ASPCA Pen
- This device consists of a narrow stall with an opening in
the front for the animal's head. After the animal enters the box, it is
nudged forward with a pusher gate and a belly lift comes up under the
brisket. The head is restrained by a chin lift for the rabbi to perform
shehita. Vertical travel of the belly lift should be restricted to 28
inches (71 cm) so that it does not lift the animal off the floor. The rear
pusher
gate should be equipped with either a separate pressure regulator or
special pilot-operated check valves to allow the operator to control the
amount of pressure exerted on the animal. The pen should be operated
from the rear toward the front. Restraining the head is the last step. The
operator should avoid sudden jerking of the controls. Many cattle will
stand still if the box is slowly closed up around them, and less pressure
will be required to hold them.
- An ASPCA pen can be easily installed in one weekend with minimum
disruption of plant operations. It has a maximum capacity of 100 cattle
per hour and it works best at 75 head per hour. A small version of this
pen could be easily built for calf plants.
Close up view of the ASPCA pen
headholder.


This drawing illustrates (on the left side, in front of the
animal) the solid barrier that is necessary to block the animal's
vision.
The sides of the ASPCA box must also be completely
solid. The most critical part of the box is the head holding device and the chin lift. It is important to exactly follow the dimensions on the drawings. The design of the rear pusher gate can be changed. There are several different types of rear pusher gates that can be used.

- Photo of the ASPCA pen from the side.

Restraining box with headholder for ritual slaughter holds the
animal in an upright position.All parts of the head holder and gates
should move with a steady motion. Cylinders should be equipped with flow
(speed) controls to prevent slamming or jerking. Control valves on all
moving parts of this equipment should be "return to center" type so that
the operator can stop the chin lift or gates at a midpoint of the cylinder
stroke.
Schematic Details Of
ASPCA Pen
- These are construction drawings for the ASPCA Pen for
ritual slaughter of adult cattle.
- The schematics show the critical
dimensions against the animal.
- Structural components not
drawn.
- Pneumatic cylinders used to power this restrainer must be equipped
with flow controls so that all parts of the apparatus will move slowly.
Sudden, jerky motions will cause cattle to become agitated. Pressure
regulators must be used to limit pressure applied to the animal.
- Please note: When printing (or faxing) this drawing has black
and grey lines with white and dark grey backgrounds. Make sure the pusher
gate detail is visible on all copies.