Agricultural Marketing Service
   
 
Food Safety and Commodity Specifications
 
Animal Handling and Welfare  
All animal harvest facilities that supply raw materials from bovine, porcine and ovine species for the production of finished products for purchase by AMS must meet AMS animal handling and welfare requirements, as described in Federal Purchase Program Specifications – Animal Handling and Welfare. As part of its audits, AMS observes 100 animals (occasionally 50 animals in the case of low volume operations) to ensure animals immediately rendered insensible from stunning and that no animals regain consciousness following stunning. The data from AMS animal handling and welfare audit observations are available below.

 

 
See Also
 
  Federal Purchase Program Specification - Animal Handling and Welfare 2014 - PDF  
 
Resources
 
  Humane Methods of Slaughter Act  
 
  American Meat Institute Animal Handling and Welfare  
 
  Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization  
 
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  Last Modified Date: 01/27/2015