Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals at Saleyards

Code of Animal Welfare No. 16
ISBN 0-477-08151-7
ISSN 1171-090X

Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
c/- Ministry of Agriculture
PO Box 2526
Wellington
New Zealand

November 1995

• Preface
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Legal Responsibilities
• 3. Facilities
• 4. Husbandry
• 5. Handling of Stock
• 6. Unhealthy Animals
• 7. Special Requirements for Individual Species and Classes of Livestock

Preface

The codes of recommendations and minimum standards for the welfare of animals have been prepared by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), which was established in 1989 by the then Minister of Agriculture to advise him on matters concerning animal welfare.

AWAC consists of members from the following backgrounds: the farming community, animal welfare groups, the veterinary profession, animal behaviour and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It also includes the chairman of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee and an independent chairman.

Extensive consultation takes place with industry and other interested groups in the development of codes.

This Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals at Saleyards was endorsed as a national code at the committee meeting held on 25 May 1995.

The codes or recommendation and minimum standards which have been endorsed by AWAC are:

• Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Circus Animals and Information for Circus Operators.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Sea Transport of Sheep from New Zealand.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Sheep.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Dairy Cattle.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Deer During the Removal of Antlers.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals Used in Rodeo Events.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Horses.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Bobby Calves.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Care of Animals in Boarding Establishments.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Slaughter at Licensed and Approved Premises.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Sale of Companion Annimals.
• The Animals Protection Act and Its Implications for Those Responsible for Farm Animals.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Pigs.
• Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Exhibit Animals and Information for Animal Exhibit Operators.
• Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals Transported within New Zealand..

The codes of welfare may be revised to take into account changes in practices of animal management and knowledge of animal welfare.

1. Introduction

Animal welfare considerations are becoming increasingly important for the keeping and farming of animals, both in New Zealand and internationally. Practices which once may have been deemed acceptable are now being reassessed and modified according to new knowledge and changing attitudes. High standards in animal welfare are not only important legally, but also have direct economic benefits and ensure international market access for our animal products.

Without good stockpersonship, animal welfare can never be adequately protected. This code is intended to encourage all those responsible for its implementation, and especially the inexperienced to adopt the highest standards of husbandry.

The code takes account of five basic requirements:

• freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
• the provision of appropriate comfort and shelter
• prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasites
• freedom from distress
• ability to display normal patterns of behaviour.

The code should be read in conjunction with the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals Transported within New Zealand.

2. Legal Responsibilities

It is an offence under the Animal Protection Act 1960 to cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to an animal. The breach of a code provision, whilst not an offence in itself, can nevertheless be used in evidence as tending to establish the guilt of anyone accused of causing suffering under the Act.

Specifically, the Act indicates that an offence is committed if anyone:

• cruelly ill-treats any animal
• fails to supply proper and sufficient food, water and shelter or proper food and water sufficient to maintain the liveweight of the animal within the normal physiological range for its species, type, age and sex
• slaughters, brands, mutilates, confines, conveys or carries any animal in a manner or position which causes unnecessary pain or suffering
• keeps alive any animal which is in such a condition that it is cruel to keep it alive
• permits any animal to be ridden while the condition or health of the animal is such as to render it to be unfit to be ridden.
• neglects an animal, without reasonable excuse, so that it suffers unreasonable or unnecessary pain, suffering or distress
• sells, attempts to sell, or offers or exposes for sale, except specifically to be slaughtered (ie. farm to slaughter premises), an animal which is in a condition that it is cruel to keep it alive
• fails to milk out a lactating cow within the period 18 hours prior to it being offered for sale

Owner or Person in Charge

The manager, superintendent or saleyard supervisor of a saleyard complex has overall responsibility for animals while they are present at the saleyard. All personnel involved in saleyard operations must take great care when handling animals.

3. Facilities

Yards

Sufficient yarding should be provided to avoid mixing different consignments and/or overcrowding of animals. Fences should be secure enough to prevent the escape of animals.

Properly designed and maintained yards will not only reduce direct injury to animals but also downgrading due to wounds and bruises when livestock are being consigned for slaughter.

There should be no sharp edges or projections likely to cause injury. The confines of the saleyard must be free of any loose materials that may cause injury or ill-health to stock (e.g. paint, tins, nails, staples and bottles, broken rails, gates, exposed gudgeons).

Yards and races should be properly designed to assist the movement of animals. Field data from the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre at the Ruakura Agricultural Centre has shown that inspection of yard facilities from animal height can identify design faults that affect stock flow (e.g. surfaces reflecting the light from the sun at low angles). Concrete floors and walkways should have non-slip surfaces.

Yard and pen areas should be designed for rapid drainage and to prevent water accumulating in pools. Drains should be constructed to avoid injury to animals and to ensure efficient drainage from pens and holding areas, and sited so as not to impede the movement of animals.

Animals which are sick or injured should be isolated for inspection or treatment.

Shelter

Appropriate shelter from heat, wind and cold shall be provided in yards. Young animals, goats, deer, pigs, recently shorn sheep and stock in poor condition must be protected from climatic extremes, particularly combinations of cold, wind and rain.

Hygiene

It is important for reducing contamination and the spread of disease or infection between animals that saleyards are maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

Good facilities for the thorough hosing down of the yards should be available at frequently-used saleyards. The hygiene practices must be appropriate to the level of use and animal welfare requirements.

Watering

Clean, well-maintained watering facilities must be provided to meet the specific watering requirements of the animals being held. (See section 4).

Minimum Standards

• Yards, races and drains must be designed and maintained to prevent injury to animals.
• Shelter must be provided for those animals susceptible to climatic extremes or bad weather.
• Yard and pen floors of saleyards must be constructed in a way which is appropriate to the welfare of the animals.
• Yards must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
• Watering facilities must be provided to meet specific watering requirements, and be clean and well maintained.

4. Husbandry

Separation of Animals

Animals of different species should not be mixed. They should also be penned according to size, age and physical characteristics, such as the presence of horns or tusks.

Pregnant animals due to give birth must not transported to saleyards when the journey will exceed 8 hours. Where animals do give birth en route or at the saleyards, separate pens should be made available. These pens should be located in the quietest area of the saleyards where the animals will be disturbed least.

Within species, unless they are from the same farm, the following should be kept separate:

• females with suckling offspring
• females in advanced pregnancy
• mature entire males
• unfamiliar groups of animals
• hornless and horned animals
• animals of significantly different sizes.

Stocking Density

Considerable variation in body size occurs in each species with age. Care must be taken in the number of animals allotted to a pen. Overcrowding must not occur.

Penning assessments can be made during drafting, movement of the animals to the pens and during penning. Although it is often preferable for selling purposes to keep a line of stock in as few pens as possible, this must not lead to overcrowding. If this occurs, lines must be spread over additional pens. Extra space should also be allowed for some changing of position and hot weather conditions.

Stocking density should relate to the time the animals are going to be yarded and the normal behaviour of the species. Sheep and goats are likely to stand for 2-3 hours, cattle 4 hours and calves 2-3 hours. Horses stand for long periods, deer may lie down at any time, whereas pigs lie down almost straight away.

Additional space must be provided for horned, fully fleeced animals or animals held for extended periods to allow them to lie down.

Watering

Mature ruminants should be watered at least every 12 hours. Lactating animals should be watered at least every 8 hours. Non-ruminants and young (unweaned) animals should be watered at least every 8 hours. Water requirements will increase on hot days.

Water should be provided in such a way to ensure that all ages and classes of animals have access.

Feeding

Mature animals should not be without food for more than 24 hours. For young animals the interval between feeds should be no more than 12 hours, preferably 8 hours.

The saleyard manager, superintendent or supervisor is responsible for ensuring that animals are fed and watered when necessary. Special attention needs to be made if the animals are to be held in the yards overnight prior to or following a sale. The saleyard complex should be inspected the morning after a sale. Any animals in transit but off-loaded overnight in saleyards must be fed and watered, when the above feeding and watering intervals are exceeded.

NB:The total period of deprivation of water and feed commences from the time of initial loading prior to the journey to the saleyard until unloading at the final destination after the saleyard (including all transit periods).

Class of Stock	Water* (Litres/Head/Day)	Food (Dry Matter)
Horses	25	2% of body weight of good quality hay
Cattle	45	2% of body weight of good quality hay
Sheep and Goats	4	2% of body weight of good quality hay
Pigs	5	3% of body weight of grower ration
Red deer	5	2% of body weight of good quality hay
* If the animals are lactating, or are in hot conditions or stressed (both induce heavy panting and water loss), the water requirements will be higher. In extremely hot weather, i.e. where pen temperatures are greater than 40°c, the water requirements should be at least doubled.

Minimum Standards

• Clean, well-maintained watering facilities must be provided as required.
• Overcrowding of animals in pens must not occur.
• The following classes of animals must be kept separate unless from the same farm
  • females with suckling offspring
  • females in advanced pregnancy
  • mature entire males
  • unfamiliar groups of animals
  • horned and hornless cattle.
• Extra space must be provided when animals are held overnight in pens.
• When animals are held overnight water and food must be provided.

5. Handling of Stock

The people in charge of the animals are responsible for preventing injury or unnecessary stress and ensuring also that any diagnosis, treatment or euthanasia of unhealthy or diseased animals is obtained.

Persons handling stock should have a good basic knowledge of the behavioural and physical needs of the animals in their care.

Design and Construction of Yards and Ramps

Loading facilities and pens must be constructed so that they do not cause injury to animals.

Ramps should be wide enough, taking into account antlers and horns, to allow for the unhindered passage of mature animals. Lower ramps are necessary to permit loading and unloading from car trailers and utility vehicles.

Because animals move more readily uphill than downhill ramps should be horizontal or slope upwards. If the ramps slope downwards the slope should be as flat as possible. The maximum incline should not exceed 20° (about 1:3) and in the case of bobby calves should not exceed 12° ( about 1:5).

It is strongly recommended that ramps used for unloading stock have a slope of no more than 20° (1:3). Where internal ramps do exceed 20° external ramps not exceeding 20° should be used.

All surfaces, ramps and pens should be made of a non-slip material with either cross cleats or, if concrete, a suitable non-slip pattern or steps to provide good grip when the ramp is wet.

Portable or adjustable ramps should be equipped with anchoring devices. All inner rails must be smooth with no sharp projections which may injure animals.

Provision of a walkway on the outside of the ramp for use by an attendant will facilitate stock movement.

Care should be taken to ensure correct alignment of vehicles and loading ramps so that any gap that could lead to injury is avoided.

Sufficient area should be provided in unloading pens to enable animals to move freely without congestion. Forcing pens should allow for easy movement to the ramps.

Loading and Unloading

Loading of Animals

Loading and unloading are the activities during which injuries and stress are most likely to occur.

Loading should be supervised by experienced stock attendants. Supervisors should ensure that spectators do not interfere with the smooth loading of animals. Adequate numbers of handlers should be available to facilitate the easy loading of the animals.

Methods of assisting loading include:

• making use of the behavioural characteristics of particular species;
• flappers (a length of cane with a short strap of canvas or leather attached) or metallic rattles encourage movement in response to sound;
• well-trained dogs are useful to assist loading of stock, but those that bite should not be permitted to work with stock. Dogs must not be used with deer, pigs, horses or bobby calves.

The excessive use of stock canes, stock whips, or lengths of plastic piping must not be permitted as methods of encouraging stock to move. Lengths of metal piping and heavy leather belts must not be used.

Electric prodders should be restricted to the absolute minimum necessary to complete loading. They must not be used on any species other than cattle (but not bobby calves). Electric prodders may be used on mature deer only when the safety of the handler is at risk. If used, prodders should be powered only by battery or dynamo. Prodding of animals which have little or no room to move ahead must not be permitted.

During loading the stock crate doors need to be properly aligned with the loading race to ensure the smooth movement of stock and to minimise bruising or injury.

Unloading of Animals

Similar requirements to those listed under the previous section "Loading of Animals" should apply to the unloading of stock.

Animals should be unloaded as soon as possible after arrival.

Bruising and Pain in Animals

The excessive use of force when moving animals can cause bruising and pain and adversely affect the welfare and quality of animals.

Minimum Standards

• Ensure that competent and skilled staff are available to handle all animals.
• Animals must be loaded and unloaded without undue delay or force.
• Animals must be inspected on arrival for injury or sickness and appropriate attention must be provided for unhealthy animals.
• Loading facilities must be constructed so that they do not cause injury to animals. All inner rails must be smooth with no sharp projections which may injure animals.
• Animals must be loaded and unloaded in a way that does not cause them injury.
• Dogs must be well trained and under control at all times. They must not be used with deer, pigs, horses or bobby calves.
• The excessive use of stock canes, stock whips, or lengths of plastic piping must not be permitted as methods of encouraging stock to move. Lengths of metal piping and heavy leather belts must not be used.
• Electric prodders must not be used on any species other than cattle (but not bobby calves) or deer.
• Handle animals quietly in safe facilities without causing unnecessary stress.

6. Unhealthy Animals

Animals in Unhealthy Condition

Unhealthy, emaciated, injured, lame, weak or unfit animals must not be consigned to, or processed through, saleyards. Nor should an animal with any abnormality that would affect its wellbeing be offered for sale.

Heavily pregnant animals and animals with young at foot require preferential treatment for penning and selling.

Emergency Euthanasia

Severely injured animals must be destroyed without delay. If a veterinarian or Inspector (under the Animals Protection Act 1960) or a Police officer is unavailable, this should be done by or at the direction of the person in charge of the saleyards. There may be times when moving an injured animal off a transport vehicle is not possible or would cause too much pain or suffering. In this case the animal must be destroyed on the vehicle.

Once the decision to destroy an animal for health or welfare reasons has been taken, it must be done as quickly as possible and without inflicting unnecessary suffering.

The two most efficient and widely available methods of destroying livestock are a captive bolt pistol or a gunshot to the brain from close range, followed immediately by bleeding out by cutting the throat so that it is impossible for the animal to regain consciousness.

The use of a firearm in the confines of a saleyard is to be discouraged unless in the hands of a competent person. If a firearm must be used then it should be in accordance with the Arms Act 1983.

Methods of euthanasia are described in the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for Emergency Euthanasia of Animals.

Where it is considered that an animal with a particular injury may be suitable for slaughter, the animal can only be transported if it is able to stand and bear weight on all limbs and be fit enough to be able to withstand the journey without suffering unnecessary pain or distress. "To bear weight" means that the animal must be able to take weight on all limbs to stabilise itself during transport.

An animal with any leg broken must not be transported for slaughter. An animal with any leg broken must not be transported for any other reason unless it has been treated by a veterinarian.

Where there is any doubt about the animal's fitness a veterinary opinion should be sought. When a veterinarian has examined the animal and considers it is fit to travel for treatment or slaughter, the veterinarian should certify in writing that the animal is fit to travel to the destination without suffering unnecessary pain or suffering.

Under a 1993 amendment to the Meat Regulations 1969, injured stock may be slaughtered (at the saleyards) by a MAF-approved operator or veterinarian immediately before loading and the carcass processed into pet food in licensed pet food premises which have been approved to process injured stock slaughtered other than at approved slaughter premises.

Minimum Standards

• Unhealthy, emaciated, injured, lame, weak or unfit animals must not be consigned to, or processed through, saleyards.
• Severely injured animals must be destroyed without delay.
• An animal with any leg broken must not be transported for slaughter. An animal with any leg broken must not be transported for any other reason unless it has been treated by a veterinarian.

7. Special Requirements for Individual Species and Classes of Livestock

Reference should also be made to the Codes of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for each species. These are listed in the Preface.

Feeder Calves

Particular reference should be made to the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Bobby Calves.

Calves must be at least 4 days old, and free from any visual signs of ill health, injury or serious abnormality. They must also be robust, alert and able to rise readily from a lying position.

Any strings, ropes or collars, unless used for identification purposes, must be removed from calves at unloading.

Deer

The design and operation of deer yards is important. The facilities must be well ventilated. It is recommended that pen walls are solid to a height of 150 cm and open boarded on the upper section. Covered races and holding pens will provide shelter in hot weather and prevent escapes. Small pens are preferable.

Deer handlers need to be highly skilled and sensitive to the behavioural characteristics of each species. The number of people involved in the handling of deer should be kept to a minimum.

Deer should not be confined alone for more than a short period.

Any deer due to calve within 21 days, or with young at foot less than a month old, should not be presented at saleyards.

Unweaned deer or deer that have been weaned less than 10 days should not be presented at saleyards.

Groups of deer which have not been together for at least 1 week, either on the same farm or on different farms, must not be mixed.

It is recommended that the following should be penned separately:

• deers of different species/age/sex
• hinds/does
• deer with antlers, either hard or velvet, longer than 60 mm
• young animals
• animals differing greatly in size

Horses and Ponies

Holding paddocks should be provided for horses and ponies, rather than yards or pens with bare concrete floors. Horses and ponies should not be penned in the latter for more than 24 hours. Concrete floors should be covered with hay, straw or sawdust.

The design of facilities, the stocking density and the composition of groups of horses must allow each horse to have an area of its own. Each horse in a resting group requires six square metres of space. Subordinate horses must be able to escape from bullying by dominant animals in the group.

Horses kept in yards and pens should be inspected at least twice a day. Water should be available at all times, except at times when the horses are heated. In these cases, access to water must be carefully controlled to avoid colic.

It is recommended that the following should be penned separately:

• unbroken horses
• colts and stallions
• mares in advanced pregnancy
• a mare with foal at foot
• horses of significantly different sizes or of different breeds
• foals under 9 months

Pigs

Patience is essential when handling pigs. Dogs and electric prodders must not be used -in most situations backing boards can be used for directing pigs. Pigs may balk at shadows or patches of bright light and intensively reared pigs maybe reluctant to move into strong sunlight - shaded races and loading areas will facilitate easier movement.

Pigs are susceptible to extreme temperatures and sunburn. Shade should be provided in hot weather. In cold weather pigs should be protected from wind and rain by solid walls or walls screened by an appropriate material eg. hessian. In hot weather pigs can be cooled by the use of water on the floor of pig pens or by use of fine mist spray.

It is recommended that the following should be penned separately:

• young piglets
• sows with piglets
• adult boars
• unfamiliar groups of pigs
• sows in advanced pregnancy

Dogs

Dogs are offered for sale at saleyards. Usually they are chained along a walkway or thoroughfare. Unfamiliar dogs should be kept separate from each other. Water should be provided.

If cages or kennels are used, they should be cleaned and disinfected prior to use.

Poultry

Poultry have the same basic needs for food, water and shelter and careful handling as other animals.

Accommodation should be well ventilated but draught-free, with protection from rain and excessive heat and cold.

Cages should be designed to prevent injury and should allow the birds to stand in their natural position and turn around freely.

Birds must not be tied by their neck, wings or legs.