<|endoftext|> being lifted off the floor. A pressure limiting valve must be installed on the head holder and rear pusher gate43,45. Many existing upright restraint boxes apply excessive pressure. To prevent excessive bending of the neck, the head holder should position the animal's forehead parallel to the floor. Equipping the head holder with a 15-cm wide, rubber covered forehead bracket will make the head holder more comfortable (Fig 3). The animal should stand in the box with its back level. An arched back is a sign of excessive pusher-gate pressure. In some plants, animals are removed from the restrainer before they become unconscious. Discomfort to the animal can be minimized by allowing it to lapse into unconsciousness before it is removed from the restrainer.
During the past five years, many large kosher slaughter plants for cattle have replaced shackling and hoisting with upright restraint. Large numbers of veal calves and sheep, however, are still shackled and hoisted. Progressive plant owners have installed upright restraint equipment, but unfortunately there are some plant owners who still refuse to install humane restraint equipment because they are not legally required to do so. Animal handling guidelines published by the American Meat institute recommend the use of upright restraint6.
Conclusions
a Koch Supplies, Kansas City, MO
b Nangeroni LL, Kennett PD. Department of Physiology, Cornell University, lthaca, NY: Unpublished data, 1963.
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