AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition Members of the Panel on Humane Slaughter Steven Leary, DVM, DACLAM (Chair); Washington University, St Louis, Missouri Wendy Underwood, DVM, DACVIM (Vice Chair); Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana Raymond Anthony, PhD (Ethicist); University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska Douglas Corey, DVM (Equine Working Group); Associated Veterinary Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington Temple Grandin, PhD (Physical Methods Working Group); Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT (Noninhaled Agents Working Group); Veterinary Information Network, Mahomet, Illinois Robert Meyer, DVM, DACVAA (Inhaled Agents Working Group); Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi Joe Regenstein, PhD (Religious/Ritual Slaughter); Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Jan Shearer, DVM, DACAW (Animals Farmed for Food and Fiber Working Group); Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa Stephen A. Smith, DVM, PhD (Aquatics Working Group); Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia AVMA Staff Consultants Gail C. Golab, PhD, DVM, MANZCVS, DACAW; Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer, Advocacy and Public Policy SBU Cia Johnson, DVM, MS; Director, Animal Welfare Division AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition 1 Copyright © 2016 by the American Veterinary Medical Association 1931 N. Meacham Road Schaumburg, IL 60173 The AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition (“work”) is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/3.0/). You are free to share, copy, distribute, or transmit the work, provided that proper attribution to the American Veterinary Medical Association is included (but not in any way that suggests that the AVMA endorses you or your use of the work). You may not use this work for commercial purposes, including without limitation any sale of the work, or modify or change the work in any way, or creative derivative works from it without the permission from the American Veterinary Medical Association. ISBN 978-1-882691-07-4 Version 2016.0.1 2 AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition CONTENTS Part I—Introduction D2.2.1 CAS Live Unloading ............................ 20 I1. Historical Context, Membership of the Panel, D2.2.2 CAS or LAPS in Transport and Notes on the Current Edition ................. 6 Containers .......................................... 20 I2. Statement of Use ............................................... 6 D2.2.3 Types of CAS and LAPS Chamber I3. Evaluating Slaughter Methods .......................... 6 Equipment .......................................... 20 I4. Stress and Distress, Unconsciousness, Anesthetized on the Truck .................. 20 and Pain ............................................................ 7 Drawers Moved Through a Tunnel ..... 20 I5. Animal Behavioral Considerations ................... 9 LAPS System ....................................... 20 I6. Human Behavioral Considerations ................... 9 D2.2.4 Detection of Problems With CAS or I7. References ....................................................... 10 LAPS of Poultry .................................. 20 D2.2.5 Correction of Problems With CAS or Part II—History of Regulations, Industry LAPS ................................................... 21 Guidance and Employee Training D2.3 Step 3A—Removal of Birds From CAS or in the United States LAPS Chamber ......................................... 21 H1. History of Regulation of Slaughter in the D2.4 Step 2B—Birds Moved to Stunning Area United States ................................................... 11 for Electric Stunning ................................ 21 H2. Enforcement of Humane Slaughter in the D2.4.1 Detection of Problems During United States ................................................... 11 Unloading and Shackling for Electric H3. Auditing by Private Industry .......................12 Stunning .............................................. 21 H3.1 Clear Comments .................................... 12 D2.4.2 Correction of Problems During H3.2 Video Auditing by Industry ................... 13 Unloading and Shackling For Electric H4. References ....................................................... 13 Stunning ............................................. 21 D2.5 Step 3B—Electric Stunning ...................... 21 Part III—Design of Facilities and D2.5.1 Detection of Problems During Slaughter Process Electric Stunning of Poultry ................ 21 D1. Handling Procedures at Slaughter Plants for D2.5.2 Correction of Problems With Electric Hoofstock ....................................................... 14 Stunning ............................................. 21 D1.1 Step 1—Arrival at the Plant ..................... 14 D3. References .......................................................... 22 D1.1.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 14 D1.1.2 Corrective Action for Problems .......... 14 Part IV—Techniques D1.2 Step 2—Unloading ................................... 14 T1. Atmospheric Methods ..................................... 24 D1.2.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 14 T1.1 Controlled Atmosphere .........................24 D1.2.2 Corrective Action for Problems .......... 15 T1.1.1 CAS Design .......................................... 25 D1.3 Step 3—Receiving .................................... 15 Detection of Problems ......................... 26 D1.3.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 15 Corrective Action for Problems ............ 26 D1.3.2 Corrective Actions for Problems ......... 15 T1.1.2 Conclusions ......................................... 26 D1.4 Step 4—Lairage ........................................ 15 T1.2 Low Atmospheric Pressure ....................... 26 D1.4.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 16 T1.2.1 Conclusions ......................................... 27 D1.4.2 Corrective Actions for Problems ......... 16 T2. Physical Methods ........................................ 28 D1.5 Step 5—Handling System......................... 16 T2.1 Concussive ............................................. 28 D1.5.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 16 T2.1.1 Penetrating Captive Bolt Guns .......... 28 D1.5.2 Corrective Actions for Handling General Recommendations ............... 28 Problems ............................................ 17 Detection of Problems ....................... 28 D1.6 Step 6—Restraint ..................................... 18 Corrective Action for Problems ......... 28 D1.6.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 18 T2.1.2 Nonpenetrating Captive Bolt Guns ... 29 D1.7 Conditions That Cause Welfare Detection of Problems ....................... 29 Problems .................................................. 19 Corrective Action for Problems ......... 29 D2. Handling Procedures at Slaughter Plants T2.1.3 Gunshot ............................................ 29 for Poultry ...................................................... 19 Basic Principles of Firearms .............. 29 D2.1 Step 1—Electric Stunning, CAS, and Muzzle Energy Requirements ............ 30 LAPS: Arrival and Lairage ........................ 19 Bullet Selection .................................. 30 D2.1.1 Detection of Problems ......................... 20 Firearm Safety ................................... 31 D2.1.2 Corrective Action for Problems .......... 20 Detection of Problems ....................... 31 D2.1.3 Handling and Stunning ....................... 20 Corrective Action for Problems ......... 31 D2.2 Step 2A—Birds Moved to Stunning Area Anatomic Landmarks for Use of the and Stunning With CAS and LAPS .......... 20 Penetrating Captive Bolt and Gunshot ...32 AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition 3 CONTENTS T2.2 Electric...................................................... 33 U4.4 Conclusions ............................................. 52 T2.2.1 Principles ............................................. 34 U5. Handling and Slaughter of Ratites ..................... 52 T2.2.2 Methods ............................................... 35 U6. Handling and Slaughter of Alligators ................. 54 T2.2.3 Signs of Effective Stunning .................. 35 U7. References ........................................................... 54 T2.2.4 General Recommendations ................. 36 Meat Quality ........................................ 36 Part VI—Design of Facilities and Slaughter Cattle ................................................... 36 Process for Religious Slaughter Pigs and Small Ruminants ................... 36 R1. Handling Procedures at Slaughter Plants for Poultry ................................................. 37 Hoofstock ........................................................ 59 T2.2.5 Detection of Problems ......................... 38 R1.1 Step 1—Arrival at the Plant ...................... 59 T2.2.6 Corrective Action for Problems ........... 38 R1.2 Step 2—Unloading ................................... 59 T2.3 Other Physical Methods ........................... 39 R1.3 Step 3—Receiving..................................... 59 T2.3.1 Decapitation ........................................ 39 R1.4 Step 4—Lairage ........................................ 59 T2.3.2 Cervical Dislocation ............................ 39 R1.5 Step 5—Handling System ........................