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Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000)

Red Meat Regulations, 2004

Part V : Humane Treatment of Animals and Slaughter Process [Section 11(1)(h)]

68. Lairaging

 

 

[Also see regulation 20; 21; 22]

 

1) Animals awaiting slaughter must be held in lairages and pens.

 

2) Lairages must be cleaned after each batch of animals has been removed.

 

3) Clean drinking water must be available at all times for animals awaiting slaughter.

 

4) Animals may not be kept in a lairage or pen for longer than 72 hours, but in the case of calves and pigs for not longer than 48 hours.

 

5) Sub regulation (4) does not apply to Judas goats for which must be provided-
a) specific roofed pens with suitable bedding sited away from the slaughter area;
b) sufficient and suitable feed on a daily basis; and
c) veterinary treatment as required.

 

6) Judas goats mentioned above must not be allowed to breed and castrated males must preferably be used.

 

7) Animals kept in lairages and pens for longer than 24 hours for monogastrics or longer than 48 hours for ruminants, must be fed.

 

8) Unweaned pigs and calves under the age of three months and unweaned lambs under two months awaiting slaughter for a period of 12 hours or more, must be fed with grain in the case of pigs, and with milk or milk substitute in the case of calves, lambs and kids with the understanding that such milk must be fed with a bottle or other method appropriate for such animals.

 

9) Where animals are fed in a lairage or pen, feed may only be placed in a hay rack, trough or other suitable container.

 

10) The following animals may not be penned together:
a) bulls and cows or heifers and cows;
b) any young animals and adults;
c) animals of different species;
d) fractious and normal animals: and
e) cattle with long and short horns.

 

11) Animals that gave birth in vehicles or in lairages must be kept in isolation pens together with their young pending a decision of the veterinarian which will include having the young removed from the abattoir or destroyed, subject to quarantine situations, and with the understanding that animals that have given birth may not be slaughtered within three days.