The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, enacted in 1978, sets forth which practices?

• A. Vehicle and transport requirements
• B. Humane handling and stunning practices and procedures
• C. Post-slaughter processing standards
• D. Feeding and housing standards

Answer: (B)

The measure focuses on treating animals with care during the slaughter process, requiring humane handling and the use of methods to render animals insensible to pain before slaughter. Humane handling covers how animals are moved and restrained—designing facilities and practices to prevent fear and distress during handling. Stunning practices specify the approved methods used to render the animal unconscious prior to slaughter, so the animal does not experience pain. Transport, post-slaughter processing standards, and feeding or housing are addressed by other regulations and stages of production, not this act. So the best answer highlights humane handling and stunning procedures.