(A) The following livestock management procedures are acceptable
and, if performed, must be performed in a humane manner:
(1) For horn removal, disbudding prior to
eruption is permissible without pain management; for dehorning after eruption,
pain management must be used;
(2) The responsible party in determining
the method of castration and use of pain management must take into
consideration the animal's age and weight, environmental conditions, and
facilities available as well as human and animal safety;
(3) Until December 31, 2017, tail docking
can be performed using elastrator castration bands in a manner that will result
in the least amount of pain, and under the advice and consent of a licensed
veterinarian pursuant to rule 4741-1-13 of the Administrative Code and meets
the following requirements:
(a) Can be performed no sooner than the first confirmation of
pregnancy; or
(b) The animal is in a dairy herd management system that
practices tail docking; and,
(c) The responsible party must have a fly control program;
and,
(d) Any other method of tail docking must be performed by a
licensed veterinarian.
(4) Effective January 1, 2018, tail
docking can only be performed:
(a) By a licensed veterinarian; and,
(b) If the procedure is determined to be medically
necessary.
(B) All dairy cattle housing must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Must provide a clean and safe
environment that promotes the health, welfare and performance of dairy cattle
at all stages of their lives;
(2) Must provide access to facilities or
natural features that provide reasonable protection from adverse weather
conditions and predators;
(3) Enclosures, including fencing, must
be designed and maintained so as to minimize bruising and injury and provide
for the safety of humans and other animals; and,
(4) Light intensity must be adequate for
observation during inspection.
(C) Maternity/calf indoor housing must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Maternity areas must be clean, dry,
well ventilated and the light intensity adequate for observation;
(2) In maternity areas, there must be
sufficient space to enable cows to separate themselves from other animals
during labor; and,
(3) Calves must be housed in a clean, dry
area with space to stand, lie down, turn around and be protected from adverse
weather.
(D) Cow/heifer indoor housing must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Housing must be designed and
maintained in a manner which:
(a) Seeks to minimize the effects of adverse weather;
and
(b) Provides ventilation to reduce concentrations of ammonia and
dust;
(2) Have a stocking density that allows
for dairy cattle of all ages to easily lie down in a normal resting posture and
be able to easily stand back up at all stages of production, and in addition
all animals must be able to access feed and water without excessive
competition;
(3) If free stalls, tie stalls or
stanchions are used, they must be designed and maintained so that the length
and width provides appropriate space to accommodate the size of the
animal's body so that the animal is not forced to lie with her rear
quarter contacting the alleyway or gutter;
(4) If free stalls, tie stalls or
stanchions are used, they must be cleaned regularly and bedding replenished
regularly;
(5) If bedded pack is used, it must be
bedded on a regular basis to obtain adequate drainage and moisture
control;
(6) Feeding, watering areas and alleys
must be cleaned on a regular basis so as to be free of continual standing water
and excess manure that may compromise the animal's health and
safety;
(7) Alleys must be designed and
maintained so as to minimize the potential for injury and
bruising;
(8) If tie stalls or stanchions are used,
the animals must be provided with the opportunity for exercise, weather
permitting; and,
(9) If tie stalls or stanchions are used,
the animals must have room to stand, lie down, eat, drink, defecate, and
urinate comfortably.
(E) Outdoor housing must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Must seek to minimize prolonged
exposure to adverse environmental conditions that compromise the animal's
health and safety;
(2) If open lots are used, they must be
maintained to promote proper drainage away from resting areas and feed and
water; and,
(3) During prolonged periods of wetness,
the responsible party must ensure that cattle have access to feed and
water.
(F) Breeding bull housing must meet the following
requirements:
(1) Must allow bulls to easily stand up,
lie down, and adopt a normal resting posture;
(2) Must have a resting area that
provides comfort, dryness and protection from adverse weather;
(3) Feeding, watering areas and alleys
must be cleaned on a regular basis and be free of continual standing water and
excess manure that may compromise the animal's health and
safety;
(4) Alleys must be designed and
maintained so as to minimize the potential for injury and bruising;
and,
(5) Enclosures, including fencing, must
be designed and maintained so as to provide for the safety of humans and other
animals.