New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 2 - AGRICULTURE › Chapter 8 - HUMANE TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK › Subchapter 2 - STANDARDS FOR CATTLE › Section 2:8-2.2 - Feeding

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Each animal shall be assessed individually for purposes of determining compliance with the humane standards for cattle feeding set forth in this section. Compliance with these standards shall not be determined by averaging the treatment or condition in a herd or group of animals.
(b) Each animal must have daily access to sufficient and nutritious feed to allow for growth and maintenance of an adequate body condition, as determined according to the criteria set forth in (b)1 and 2 below.
1. Body condition can be measured by direct measurement using a weight scale, when available, or by indirect measurement using a weight tape, when available; or
2. The NJDA adopts and incorporates by reference the following BCS methods:
i. For dairy cows, (hereinafter referred to as BCS-Dairy) using the scoring method set forth in Patton R.A., Bucholtz H.F., Schmidt M.K., and F.M. Hall, Body Condition Scoring--A Management Tool, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. September 1988. Copies of this document may be procured by contacting Dr. Herbert Bucholtz, Professor, Dept. Animal Science, 2265 H Anthony Hall, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: 517-355-8432; Fax: 517-432-0147; Email: bucholtz@msu.edu.
ii. For replacement dairy heifers, (hereinafter referred to as BCS-heifers) using the scoring method set forth in Patton R.A., Bucholtz H.F., Schmidt M.K., and F.M. Hall, Body Condition Scoring--A management Tool, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, September 1988. Copies of this document may be procured by contacting Dr. Herbert Bucholtz, Professor, Dept. Animal Science, 2265 H Anthony Hall, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: 517-355-8432; Fax: 517-432-0147; Email: bucholtz@msu.edu.
iii. For beef cattle, (hereinafter referred to as BCS-Beef) using the scoring method set forth in Westendorf M.L. and R.C. Mickel, Beef Cow Condition Scoring (1994), Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Copies of this document may be procured at
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS764
.
iv. Other cattle for which such standards are not published must meet or exceed an appearance comparable to the most appropriate BCS above.
3. A copy of the documents listed in (b)2 above is on file in the Director's Office, Division of Animal Health, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Health and Agriculture Building, John Fitch Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.
4. Where the BCS methods identified in (b)2 above are used, each animal shall maintain the minimum BCS score in (b)4i through iv below. For purposes of (b)4i through iii below, a "reasonable period of time" refers to the amount of time it would be expected to take to restore an animal to an acceptable body condition, using diligent efforts to do so.
i. For dairy cows: a BCS of at least 2.0; provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a reasonable period of time, if stage or level of production, physiologic conditions, or other factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's management is being altered to improve the condition.
ii. For replacement dairy heifers: a BCS of at least 2.0, provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a reasonable period of time, if stage or level of growth, physiologic conditions, or other factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's management is being altered to improve the condition.
iii. For beef cattle: a BCS score of at least 2.0, provided, however, that a score lower than a 2.0 may be permitted for a reasonable period of time, if stage or level of production, physiologic conditions, or other factors results in such an appearance, during which time the animal's management is being altered to improve its condition.
iv. A score of 1.0 is permitted at slaughter.
5. If pasture alone does not provide sufficient nutrition to adequately maintain the cattle's BCS-dairy, BCS-heifer or BCS-beef, supplemental feeds must be provided in sufficient amounts to maintain the minimum acceptable BCS.
6. Cattle unable to maintain a BCS which meets the minimum score set forth in (b)2 and 3 above, due to group feeding practices, must be fed in a manner that allows the cattle to maintain an adequate BCS.