<b>By Dr. Bret Marsh<br>
State Veterinarian<br>
Indiana Board of Animal Health</b></p><p>

The recent events at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company of Chino, Calif. involving inhumane treatment of cattle presented for slaughter serve as a reminder to everyone associated with animal agriculture that humane handling of animals is a fundamental responsibility of the industry.<br>
The inspectors of Indiana’s Meat and Poultry Inspection program, a division of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), are trained to recognize, report and act upon inhumane handling techniques and practices. BOAH inspectors must take immediate action and suspend inspection in any facility where egregious violations are observed, prohibiting the facility’s operations until the problem is corrected.<br>
Inspectors constantly assess slaughter facilities to ensure the ante-mortem pens are in good condition for accommodating incoming animals safely. Water must be available at all times in the holding pens and those animals housed longer than 24 hours must have access to feed and have adequate room to lie down.<br>
As animals are presented for slaughter, the inspector visually evaluates each animal to make an ante-mortem determination if it appears healthy and normal. The inspector, who is present for the slaughter process, then re-evaluates the animal post-mortem as an internal check for normal appearance of the carcass. Any condition that is out-of-the-ordinary warrants a call to the central BOAH office to request a disposition by a veterinarian on staff.
Animals that cannot stand or walk on their own (also called “downers”) are considered non-ambulatory and are not eligible for slaughter in an inspected plant.<br>
Indiana law goes a step further to prohibit the marketing of non-ambulatory livestock at any type of licensed market or sale barn - even when not going directly to slaughter. This has been in effect for more than a decade - well before a permanent federal ban on the practice was adopted. BOAH has worked to communicate to producers that these animals must be handled on the farm - slaughter at a state-inspected facility is not an approved form of euthanasia.<br>
Animals that become non-ambulatory once they have been off-loaded at a slaughter facility must be rendered unconscious by stunning before efforts are made to move them in a suitable way. Moving animals by mechanical means, such as forklifts, is not considered humane.<br>
Indiana’s Meat and Poultry Inspection program staff strive to ensure all state-inspected facilities adhere to state and federal requirements that contribute to a safe and wholesome food supply.
The Hallmark/Westland recall situation is one that we never want to experience here in Indiana. While the meat involved in the record-setting recall is not considered an eminent food safety threat to the public, it does illustrate the importance of food processors complying with state and federal laws that minimize risk to our meat supply. That is why the state meat and poultry inspection program is so important. Our inspectors work daily in more than 130 facilities statewide to ensure that the supply of locally produced meat and meat products here in Indiana meets the highest standards.<br>
Questions about humane handling of animals at slaughter and market facilities may be directed to BOAH at animal health@boah.in.gov Anyone – farmer, veterinarian, plant worker or otherwise – is encouraged to report any inhumane handling in these facilities to BOAH immediately.