AMIF Releases New Standards for Animal Handling

I'm reposting this from ASI as it's important for all livestock producers.

AMIF Releases Updated Animal Handling Guidelines

The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) on Wednesday released an updated version of the AMIF Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare, July 2013 Edition.

A summary of the changes are detailed on page four of the new document and include:

• A clarification has been added that farrowing on trucks should be counted just as calving and lambing are.
• A new category called "ambulatory disabled animals" has been added to Core Criteria Six of the Transportation Audit to track animals that can still walk and are not severely injured, but appear lame and have some impairment of movement.
• Under Core Criteria 2 of the Sheep Transportation Audit, an omission of "compartments gated" was corrected.

To access the new guidelines, visit www.AnimalHandling.org.