Meat&Poultry - November 2014 - 37

or falling in the unloading process.

dit frequency should be at least weekly,

handling and stunning performance

One plant stages a herdsman inside

though some plants are having great

in the plant. ■

the trailer to slow calves down as they

success auditing core criteria daily.

exit. Other plants have added rubber

Whatever frequency is selected, mea-

tire mats at the transition from the

suring the process and taking steps

trailer bed to the pens floor.

to continually improve will benefit

After working for 30 years in processing plants,
Jerry Karczewski is now the owner of Karczewski
Consulting (www.diversecattle.com), specializing
in humane handling and plant operations
services.

Bob calves are not interested in
leaving the trailer; they must be moved
patiently and in small groups or individually. A trailer load of bob calves
can contain 250 calves and take two
hours to unload, whereas a load of formula-feds may contain 90 calves that
can be unloaded in 20-25 minutes.

Troubleshooting balking
issues
Calves will balk when distracted by
something they see, hear or feel. In
areas of the plant where balking occurs, look for distractions in the travel
path from the unloading area all the
way to the restrainer.
Examples of distractions that impede movement would be items such
as: a hose stretched across a walkway; a
fan blowing air in the faces of calves; a
noisy conveyor; or loud banging noises.
Examining distractions from the perspective of the veal calf can help solve
balking issues and improve low stress
movement through the lairage area.
Most solutions to balking issues are
simple and don't cost much; removing
a hose, relocating a light, redirecting
a fan. Small changes can lead to big
improvements.

Audit for success

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When working on stunning and handling issues, the best way to mark improvements is to regularly audit the
process. Using the AMI Official Audit
Forms for Beef, the plant can measure
over time if the changes being made
are effective at improving welfare. Auwww.MeatPoultry.com * November 2014 * Meat&Poultry *

http://www.diversecattle.com http://www.mt.com/safeline-us-xray http://www.MeatPoultry.com

Meat&Poultry - November 2014

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