Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 1302.3 - Slaughter Pens

(a) An owner or manager of a premises requesting approval to maintain slaughter pens must contact the Department's Animal Health Branch district office where the feedlot or premises is located, or the Animal Health Branch in Sacramento.

(b) Approval of slaughter pens may be granted when the owner or manager of the premises completes and submits to the Department's Animal Health Branch an Application for Slaughter Pen Status, AHB Form 76-200, as provided by the Department. The application will include the following:

(1) Pen numbers subject to approval;

(2) Name, address and premises ID # of the premises;

(3) Name and telephone number of the contact person such as owner or manager; and

(4) Signature of the applicant that certifies compliance with the following requirements:

(A) All cattle entering slaughter pens are considered restricted and may only be moved from those pens directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment where they are slaughtered within three (3) calendar days of arrival, or to other slaughter pens.

(B) All cattle must bear an individual official identification number as defined in Title 3, California Code of Regulations, section 830(a)(25), and records must be maintained for all animals entering and leaving the slaughter pens:

1. Buyer's and seller's name and address.

2. Number of animals.

3. Description of each animal including sex, age, breed and identification.

4. Date of entry and date animals shipped from feedyard.

5. Terminal destination of the animals.

(C) Provide signage that clearly states "slaughter only" on each slaughter pen.

(D) Maintain separation (no fence line contact) of cattle in slaughter pens from breeding cattle. This separation can be an alley if cattle are not kept in the alley.

(E) Not allow restricted and non-restricted cattle to share watering systems, feed troughs or hospital pens.

(F) Not allow pasturing or grazing of the restricted cattle.

(G) Record birth or mortality of cattle in slaughter pens by date and animal identification.

(H) Allow Department and/or USDA personnel to periodically inspect the restricted cattle and the slaughter pens and review all associated records.

(I) Maintain records for a minimum of five (5) years.

(c) Approval of slaughter pens is valid for one (1) year from the date of approval.

(d) The State Veterinarian may amend the requirements for slaughter pens in response to a change in disease status or to prevent the threat, introduction or spread of disease to California livestock, as determined by the State Veterinarian.

(e) Failure to comply with the provisions of this agreement may result in the revocation of this agreement and/or the Department's refusal to enter into any future agreements with the applicant for the confined feeding of restricted cattle pursuant to the article.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 1302.3

1. New section filed 2-27-2017; operative 4-1-2017 (Register 2017, No. 9).
2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 8-31-2021; operative 10-1-2021 (Register 2021, No. 36).

Note: Authority cited: Section 407, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 9561, 9562, 9570, 9574, 9932, 10324 and 10610, Food and Agricultural Code.

1. New section filed 2-27-2017; operative 4/1/2017 (Register 2017, No. 9).
2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 8-31-2021; operative 10/1/2021 (Register 2021, No. 36).