New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 2 - AGRICULTURE
Chapter 8 - HUMANE TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK
Subchapter 2 - STANDARDS FOR CATTLE
Section 2:8-2.2 - Feeding
Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 2:8-2.2
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Each animal shall be assessed individually for purposes of determining compliance with the humane standards for cattle feeding set forth in this section. Compliance with these standards shall not be determined by averaging the treatment or condition in a herd or group of animals.
(b) Each animal must have daily access to sufficient and nutritious feed to allow for growth and maintenance of an adequate body condition, as determined according to the criteria set forth in (b)1 and 2 below.
1. Body condition
can be measured by direct measurement using a weight scale, when available, or by
indirect measurement using a weight tape, when available; or
2. The NJDA adopts and incorporates by reference
the following BCS methods:
i. For dairy cows,
(hereinafter referred to as BCS-Dairy) using the scoring method set forth in Patton
R.A., Bucholtz H.F., Schmidt M.K., and F.M. Hall, Body Condition Scoring--A
Management Tool, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, Michigan. September 1988. Copies of this document may be procured by
contacting Dr. Herbert Bucholtz, Professor, Dept. Animal Science, 2265 H Anthony
Hall, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: 517-355-8432; Fax:
517-432-0147; Email: bucholtz@msu.edu.
ii. For replacement dairy heifers, (hereinafter
referred to as BCS-heifers) using the scoring method set forth in Patton R.A.,
Bucholtz H.F., Schmidt M.K., and F.M. Hall, Body Condition Scoring--A management
Tool, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing,
Michigan, September 1988. Copies of this document may be procured by contacting Dr.
Herbert Bucholtz, Professor, Dept. Animal Science, 2265 H Anthony Hall, Michigan
State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: 517-355-8432; Fax: 517-432-0147;
Email: bucholtz@msu.edu.
iii. For beef
cattle, (hereinafter referred to as BCS-Beef) using the scoring method set forth in
Westendorf M.L. and R.C. Mickel, Beef Cow Condition Scoring (1994), Rutgers
Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers, The
State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Copies of this document
may be procured at
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS764.
iv. Other cattle for which such standards are not
published must meet or exceed an appearance comparable to the most appropriate BCS
above.
3. A copy of the
documents listed in (b)2 above is on file in the Director's Office, Division of
Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Health and Agriculture
Building, John Fitch Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.
4. Where the BCS methods identified in (b)2 above
are used, each animal shall maintain the minimum BCS score in (b)4i through iv
below. For purposes of (b)4i through iii below, a "reasonable period of time" refers
to the amount of time it would be expected to take to restore an animal to an
acceptable body condition, using diligent efforts to do so.
i. For dairy cows: a BCS of at least 2.0;
provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a reasonable
period of time, if stage or level of production, physiologic conditions, or other
factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's management is
being altered to improve the condition.
ii. For replacement dairy heifers: a BCS of at
least 2.0, provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a
reasonable period of time, if stage or level of growth, physiologic conditions, or
other factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's
management is being altered to improve the condition.
iii. For beef cattle: a BCS score of at least 2.0,
provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a reasonable
period of time, if stage or level of production, physiologic conditions, or other
factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's management is
being altered to improve its condition.
iv. A score of 1.0 is permitted at
slaughter.
5. If pasture
alone does not provide sufficient nutrition to adequately maintain the cattle's
BCS-dairy, BCS-heifer or BCS-beef, supplemental feeds must be provided in sufficient
amounts to maintain the minimum acceptable BCS.
6. Cattle unable to maintain a BCS which meets the
minimum score set forth in (b)2 and 3 above, due to group feeding practices, must be
fed in a manner that allows the cattle to maintain an adequate BCS.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Jersey may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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