Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Agriculture and Food
Title R58 - Animal Industry
Rule R58-11 - Slaughter of Livestock and Poultry
Section R58-11-6 - Slaughtering Procedures of Livestock

Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 58-11-6

Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024

License holders shall ensure the following procedures are followed:

(1) Slaughter Area

(a) Slaughtering may not take place under adverse conditions such as blowing dirt, dust, or in mud.

(b) If a slaughter area is used for repeated kills, the area should be maintained to prevent blood from collecting, running off on to adjacent property, or contaminating a water source.

(c) Hides, viscera, blood, pounch material, and tissue shall be removed and disposed at a rendering facility, landfill, composting, or by burial as allowed by law.

(2) Humane Slaughter. Each animal shall be rendered insensible to pain by a single blow, or gun shot or electrical shock, or other means that is instantaneous and effective before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast or cut.

(3) Hoisting and Bleeding. Each animal shall be hoisted and bled as soon after stunning as possible to utilize post-stunning heart action and to obtain complete bleeding. Carcasses shall be moved away from the bleeding area for skinning and butchering.

(4) Skinning. Carcass and head skin shall be handled without neck tissue contamination. This may be done by leaving the ears on the hide and tying the head skin. Feet shall be removed before carcass is otherwise cut. Except for skinning and starting skinning procedures, skin should be cut from inside outward to prevent carcass contamination with cut hair. Hair side of hide should be carefully rolled or reflected away from carcass during skinning. When carcass is moved from skinning bed, caution should be taken to prevent exposed parts from coming in contact with adulterating surfaces.

(5) Evisceration. Before evisceration, rectum shall be tied to include bladder neck and to prevent urine and fecal leakage. Care should also be taken while opening abdominal cavities to prevent carcass or viscera contamination.

(6) Carcass washing. Hair, dirt, and other accidental contamination should be trimmed prior to washing. Washing should proceed from the carcass top downward to move away any possible contaminants from clean areas.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah 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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