[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 9, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 9CFR91.28]

[Page 366-368]
 
                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
 
  CHAPTER I--ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 91_INSPECTION AND HANDLING OF LIVESTOCK FOR EXPORTATION--Table 
of Contents
 
           Subpart D_Inspection of Vessels and Accommodations
 
Sec. 91.28  Stanchions and rails.

    (a)(1) Pipes used for stanchions and rails for pens aboard an ocean 
vessel shall be made of zinc coated, galvanized, extra strong, medium 
carbon steel. Steel pipes or other steel profiles shall consist of not 
less than 4 pipes or profiles, the upper one to have 3 inch diameter and 
the others a diameter of not less than 2\1/2\ inches. Stanchions shall 
not be of less than 3\1/2\ inches diameter; shall not be of less than 
\5/16\ inch thickness and shall not be placed more than 8 feet apart 
center to center.
    (2) Threaded pipe connections shall not be used. All parts shall be 
cut from factory fabricated, seamless pipe.
    (3) Bolt and pin holes shall not be drilled to more than \1/32\ inch 
oversize. Holes shall be properly located and centered on pipe.
    (4) Pipe shall not be deformed or weakened by welding such items as 
reinforcing rods or hinges thereto. Welding shall be used for such 
attachment to be exposed in the finished work. Pins, plates, and parts 
other than pipe shall be made of galvanized steel. All areas where 
galvanizing of the steel has eroded or has been damaged shall be 
finished with a rust preventative.
    (5) Pipe rails shall be placed in proper alignment with tops of all 
gates at the same height.
    (b) All gates of animal pens aboard an ocean vessel shall have 
smooth finished surfaces and the pivot-pins shall have a minimum 
diameter of \3/4\ inch.
    (c) Animals may be carried on upper decks of an ocean vessel in 
space abutting the outside rails or bulwarks only if such rails or 
bulwarks are 3 feet or more in height from the deck and are of 
sufficient strength to hold the necessary fittings securely or if the 
space available is sufficient to permit securing the required fittings 
to provide the necessary strength. When animals are carried on upper 
decks, bulkheads shall be erected at all unprotected ends of stalls.
    (d)(1) Cattle and horses. Rail stanchions for pens aboard an ocean 
vessel for cattle or horses shall be constructed of not less that 
4 or 6 lumber set 5 feet apart on centers secured 
to the ship's rail or bulwark with \5/8\ inch or larger bolts or collars 
and with heels raced to the sheer streak or waterway. Inboard stanchions 
of 4x6 lumber shall be set in line with the rail 
stanchions and properly braced: Provided, however, That the method of 
securing and bracing of stanchions may be modified as approved by the 
underwriter of the cargo bureau, and the inspector. Information 
concerning the modifications shall be made available to APHIS, at its 
request. On open rail ships, spaces between the rails shall be blocked 
out to permit the affixing of outside planking. If supplementary 
stanchions are required for rump boards, these shall not be less than 
3x4 in size and shall be secured to beams and 
decks as outlined above. On upper deck fittings at ends of unprotected 
stalls, a stanchion not less than 3x4 in size 
shall be similarly spaced and secured to beams and decks and properly 
braced. Stanchions on underdecks shall be constructed, spaced, and 
secured in the same manner as upper deck fittings.
    (2) Sheep, goats, and swine. Stanchions for single or double tier 
pens for sheep, goats, and swine shall be constructed of not less 
3x4 lumber set at not greater distance than 5 feet 
on centers and secured as outlined in paragraph (d)(1).
    (e) For all animals, two beams of 2x6 lumber 
shall be bolted on each side of the stanchions using \5/8\ inch bolts, 
nuts, and washers. Beams shall extend from outside planking to at least 
2 feet beyond the line of the breast boards unless the beams butt on the 
ship's deck fittings. Two beams of 2x6 lumber 
shall be used to support the roof of single tier pens on exposed decks 
and the floor of double tier pens on all decks.
    (f) All pens for carrying animals on exposed decks aboard an ocean 
vessel shall be roofed with not less than 1

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inch thick, watertight lumber extending from outside planking to at 
least 2 feet beyond the line of breast boards: Provided, That, if tongue 
and grooved lumber is used, it must be caulked or covered so that it is 
watertight or if square edged lumber is used it shall be covered with a 
saturated roofing paper known to the trade as 30 pound roofing paper and 
shall be securely battened.
    (g) All pens for carrying animals on exposed decks shall be provided 
with outside planking of not less than 1\1/2\ inch tongue and groove 
lumber, laid fore and aft of ship, driven tightly together and securely 
nailed to backs of stanchions in a manner to cover all open spaces 
properly. However, during warm weather the top course planking may be 
left off in order to allow a free circulation of air. On vessels with 
closed bulwarks, the outside planking shall extend not less than 6 
inches below the upper edge of the bulwark.
    (h)(1) Horses. All stalls and pens for horses shall be equipped with 
breast boards of no less than 2x10 dressed lumber 
with the top edge placed 3 feet 10 inches from the floor and securely 
nailed to the stanchions. Where butting occurs, the joints are to be on 
the stanchions and shall be covered with metal plates 3 inches square or 
5 inches in diameter and not less than \1/4\ inch in thickness. A \5/8\ 
inch bolt shall then be passed through the plate, joint, and stanchion 
and securely fastened with a nut. All breast boards shall have 1 inch 
holes bored through them at proper distances for tying animals. An 
occassional pen shall be provided with a removable breast board in order 
that animals may be loaded into and removed from the stalls and pens. 
All stalls and pens shall be provided with foot boards of not less than 
2x10 lumber securely nailed or bolted to the 
stanchions. At the discretion of the inspector, small ponies, asses, 
small mules, mares with foal at foot, young unbroken horses or gentle 
horses of any size may be stowed loose in pens. In these cases, a 
sufficient number of finished 2x10 lumber shall be 
placed between the breast and foot boards to effectively contain the 
animals.
    (2) Cattle. All stalls and pens for cattle shall be provided with 
boards as required for horses in paragraph (a), except that the front or 
breast boards shall be constructed in sets of three or more boards of 
2x10 dressed lumber separated by 3 inch spacers 
and placed on the foot board so that the front of the pen extends 48 
inches or more in height from the floor. One or more of the breast 
boards may be left off if feed or water troughs are to be mounted 
externally.
    (3) Sheep, goats, and swine. Front boards in pens for sheep, goats, 
and swine shall be of not less than 1x6 pieces of 
lumber approximately spaced and extending to the proper height for these 
species of animals. Provision shall be made for removing a section of 
front boards to allow entry of animals into pens or removal therefrom 
and for feeding or watering.
    (i)(1) Horses and cattle. Rump boards in pens for horses or cattle 
shall form a solid wall at least 4 feet high for cattle and 4 feet 6 
inches high for horses and shall be of lumber not less than 1\1/2\ 
inches thick if tongued and grooved or 2 inches thick if square edged or 
of plywood of the same strength. Where the deck is clear of 
obstructions, rump boards may be set on the inside of the rail 
stanchions. When this is not possible, sections so affected may be 
brought forward to clear such obstructions and shall be fastened by 
stanchions provided for this purpose. On lower decks where the ship's 
construction so justifies, rump boards may be affixed to 
2x6 wooden pieces set the same as prescribed for 
stanchions. Rump boards may be formed by filling spaces between cargo 
battens. Rump boards in stalls or pens built alongside hatches need be 
carried down only to the coaming line.
    (2) Sheep, goats, and swine. Pens for sheep, goats, and swine on all 
exposed decks shall be provided with rump boards of the specified size 
built to a height of 2 feet 6 inches.
    (j)(1) Horses and cattle. Division boards in pens for horses and 
cattle shall be used to separate all stalls and pens and to close the 
sides thereof at the ends of rows. They shall be used in sets of four 
boards of 2x10 dressed lumber separated by 3 inch 
spacers, shall extend from the rump boards to the inboard stanchions, 
and shall be fitted into appropriate channels or

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slots at both ends in a manner that will permit their ready removal.
    (2) Sheep, goats, and swine. Division boards and those forming ends 
of pens for sheep, goats, and swine shall be the same as prescribed for 
rump boards for these animals in paragraph (i) of this section.

[45 FR 28990, June 7, 1977. Redesignated at 45 FR 86413, Dec. 31, 1980, 
and amended at 57 FR 23047, June 1, 1992]