At the February American Meat Institute Animal Handling and Stunning Conference, the results of the 1999 McDonald's audits were presented ("Managing what you measure," M&P, March 2000, page 58). During visits to 42 beef and pork plants a number of best practices were identified, which were shared with the attendees. Animal handling and stunning greatly improved in 1999 compared to my 1996 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture audit. Following is a list of best practices that will improve animal welfare and help reduce pale, soft, exudative meat; bruises; dark cutters; and blood splash:

• The ergonomics of a heavy pneumatic captive bolt stunner can be improved by adding a handle (Figure 1). On a conveyor restrainer, the stunner should be hung on a 30-degree angle. This will reduce the twisting strain on the wrists.
  

  Figure 1. Pneumatic captive bolt stunner with ergonomic improvements for use in a conveyor restrainer.

  

  Figure 2. Pneumatic captive bolt stunner equipped with an ergonomic handle.
  When this stunner is used in a conveyor restrainer it should be hung at an angle.

• Flags made from a 30 inch by 30 inch (76 cm by 76 cm) square of light, plasticized tarp cloth are good for moving pigs. Pigs move away from the rustling cloth.

• To prevent guillotine gates from bruising on the back, replace the bottom 18 inches (46 cm) of the gate with a piece of conveyor belting. The pigs will think the conveyor belt curtain is solid and they will not go through it.

• Fill the crowd pen leading to the single file chute and the staging area half full. Animals need room to turn.

• Plastic bags work well for moving cattle. A plastic wastebasket liner on a stick works well for turning cattle in the crowd pen. Use the stiff plastic liners that make a crackling noise.

• Illuminate the entrance of the conveyor restrainer. The light must be directed into the entrance of the restrainer. It must not shine into the eyes of approaching cattle or pigs. Animals will balk at a dark entrance.

• If animals balk at a reflection on the floor of a chute, try moving the ceiling lights off the centerline of the chute. Moving a light will often eliminate a reflection.

• Conveyor restrainers for both cattle and pigs should have a false floor mounted under the restrainer. This prevents the animal from balking at seeing the "visual cliff effect." The false floor provides the illusion of a solid floor to walk on, but the animal's feet must not touch it.

• On a pneumatic stunner, install an easy to reach water spray to clean the trigger mechanism; Regular cleaning will help prevent misfiring.

• Cartridges for a cartridge-fired stunner should be kept in a dry place. Storage in a damp location can result in misfiring. One suggestion is to shrink-wrap boxes of cartridges held in storage.

• Cartridge-fired stunners must be rotated often to prevent overheating. Build a rack on the wall or side of the chute to hold the stunners to make rotation easier.

• Electric prods should not be used routinely. A flag, paddle stick or a plastic bag should be the primary tool for moving animals. The electric prod should only be used to move an animal that balks.

• If a powered gate is used to move animals, it should be controlled by an operator pushing a switch. Fully automated gates in the crowd pen leading to the single file chute often lead to pile ups. The operator must be able to control the gate.

• Chutes should be designed to reduce clanking and rattling. In a pork plant, the doors for removing downed pigs should be designed so they do not clatter and make noise when pigs bump against them.

• People should stop whistling and yelling. High-pitched sounds from people yelling agitates the animals.

• Pork producers should walk in the pens every day during finishing. This will help make the pigs easier to handle at the plant. This is especially important for lean hybrid pigs with an excitable temperament.

• Eliminate the injection of air into the brain by a stunner.

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