Recommended Handling of Disabled or Crippled Livestock

Although injured or incapacitated animals (sometimes called "downers") represent less than .1 percent of all livestock arriving at packing plants, they are significant because they require special attention in the areas of handling, transporting, holding pens and inspection.
As a general principle, all disabled animals arriving at packing plants should be dispatched to slaughter as promptly as possible to minimize the animal's suffering.