National Organic Standards Board

Livestock Committee

Proposed Recommendation

Animal Handling, Transport, and Slaughter

March 1, 2011

Introduction

Humane and respectful treatment of animals is a basic principle of organic production. The 

Livestock Committee of the NOSB feels that appropriate and effective expanded regulations, 

based on social, ethical, and scientific evidence, are necessary to ensure that animal welfare 

considerations are upheld. The Livestock Committee recommends the addition of 

§ 205.241 Humane handling, transport and slaughter: general conditions of animal 

welfare in handling and slaughter to move towards a comprehensive animal welfare 

program in certified organic operations. 

Background

The Livestock Committee presented a discussion document on handling, transport, and 

slaughter was presented at the October 2010 meeting. The Committee took the public 

comments into consideration while crafting this recommendation. The recommended 

regulatory language reflects current industry standards in practice due to separate animal 

welfare certification programs, which are verified by their party audits. The only additional 

proposed regulatory language included in this recommendation is intended to guard against 

slaughter plant abuse of newborn calves, an issue that has recently been in the public 

spotlight. Transporters and slaughter plants which accept organic livestock are already 

meeting the listed organic requirements. 

Relevant Areas in the Rule

USDA organic regulations do not currently specifically cover animal handling, transport, and 

slaughter. Therefore, the Livestock Committee is recommending the addition of a new section 

titled § 205.241: Humane handling, transport, and slaughter. 

Discussion 

Fitness for transport. To avoid the need to cull unfit animals at slaughter, it is essential that 

only fit animals be loaded for transport. Unfit cull animals are one of the biggest problems 

encountered at slaughter plants. Although this shouldn’t be considered a comprehensive list, 

animals are unfit for transport if they are any of the following: blind, disabled, fatigued, sick, 

injured, lame, weak, have unhealed wounds, are within the final 10% of their gestation, or are 

less than 48 hours old. Additionally, animals that are aggressive, wild, or have had little 

contact with humans will require good handlers, chutes, and corrals to reduce the stress of 

transport and confinement. The NOSB intends to create clear and concise guidance 
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documents to assist farmers, certifiers, and others decision-makers regarding fitness for 

transport. 

Young calves. Language protecting young calves will be new to the animal industry. In many 

areas of the country, there is no market for raising dairy bull calves for beef. These calves 

have little value and are therefore sent to slaughter at the earliest-possible age. Bull calves 

should be fed and managed as heifer calves on farm and must be strong enough for transport 

before being shipped. 

Transport conditions. To ensure continued health and comfort during transport, all shipping 

containers must have seasonally-appropriate ventilation, bedding (as needed), and non-slip 

flooring. All consumable bedding must be certified organic. If transport time exceeds 12 hours, 

arrangements must be made to provide food, water and rest. Additionally, emergency plans for 

animal care and alternative transport must be in place to cover unforeseen circumstances, 

such as accidents or truck breakdown. 

Certification of transporters. At the October 2010 meeting, the NOSB passed a 

recommendation to clarify the limitations of § 205.101(b), which states that handling operations 

must be certified unless they are enclosed in a container prior to being received by the 

operation and that they remain in the same container and are not otherwise processed while in 

control of the handling operation. Since these conditions are not met for the transportation of 

livestock, it is the NOSB’s intention that these operations would need to be certified in order to 

transport livestock. 

Animal handling. Slaughter plant staff must be available after hours as needed to receive 

livestock. Animals are to be treated in a calm, quiet, and humane manner, which reduces 

stress and incidences of bruising and injury. Additionally, lighting must be adequate in order to 

identify and/or mange ill or injured livestock. 

 

Slaughter. The recommended language below is intended to ensure that animals are handled 

humanely and with respect throughout the slaughter process. Electric prods and euthanasia 

equipment must be stored in a clean, dry location. Prods are to be used solely by trained staff 

for medical purposes only, typically to save down animals. If an animal does not attempt to rise 

after being shocked once, it is to be moved immediately and humanely to a safe resting place 

or euthanized; it is not to be shocked a second time. If the animal makes one or two 

unsuccessful attempts to rise after being shocked, a second or third shock may be applied to 

the animal after a rest period. For each attempt, human assistance must be provided to help 

the animal to its feet. Additionally, sand or lime should be applied to the flooring as necessary 

to provide increased traction. If the animal is not on its feet after a third shock, it is to be 

moved immediately and humanely to a safe resting place or euthanized. 

Slaughter plant audits. Audits of slaughter plants provide confirmation that animals are being 

treated humanely throughout the process. Animal welfare audits are currently being done in 

most slaughter facilities as part of various animal welfare certifications’ requirements. To 

comply with these new organic regulations, all slaughter facilities will need to be audited 

yearly. Organic certifying agents can review documentation from these third-party animal 

welfare audits and can do any additional auditing as necessary. In-between annual third-party 
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audits, it is necessary for plants to do self-audits on a weekly basis. Self-audits ensure that 

humane treatment standards are being upheld, identify problems that may arise within the 

facility or with individual staff members, and identify specific farms that may be shipping 

problematic animals to the slaughter plant. These problems may be due to animals’ genetics 

or handling; slaughter facilities are encouraged to contact the producers of problematic 

animals so that these problems can be addressed in the future. 

Recommendation 

§ 205.241 Humane handling, transport and slaughter: general conditions of animal 

welfare in handling and slaughter. 

(a) Handling and Transport 

(1) Calves must have a dry navel cord and be able to stand and walk without human 

assistance if they are being transported to a slaughter or auction facility. 

(2) Transporters and slaughter plants must provide season-appropriate ventilation to 

protect against cold and heat stresses. 

(3) Bedding as appropriate must be provided to livestock during transportation and 

prior to slaughter. Consumable bedding in shipping containers and at plants must 

be certified organic. 

(4) Arrangements for water and organic feed must be made if transport time exceeds 

twelve hours. 

(5) Slaughter plant management shall coordinate with transporters to ensure that 

waiting time on the shipping container is no more than one hour. 

(6) Emergency plans that adequately address animal welfare must be in place to 

cover any encountered problems during transport. 

(7) Slaughter plants and shipping containers must have non-slip flooring. 

(8) Gates in the unloading area must swing freely, latch securely, and be free of sharp 

or otherwise injurious parts. Gates are never to be slammed on animals. 

(9) Adequate lighting must be in place to allow animals to be easily observed. 

(10) Livestock slips and falls must be scored in all parts of the facility including holding 

areas, chutes, stun box and the stunning area. No more than 1% of livestock that 

walk off the trailer may fall during the unloading process. No more than 1% of 

cattle, sheep, or hogs may slip during unloading. 

(11) Willful acts of abuse, as defined in § 205.2, are prohibited. 
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(12) Humane treatment procedures for handling immobile and fatigued animals must be 

in place. Handlers may use sleds and place livestock in the bucket, may not push 

them up against a wall, gate, or any other object. 

 

(13) Electric prods are available for medical use only, i.e., in an effort to save down 

animals. Prod use must stop after three shocks interspersed with rest periods or if 

the animal does not attempt to rise. Prods may never be applied to sensitive parts 

of the animal: eyes, nose, ears, rectum, or reproductive organs. 

(14) Euthanasia must only be performed by trained personnel. 

(15) Euthanasia equipment must be properly stored and maintenance records must be 

available. 

(b) Slaughter 

(1) As part of their organic certification, slaughter plants must be audited annually to 

meet the following criteria for animal welfare: 

(a) No more than 3% of cattle vocalize as they move through the restrainer, 

stunning box and stunning area. No more than 5% of hogs squeal in the 

restrainer due to human provocation. No more than 5% of livestock vocalize 

when a head holder is used during stunning or slaughter. 

(b) Conscious, sensible mammals must never be restrained by suspending them 

by their limbs. 

(c) No more than 1% of animals slip at the stun box or in the stunning area. No 

more than 1% of animals fall entering the stun box or in the stun box area. 

(d) One hundred percent of animals are insensible on the bleed rail. 

(e) 95% of cattle and sheep are effectively stunned via captive bolt or gunshot. 

99% of electrodes are placed correctly when livestock are stunned with 

electricity. 

(f) No more than 1% of hogs vocalize due to hot wanding. Electrodes must not be 

energized before they are in firm contact with the animal. 

(g) When carbon dioxide (CO2) or other controlled atmosphere stunning systems, 

including gondolas or other conveyances for holding a group of animals, are 

used, animals must be able to lie down or stand without being on top of one 

another. When head to tail conveyor systems are used, this score may be 

omitted. 
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Committee Vote 

Motion: Accept the Livestock Committee recommendation on animal handling, transit, and 

slaughter proposal with discussed changes. 

Motion by: TE Second: CB 

Yes: 5 No: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0