Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 97 / Friday, May 17, 1996 / Notices 24917

believes that the failure to provide

proper care and handling increases the

risk of unnecessary loss to the seller and

unnecessary suffering for the animal. It

is the Agency’s view that stockyards

should provide appropriate facilities

and follow animal care and handling

practices and procedures that minimize

the risk of injury, death, or other

avoidable loss and avoid unnecessary

suffering. Failure to provide appropriate

services as detailed in these guidelines

could result in the Agency’s initiating

an enforcement action brought pursuant

to Sections 304, 307, and 312 of the

Packers and Stockyards Act.

1. Care and Handling of Livestock

(a) Livestock at stockyards should be

handled in a manner that protects the

quality and value of the animal while

also providing for the animal’s welfare.

Stockyard owners should establish and

enforce practices and procedures that

ensure the proper treatment of animals.

Adequate instruction should be given to

employees and proper notice given to

truckers, market patrons, and other

livestock handlers on the livestock care

and handling practices to be followed at

the facility. Abuse or mistreatment of

animals should not be tolerated.

(b) Livestock facilities, including

loading and unloading ramps, gates,

fences, scales, and equipment used to

provide stockyard services should be

reasonably clean and well-maintained.

Any object in the facility or on

equipment used around livestock that is

likely to cause bruising or injury to

livestock, such as protruding nails,

sharp edges, extended bolts, gate hooks,

latches and hinges, should be

eliminated or modified. All floors

should be constructed or maintained in

such a manner that livestock can walk

without slipping to prevent injuries

caused by falling down.

(c) Livestock of all species should be

unloaded, yarded, moved through the

facility, and reloaded in a manner to

avoid bruising, injury, and unnecessary

stress or suffering. When livestock are

driven, sorted, or otherwise moved

about a facility, such movement should

be reasonably paced in a manner

consistent with the type, temperament,

and condition of the livestock being

handled and stockyard conditions.

(d) Livestock driving devices, such as

electric prods, canes, whips, paddles or

canvas straps, should be used prudently

and only to the extent necessary to

handle or move livestock. Generally,

paddles and canvas straps are equally

effective and less likely than other types

of driving devices to cause bruising or

unnecessary excitement and stress.

Electric prods should be of a

commercial type designed for use in

moving livestock. All electric prodding

devices should be used sparingly in

order to avoid unnecessary stress and

risk of injury to animals. Electric prods

should never be applied to the rectum,

vagina, eyes, ears or mouth areas.

(e) Stockyards should provide

adequate pen space for the number and

type of animals handled. Uncastrated

mature males should be penned

individually if necessary to prevent

fighting. Bulls should be penned

separately from cows and heifers to

prevent mounting which can cripple

small or weak animals.

(f) The Agency recognizes that

transportation factors, types of livestock

and animal nutrition requirements may

make periods of withdrawal from feed

and water desirable. These periods do

not pose a threat to the quality and

value of the animals if the animals are

moved promptly to their destination.

However, livestock held overnight at a

stockyard, either before or after sale,

should have access to feed and water

within 24 hours of receipt at the

stockyard.

2. Care and Handling of Nonambulatory

Livestock.

(a) Nonambulatory animals, also

referred to as ‘‘downed animals,’’ are

defined as those animals that are unable

to stand or walk without assistance. The

Agency believes prompt action is the

key to preventing unnecessary suffering

and protecting the economic value of

nonambulatory animals, whether the

action is providing veterinary care,

transporting it to slaughter, euthanizing

the animal, or taking some other

effective action.

(b) Stockyards should provide

adequate facilities and equipment

necessary to handle any livestock they

accept on consignment. If a stockyard

chooses to accept nonambulatory

livestock or if an animal becomes

nonambulatory while at the stockyard,

the stockyard should provide the

necessary equipment to handle the

livestock humanely, efficiently, and

promptly to avoid unnecessary suffering

and preserve the quality and value of

the animal.

(c) Stockyard owners should establish

pre-planned procedures that provide for

assessing the condition of a

nonambulatory animal and the options

available for its care so prompt

decisions can be made on its disposition

and removal from the facility.

(d) Nonambulatory animals require

special equipment for their handling

and movement within the stockyard

facility to avoid the risk of further injury

and unnecessary suffering. Such

equipment may include a front-end

loader, sled, belt or mat slide,

specialized hoists or slings, or a

combination of these devices. Special

care should be taken when moving or

loading nonambulatory animals onto a

suitable conveyance. Nonambulatory

animals should be gently rolled onto the

conveyance, and an animal should not

be shoved against a wall or fence to get

it into a loader bucket.

(e) Stockyards that cannot provide

proper care in handling nonambulatory

livestock or do not have the required

special equipment should adopt a

policy of refusing to accept such

livestock. Further, if an animal becomes

nonambulatory while at such facility,

the stockyard should promptly

euthanize the animal before moving it or

secure the prompt services of a

veterinarian or other third party with

the necessary equipment to provide

proper care and handling for the animal.

(f) Dragging of a nonambulatory

animal by its limbs is undesirable and

should be avoided. In situations where

an animal must be moved to

accommodate a suitable conveyance,

then padded belts should be attached to

two noninjured limbs and the rope,

cable, or chain attached to the belts.

Animals should never be pulled by the

neck. If these techniques for movement

of the animal are not practical, then the

animal should be promptly euthanized.

(g) Separate pens should be provided

for weak, injured, and nonambulatory

livestock. Such pens should be located

for ease of access by specialized

equipment. Feed and water should also

be provided for the nonambulatory

livestock.

(h) When an animal becomes

nonambulatory, its condition should be

promptly assessed, a decision made as

to the proper care or disposition of the

animal, and appropriate actions should

be taken to protect its quality and value

and to avoid unnecessary suffering.

When it is determined that an animal

should be euthanized, then the action

should be taken promptly and

humanely without awaiting the arrival

of a rendering service.

(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 228(a); 7 CFR 2.22, 2.81)

Done at Washington, D.C. this 13th day of

May 1996.

James R. Baker,

Administrator Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration.

[FR Doc. 96–12376 Filed 5–16–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–EN–P
24918 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 97 / Friday, May 17, 1996 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 050996F]

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

convene a public meeting.

DATES: This meeting will be held on

June 12, 1996, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at

the Radisson Bay Harbor Inn, 7700

Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa,

FL; telephone: 813–281–8900.

Council address: Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council, 5401

West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331,

Tampa, FL 33609.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Leard, Senior Fishery Biologist,

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; telephone: 813–228–2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of the meeting will be to review

Draft Amendment 9 to the Fishery

Management Plan for the Shrimp

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

Waters with Supplemental

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),

Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, and

Social Impact Assessment (SIA). The

amendment is intended to address the

Council’s commitment to reduce the

bycatch mortality of red snapper,

particularly juveniles, from shrimp

trawls. The amendment includes a

review of previous actions and their

effects on bycatch as well as various

alternatives.

The Shrimp Scientific and Statistical

Committee (SSC) will review the draft

amendment with various management

alternatives for gear including: (1) Status

Quo - no change to existing gear

regulations; and (2) Requiring Bycatch

Reduction Devices (BRDs) in all areas of

the exclusive economic zone. They will

also look at area specific usage of BRDs

including requiring BRDs: (1) inside the

100 fathom contour; (2) inside the 100

fathom contour and west of Cape San

Blas, Florida; and (3) between the 10

and 100 fathom contours. Other

alternatives that will be discussed

include: Area closures, seasonal

closures, BRD testing criteria, and a

protocol for BRD certification. The

Shrimp SSC will also consider a

Regulatory Impact Review, which

mainly reviews the economic

ramifications of the proposed

amendment; a Social Impact

Assessment; and any environmental

consequences. Also considered will be

the effects of other Federal laws and

regulations.

The Shrimp SSC is comprised of

scientists that have specialized in

working with the shrimp fishery of the

Gulf and have been appointed to advise

the Council on shrimp management.

Special Acommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Anne Alford at the Council (see

ADDRESSES) by June 5, 1996.

Dated: May 10, 1996.

Richard H. Schaefer,

Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and

Management, National Marine Service.

[FR Doc. 96–12449 Filed 5–16–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 050996E]

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

convene a public meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on June

6, 1996, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and will

conclude at 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at

the Tampa Airport Hilton at Metro

Center, 2225 North Lois Avenue,

Tampa, FL; 813–877–6688.

Council address: Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council, 5401

West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331,

Tampa, FL 33609.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT: Antonio B. Lamberte,

Economist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Management Council; telephone: 813–

228–2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of the meeting is to review

Draft Amendment 9 to the Fishery

Management Plan for the Shrimp

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

Waters with Supplemental

Environmental Impact Statement,

Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, and

Social Impact Assessment (SIA). The

amendment is intended to address the

Council’s commitment to reduce the

bycatch mortality of red snapper,

particularly juveniles, from shrimp

trawls. The amendment includes a

review of previous actions and their

effects on bycatch as well as various

alternatives.

The Socioeconomic Panel (SEP) will

review the draft amendment with

various management alternatives for

gear including: (1) Status Quo - no

change to existing gear regulations; and

(2) Requiring Bycatch Reduction

Devices (BRD) in all areas of the

exclusive economic zone. They will also

look at area specific usage of BRDs

including requiring BRDs: (1) inside the

100 fathom contour; (2) inside the 100

fathom contour and west of Cape San

Blas, Florida; and (3) between the 10

and 100 fathom contours. Other

alternatives that will be discussed

include: area closures, seasonal

closures, BRD testing criteria, and a

protocol for BRD certification. The SEP

will focus their review on the economic

and social impacts of these various

alternatives, as these impacts are

discussed in the RIR and the SIA.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Anne Alford at the Council (see

ADDRESSES) by May 30, 1996.

Dated: May 10, 1996.

Richard H. Schaefer,

Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and

Management, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 96–12451 Filed 5–16–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 050996G]

Pacific Fishery Management Council;

Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

hold a public meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May

31, 1996, beginning at 10 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Council office.