Health of Animals Regulations

145 (1) A person who is loading or unloading an animal in or from a conveyance or container shall use a fixed or movable ramp, gangway, chute, step or apparatus unless the animal is not likely to suffer, sustain an injury or die by stepping directly from or onto the ground or other surface.

(2) No person shall load or unload an animal in or from a conveyance or container, or cause one to be so loaded or unloaded, using a fixed or movable ramp, gangway, chute, step or apparatus unless it is used in a manner that is not likely to cause the animal’s suffering, injury or death and the following conditions with respect to the ramps, gangways, chutes, steps or apparatuses are met:

• (a) they can bear the weight to which they are subjected without collapsing, twisting, breaking or bending;

• (b) there are side rails of sufficient strength and height to prevent the animal from falling off;

• (c) they have a surface that is designed, constructed and maintained to prevent the animal from tripping, slipping and falling; and

• (d) they are placed so that there is no unprotected gap through which the animal could trip, slip, fall or escape.

(3) Side rails are not required if the animal is loaded and unloaded individually in a manner that is not likely to cause the animal’s suffering, injury or death.

(4) No person shall load or unload livestock or cervids — or cause them to be loaded or unloaded — into or from a conveyance or container using ramps, gangways, chutes or apparatuses that have a slope from the horizontal that exceeds

• (a) 20° in the case of a porcine;

• (b) 25° in the case of a bovine;

• (c) 30° in the case of an equine; and

• (d) 35° in the case of a cervid, caprine or ovine.