ASPCA Pen

Updated March 2023

This device consists of a narrow stall with an opening in the front for the animal's head. After the animal enters the box, it is nudged forward with a pusher gate and a belly lift comes up under the brisket. The head is restrained by a chin lift for the rabbi to perform shehita. Vertical travel of the belly lift should be restricted to 28 inches (71 cm) so that it does not lift the animal off the floor. The rear pusher gate should be equipped with either a separate pressure regulator or special pilot-operated check valves to allow the operator to control the amount of pressure exerted on the animal. The pen should be operated from the rear toward the front. Restraining the head is the last step. The operator should avoid sudden jerking of the controls. Many cattle will stand still if the box is slowly closed up around them, and less pressure will be required to hold them.
An ASPCA pen can be easily installed in one weekend with minimum disruption of plant operations. It has a maximum capacity of 100 cattle per hour and it works best at 75 head per hour. A small version of this pen could be easily built for calf plants.
Cattle have become much larger and wider in many parts of the world. The width and length dimensions will need to be increased for large Holsteins and beef cattle that have been selected for more muscle. For the largest cattle the width must be widened about 6 in (15 cm). When the bovine is restrained in the box it's back should remain level.

Schematic Details of ASPCA Pen

These are construction drawings for the ASPCA Pen for ritual slaughter of adult cattle.
The schematics show the critical dimensions against the animal.
Structural components not drawn.