Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 40 - Agriculture and Resource Marketing › Subchapter 05 - Animal Health › Part 5 - Rules and Regulations Governing Livestock Welfare › Section 250-RICR-40-05-5.7 - General Requirements

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The general
				  requirements for the care and welfare of all types of livestock as well as
				  specific types of livestock as listed below. The general requirements are as
				  follows:
1. Feed and water. Livestock must
				  receive feed and water of sufficient quantity and quality on a regular basis so
				  as to help ensure maintenance of normal body condition and/or growth.
2. Management
a. Livestock housing, handling facilities and
				  equipment must be designed and maintained so as to minimize bruising, escape
				  and injury.
b. When using handling,
				  sorting or other devices to move livestock or for initial diagnostic
				  evaluation, the devices must be used humanely. Use of such devices must be
				  restricted to the minimal amount of use to move the livestock and they must be
				  used in a manner to minimize pain and excitement of the animal(s), and must not
				  cause injury to the animal(s).
c.
				  When restraint of livestock is required, it must be minimal in degree and
				  duration, and it must minimize the potential for injury.
d. Only hand held battery-operated electric
				  prods of 50 volts or less can be used to facilitate movement of livestock as
				  described in §
												5.7(A)(2)(b)
				  of this Part. Electric prods must not be used:
(1) On poultry;
(2) On alpacas, llamas and equine, unless by
				  or under the order of a Rhode Island licensed veterinarian;
(3) On calves less than 200 pounds of body
				  weight;
(4) On swine less than 35
				  pounds of body weight;
(5) In
				  sensitive areas including the eyes, ears, nose, vulva, anus, udder, or
				  testicles; and,
(6) On
				  non-ambulatory disabled livestock, unless by or under the order of a Rhode
				  Island licensed veterinarian.
e. The responsible party shall not
				  maliciously or recklessly throw, drop, or drag livestock. If the animal's
				  position does not permit lifting or another method of movement, dragging an
				  ambulatory disabled or non-ambulatory disabled livestock the minimum distance
				  to allow movement by another method is permitted.
f. The responsible party must not pick up
				  and/or carry livestock by the ears and tails or pull legs in positions or
				  directions which would cause distress.
g. Livestock Management Procedures must be
				  performed humanely.
h.
				  Environmental management must be conducted to control parasite infestations and
				  reasonably minimize insect and vermin infestations.
i. All housing systems must provide
				  reasonable protection from predators to reduce injury and mortality to
				  livestock and poultry.
j. All
				  housing systems must provide sufficient dry space for all animals to be able to
				  stand to avoid prolonged exposure to water, mud or manure.
3. Euthanasia. Euthanasia of livestock must
				  be performed under the conditions and using the approved methods as described
				  in the most current published version of AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of
				  Animals.
a. Euthanasia for animals must be
				  performed when the likelihood for recovery is poor and the condition cannot be
				  effectively relieved by best species management and medically appropriate
				  procedures. Upon making the decision to euthanize an animal, euthanasia must be
				  performed promptly to minimize the unnecessary pain and suffering of the
				  animal.
b. Disposal of animals
				  after confirmation of death must be performed in accordance with all applicable
				  state and municipal codes.
4. Mass Euthanasia or Depopulation. For
				  unusual conditions which require euthanasia of populations, such as wide spread
				  disease eradication and exigent circumstances resulting from natural disasters,
				  the Director of the Department of Environmental Management may authorize
				  methods of euthanasia or depopulation that are not described in the most
				  current published version of AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Any
				  person seeking to use alternate methods of euthanasia or depopulation must
				  receive prior written approval by the Director of the Department of
				  Environmental Management. The alternate methods must minimize animal pain and
				  suffering to the extent reasonably possible while considering the threat to
				  human health, human safety, and the hazards of failing to promptly euthanize or
				  depopulate affected animals.
5.
				  Health
a. Prescription and extra-label
				  medications must only be obtained and administered to livestock with the advice
				  and involvement of a licensed veterinarian in the context of a valid
				  Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR).
b. When medication is indicated for
				  livestock, label instructions for route of administration, dosage, storage and
				  withdrawal times must be followed.
c. Routine use of commercially available USDA
				  licensed vaccines, and commercially available anthelmintics are considered
				  normal husbandry practices under R.I. Gen. Laws §
												5-25-7(b)(9).
d. All practices and procedures pertaining to
				  health/medical treatment of livestock must be done humanely.
e. Livestock must be monitored regularly for
				  evidence of disease, injury, and parasites and corrective measures must be
				  taken when evidence is found.
f.
				  The responsible party must be able to, as required by the condition of the
				  animal, separate sick animals from healthy livestock.
g. Dead livestock must be properly disposed
				  of in accordance with all local ordinances, state and federal
				  regulations.
6.
				  Transportation
a. The transport driver
				  becomes the responsible party during transit.
b. The responsible party makes the final
				  decision in determining the fitness for livestock loading, transport and the
				  load density. The density of a load shall be determined by the need to minimize
				  injury and must allow fallen animals to rise.
c. Handling of livestock during loading,
				  unloading and transport must be done humanely.
d. Ramps, chutes and other means of
				  conveyance used for transporting livestock must be constructed to provide
				  adequate footing to minimize slips, falls and escapes.
e. Livestock must be able to stand in their
				  natural position without touching the top of the transport
				  conveyance.
f. During transit,
				  livestock must be suitably protected from adverse weather conditions.
g. Transporters are required to stop every 28
				  hours, unload, and provide livestock with food, water and rest for at least
				  five consecutive hours, unless the transportation vehicle allows the livestock
				  to lie down and rest and have access to feed and water.