Huse's Processing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 Q1 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HAT Category VIII – Effective Stun 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) CSI REDACTED and I, Dr. REDACTED witnessed an ineffective stun on a heifer, the fifth bovine stunned, around 11:52am with a hand held captive bolt on 12/31/2024 while preforming a humane handling task. The heifer was still standing and breathing normally with a nose bleed after the ineffective stun. The heifer was then immediately effectively stunned by a second stun with a rifle, kept right next to the knocking box, becoming immediately unconscious falling onto the floor and not responding to any stimuli. The heifer remained unconscious through bleeding. There was evidence on the heifers skull that the ineffective stun did make contact with the skull. The knock box was tagged until proper corrective actions were received from the plant. REDACTED was immediately notified of the event and the hand stunner was placed in her office until a thorough re-evaluation of the hand stunner could be completed. REDACTED notified me at 12:45pm that the employees were retrained on proper stunning techniques and maintenance on the stunning devices. Retain/Reject tag NO. B41475044 was placed on the knocking box at 11:57 am. The Reject tag was removed at 12:50pm after the establishment notified me of the corrective actions that were taken above.