops or delays enroute
d) Keep either a master log, or the truck logs are turned in to a central location for review
2. The truck driver will protect birds from extremes of heat and cold during transportation, with a ceiling or trailer cover if truck is open.
3. Transport is designed to minimize the time from catching to plant.
4. Transport to slaughter facility will not exceed 4 hours.
5. Alternatives are in place in case of traffic delays or road closures.
6. There is a clear, written procedure for the driver to follow in case of a crash or emergency enroute to include:
a) actions taken by the driver and a clear point at which he should call for assistance.
b) driver has an emergency number that will reach the staff poultry scientist or farmer
c) staff poultry scientist or farmer will initiate logistic actions that could include getting a replacement truck to the scene, getting a crew to the scene to reload the birds and designating a person responsible for euthanizing or separating injured birds.
7. The number of birds dead-on-arrival (DOA) at the plant are minimized. Greater than 0.5% DOAs will require a corrective action.
Humane Handling During Unloading, Holding and Prior to Stunning
1. The poultry processing facility has a person in charge of promoting animal welfare and adherence to these Guidelines.
2. Employees of the processing facility are trained before handling live birds. A training program is conducted annually for all employees involved in handling live poultry (multi-lingual if necessary).
3. Whenever birds are handled for any reason, handling is accomplished in such a manner as to avoid injuries. Abuse of the birds is not tolerated under any circumstances. There will be no inappropriate handling or employee misbehavior.
4. Processing facility supervisors have the responsibility for training crew members in handling of birds so as to minimize injury to the birds.
5. If chickens are to be picked up by the legs, they will be held by both legs without crossing the birds' legs. Catchers are not to carry more than two birds in one hand.
6. Catchers are not to catch or carry birds by the wings, necks or head, and are not to throw them or step on them.
7. The person delivering the birds to slaughter will stay with the birds to ensure that they are handled according to guidelines.
8. In the event of a utility outage, mechanical breakdown, or some other event that dictates that not all the birds moved to the processing facility can be processed, measures are taken to make the birds comfortable. Rehousing birds is stressful and is considered only in extreme situations.
9. Holding times are kept to the minimum consistent with good processing practices, not to exceed 15 hrs.
10. Feed withdrawal should not exceed 24 hours prior to slaughter.
11. The processing facility has a program and equipment for keeping birds comfortable in covered holding sheds.
a. The holding facility is designed to keep the birds dry, shaded and cool in the summer, warm in the winter.
b. Procedures are in place to retrieve loose birds in a timely manner.
12. If the processing facility employs mechanical catching systems it will develop protocols to ensure humane handling of birds. The goal is to ensure that mechanical catching is at least equal to hand-catching in terms of bruises and injuries.
13. No live bird will enter the DOA bin.
14. Unloading:
a. Cages are lifted and moved from trailers in a manner not to injure birds
b. The unloading and conveyor system is designed to avoid injury to birds.
c. Birds are not unloaded on top of other birds.
d. Conveyors have sufficient space and no obstructions.
e. Birds remaining in cages are carefully removed.
f. Birds are not handled by the wings.
15. Best management technology, such as adjustment of light levels, is in use to help keep birds calm. Birds will be unloaded in a dimly lit room.
16. Birds must be unloaded and slaughtered within 2 hrs of arrival at the slaughterhouse.
17. Crates will be unloaded in an upright position and will be handled with care to ensure they are not tipped.
18. Personnel and equipment will handle birds in a manner that minimizes broken legs and wings. A program is in place to monitor wing and leg damage.
a. Broken wings and legs are monitored, preferably before the stunner; however, immediately after the stunner is also acceptable.
b. There will be less than 3% broken or dislocated wings. Greater than 5% broken or dislocated wings requires a corrective action.
c. Corrective action is required if there are more than 2 broken legs per 500 birds.
Humane Handling During Stunning and Killing
1. Killing of birds without prior stunning is prohibited.
2. Stunning will render the birds immediately insensible to pain.
3. Methods of stunning included in good commercial practices:
a. Controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK), poultry remain in crates and oxygen is slowly replaced by a mixture of argon and/or nitrogen and carbon dioxide, is the preferred method of killing prior to bleed-out.
b. Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS), poultry remain in crates and oxygen is slowly replaced by carbon dioxide, is the preferred method of stunning prior to kill and bleed-out.
c. Rapid cervical dislocation prior to kill and bleed-out.
d. Single, sharp blow to the head prior to kill and bleed-out.
e. Electric stunning knife to induce a post-stun posture that includes arched neck and wings tucked as visual evidence of an effective stun, prior to kill and bleed-out.
4. Stunning equipment is monitored to insure proper function
5. Cones may be used to restrain birds prior to stunning. Birds will not leave the cones until dead.
6. Automatic knife used after an accepted method of stunning is effective to cut vessels and induce bleed-out.
7. All birds are dead before entering the scalder. [Evidence that a live bird entered the scalder consists only in a finding after the picker that the bird's carotid arteries were not cut.]
8. Personnel and equipment will handle birds in a manner that minimizes broken legs and wings. A program is in place to monitor wing and leg damage.
a. Broken wings and legs are monitored, preferably before the stunner; however, immediately after the stunner is also acceptable.
b. There will be less than 3% broken or dislocated wings. Greater than 5% broken or dislocated wings requires a corrective action.
c. Corrective action is required if there are more than 2 broken legs per 500 birds.
9. Any live birds culled at the processing facility will be euthanized by:
a. Controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK), poultry remain in crates and oxygen is slowly replaced by a mixture of argon and/or nitrogen and carbon dioxide, the preferred method for killing.
b. Rapid cervical dislocation
c. Any other American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or American Humane Association (AHA) approved method.
