USDA to focus inspection on vulnerable pigs

March 3, 2008 — 

USDA announced it will implement a series of interim actions to verify and analyse humane handling activities in all federally inspected establishments, and said it will focus inspection efforts on plants that handle animals most prone to stress such as pigs.

The agency will focus surveillance and inspection activities at establishments where older or potentially distressed animals are slaughtered.

In addition, the Humane Activities Tracking System (HATS) program, implemented in 2004, will be reviewed. HATS provides FSIS with an accounting of the time spent by inspectors performing specific tasks and the results of that inspection related to humane handling and slaughter under the requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

There are nine specific HATS humane handling categories:

• adequate measures for inclement weather
• truck unloading
• water availability (and feed, if applicable)
• handling during ante-mortem inspection
• handling of suspect and disabled livestock
• electric prod/alternative object use
• observations of slips and falls
• stunning effectiveness
• checking for conscious animals on the rail prior to processing.

Upon completion of this current investigation, the USDA will determine whether or not it needs to make any inspection policy changes.

Source:
PigProgress.net, March 3, 2008