HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF LIVESTOCK

MCL ch. 287, subtit. Act 163 of 1962

in effect

MCL 287.551 Humane slaughter of livestock; definitions.

287.551. Humane slaughter of livestock; definitions. Sec. 1. As used in this act: (a) "Director" means the director of agriculture. (b) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation or association doing business in this state, in whole or in part. (c) "Slaughterer" means any person regularly engaged in the commercial slaughtering of livestock. (d) "Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products. (e) "Packer" means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering, or of manufacturing or preparing meat or meat products for sale, either by such person or others; or of manufacturing or preparing livestock products for sale by such person or others. (f) "Stockyard" means any place, establishment or facility commonly known as a stockyard, conducted or operated for compensation or profit as a public market, consisting of pens or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, for the handling, keeping and holding of livestock for the purpose of sale or shipment. (g) "Humane method" means either: (1) A method whereby the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast or cut; or (2) a method in accordance with ritual requirements of any religious faith whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

MCL 287.552 Humane slaughter of livestock; methods prohibited.

287.552. Humane slaughter of livestock; methods prohibited. Sec. 2. No slaughterer, packer or stockyard operator shall shackle, hoist or otherwise bring livestock into position for slaughter by any method which shall cause injury or pain. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

MCL 287.553 Humane slaughter of livestock; exemptions.

287.553. Humane slaughter of livestock; exemptions. Sec. 3. No slaughterer, packer or stockyard operator shall bleed or slaughter any livestock except by a humane method. The director, by administrative order, may exempt from compliance with this act, for a period not to exceed 1 year after the effective date of this act, any slaughterer, packer or stockyard operator if he finds that an earlier compliance would cause such person an undue hardship. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

MCL 287.554 Ritual slaughter.

287.554. Ritual slaughter. Sec. 4. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit, abridge or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, ritual handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of this act. For the purposes of this section, the term "ritual slaughter" means slaughter in accordance with subsection (g) of section 1. To conform with the provisions and intent of this act, animals not previously rendered insensible, and to be slaughtered in accordance with a humane method as defined in subsection (g) of section 1, shall be slaughtered immediately following total suspension from the floor. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

MCL 287.555 Rules and regulations; inhumane methods.

287.555. Rules and regulations; inhumane methods. Sec. 5. The director shall administer the provisions of this act. He shall promulgate and may from time to time revise rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 88 of the Public Acts of 1943, as amended, being sections 24.71 to 24.82 of the Compiled Laws of 1948, and subject to Act No. 197 of the Public Acts of 1952, as amended, being sections 24.101 to 24.110 of the Compiled Laws of 1948, which shall conform substantially to the rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of agriculture of the United States pursuant to the federal humane slaughter act of 1958, Public Law 85-765, 72 Stat. 862, and any amendments thereto. The use of a manually operated hammer, sledge or poleax is declared to be an inhumane method of slaughter within the meaning of this act. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

MCL 287.556 Violation of act; penalty.

287.556. Violation of act; penalty. Sec. 6. Any person who violates any provision of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 1962, Act 163, Eff. Mar. 28, 1963

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20287.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026