Chapter 17. Humane Treatment of Livestock, Including 3-D Livestock, at Auction Markets
Regulation .01 General.LinkCopy Citation
This chapter governs the humane treatment of livestock, including 3-D livestock, by market operators and haulers at auction markets.
Regulation .02 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms defined.
(1)
“Department” means Maryland Department of Agriculture.
(2)
Downers.
(a)
“Downers” means livestock that are down and unable to rise even with assistance.
(b)
“Downers” includes livestock which, after being assisted to rise, cannot stand and walk without assistance.
(3)
“Livestock” means cattle, swine, sheep, horses, asses, mules, or goats.
(4)
“Livestock market” means an established location where livestock are offered for sale.
(5)
“Humane treatment” means:
(a)
Treating livestock in a manner that avoids unnecessary suffering or pain; and
(b)
Providing livestock, when necessary, with adequate feed, water, veterinary care, and shelter.
(6)
“Slaughter establishment” means an establishment regulated by the Food Safety Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or by a corresponding agency in those states which conduct meat inspection.
(7)
"3-D livestock" means livestock that are:
(a)
Downers;
(b)
Debilitated; or
(c)
Diseased.
Regulation .03 Responsibility of Livestock Market Operators.LinkCopy Citation
A.
An operator of a livestock market:
(1)
Shall provide humane treatment of livestock in its custody;
(2)
May not accept downers for sale at its market;
(3)
In the case of livestock that become downers after acceptance for sale at the market, shall:
(a)
Provide the needed equipment for handling, moving, and, if necessary, euthanizing these animals,
(b)
Identify and mark the livestock in a distinctive manner,
(c)
Separate and separately pen the livestock from healthy animals, and
(d)
Notify the Department that an animal has become a downer; and
(4)
Shall properly dispose of all animals that die or are euthanized after acceptance into the market.
B.
The operator of a livestock market is permitted to offer or sell 3-D livestock only to a slaughtering establishment for immediate slaughter.
C.
At the close of a livestock sale, if any downers remain unsold, the market operator immediately shall:
(1)
Euthanize the livestock as provided under 9 CFR 313; or
(2)
Place them in the care of a licensed veterinarian.
Regulation .04 Responsibility of Persons Transporting Livestock.LinkCopy Citation
A person transporting downers from an auction market shall either:
A.
If transporting downers with healthy animals, segregate them from the healthy animals, using a rigid barrier; or
B.
Transport downers in a separate vehicle from that used for healthy animals.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Agriculture Article, §§3-101, 3-307, and 4-122, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1390)