287.551 Humane slaughter of livestock; definitions.

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Sec. 1.

As used in this act:

(a)"Director" means the director of agriculture.

(b)"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation or association doing business in this state, in whole or in part.

(c)"Slaughterer" means any person regularly engaged in the commercial slaughtering of livestock.

(d)"Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products.

(e)"Packer" means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering, or of manufacturing or preparing meat or meat products for sale, either by such person or others; or of manufacturing or preparing livestock products for sale by such person or others.

(f)"Stockyard" means any place, establishment or facility commonly known as a stockyard, conducted or operated for compensation or profit as a public market, consisting of pens or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, for the handling, keeping and holding of livestock for the purpose of sale or shipment.

(g)"Humane method" means either:

(1)A method whereby the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast or cut; or

(2)a method in accordance with ritual requirements of any religious faith whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument.

History: 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963