Fallon Livestock Processing, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 Q4 (USDA)

313.1

On September 03, 2025, at approximately 1700 hours, I SPHV Dr. REDACTED was conducting Odd Hour inspections as Establishment M47488 when I observed the following noncompliance with HATS task # IV Antemortem Inspection (Facilities). While walking through the pens, I observed that the establishment had added new wooden frames to the pens to better secure the pen numbers and their signs to differentiate USDA from Custom Exempt livestock. These wooden frames are secured to the pens with a silver wire that is short enough to prevent any immediate access from livestock and the potential for injury as most of them are twisted in a way that they are tucked away from the livestock’s reach. At most these coiled pieces of wire measure 3mm in length. In pen number 4, which is the only covered pen space the wooden frame that was placed on this pen was attached using a different type of metal wire. This wire was brown in color and was looser and longer than the wire used for the other wooden frames. The establishment had secured this wooden board with the wire in a way that they looped the wire so that the unsharp edge faces inside of the pen, and the longer pointed sharp edge is facing outside. As I made my way closer, after inspecting the other livestock on site, I observed that there was a USDA lamb that started biting at the lose metal wire holding the pen number 4 wooden frame. As it continued to bite at the wire it was able to pull one of the sharp ends into the pen. At the start of this task, establishment management had already left for the day, and during this task, I didn’t observe the lamb wound itself with the wire while it chewed at it. At approximately 1750 hours, when I had finished inspecting the area where the lamb was held, I informed Plant Manager REDACTED of the above noncompliance via text message. I also informed him that I would not be placing a U.S. reject tag onto the pen and how this did not require his immediate corrective action before the end of today as I did not observe an immediate risk to the lambs wellbeing during the time of my inspection, but there is enough wire length to cause a potential hazard for itself and other future livestock that get placed in this pen as it measured approximately 3 inches in length while it faced into the pen. The above is not in noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.1(a), this noncompliance will not be associated as there have been no noncompliance records of similar cause or circumstance issued within the last 90 days. Per 9 CFR 313.1 (a); Livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may, in the opinion of the inspector, cause injury or pain to the animals. Loose boards splintered or broken planking, and unnecessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired.