Alaska Administrative Code › Title 18 - Environmental Conservation › Chapter 36 - Animal Health › Article 6 - Animal Care Standards › 18 AAC 36.520 - Cattle and other ruminants

Current through May 31, 2024
(a) Dairy cows must
				have daily access to sufficient and nutritious feed to allow for growth and
				maintenance of adequate body weight or body condition to score at least a level
				2.0 on the body condition scoring method described in R.A. Patton, H.F.
				Bucholtz, M.K. Schmidt, and F.M. Hall's, Body Condition Scoring -A Management
				Tool, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, September 1988,
				adopted by reference.
(b)
				Replacement dairy heifers must have daily access to sufficient and nutritious
				feed to allow for growth and maintenance of adequate body weight or body
				condition to score at least a level 2.0 on the body condition scoring method
				described in M.A. Wattiaux's Body Condition Scores, Chapter 12 of Dairy
				Essentials, Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development,
				University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999, adopted by reference.
(c) Beef cattle must have daily access to
				sufficient and nutritious feed to allow for growth and maintenance of adequate
				body weight or body condition to score at least a level 2.0 on the body
				condition score method described in M.L. Westendorf and R. C. Mickel's Beef Cow
				Condition Scoring, Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension, New Jersey
				Agricultural Experiment Station, July 1994, adopted by reference.
(d) Other cattle and ruminants for which body
				condition score standards and methods are not published must meet or exceed an
				appearance comparable to the most appropriate method described in (a) - (c) of
				this section.
(e) Cattle and other
				ruminants must have daily access to water in sufficient quantity and quality to
				satisfy the animal's physiologic needs as evidenced by the animal's hydration
				status.
(f) Cattle being
				transported may not be held on a transport vehicle for more than 28 consecutive
				hours.
(g) Cattle transported for
				any purpose must be handled and transported in a manner that minimizes injury,
				illness, and death. They must be able to stand in normal posture within the
				vehicle and may not be overcrowded so as to cause unnecessary injury or
				hyperthermia.
(h) Cattle shall be
				grouped according to size and behavior when in a vehicle.
(i) Non-ambulatory disabled cattle and other
				animals unable to move shall be separated from ambulatory cattle for transport.
				Those animals may not be dragged while conscious, except if necessary to pro
				vide lifesaving treatment.
(j)
				Cattle shall be handled humanely at all times, even if they are to be
				slaughtered or euthanized, so as not to cause unnecessary pain and injury.
(k) For cattle intended to be
				raised as veal, the owner shall provide an environment that prevents injury to
				calves and allows proper ventilation, temperature, and humidity control. The
				calves shall be permitted to stretch, stand, and lie down
				comfortably.
(l) Ruminants not in
				transit may be tied using neck halters or neck bands in the ruminants' stalls
				or to stationary objects for up to 12 hours if feed and water are not
				available, or for longer periods of time if feed and water are offered at
				reasonable intervals and the ruminants can lie down safely.
The publication
Body Condition Scoring - A
					 Management Tool
, adopted by reference in 18 AAC 36.520, is available
					 from the Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the State
					 Veterinarian in Anchorage. Additional descriptions and photographs for dairy
					 cows can also be found at
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-4008.pdf
.
The publication
Body Condition Scores
,
					 Chapter 12 of Dairy Essentials, adopted by reference in 18 AAC 36.520, is
					 available from the Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the
					 State Veterinarian in Anchorage. Copies may also be obtained from the
					 University of Wisconsin-Madison at
https://kb.wisc.edu/images/group226/52745/de_12.en.pdf
.
The publication
Beef Cow Condition
					 Scoring
, adopted by reference in 18 AAC 36.520, is available from the
					 Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the State Veterinarian in
					 Anchorage. Copies may also be obtained from Rutgers Research & Cooperative
					 Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stational
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS764
.
Authority:
AS
					 03.05.011
AS 03.55.100
AS 03.55.110
AS 03.55.120
AS
					 03.55.130