Andy's Meats Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.2

At approximately 9AM on June 9, 2021, I (Dr. REDACTED) was observing HATS category III, Water and Feed Availability, when I observed the following non-compliance. I observed that the water to the nipple waterers in the “shoot” pen was shut off due to damage to the waterers. During the slaughter operation, the barn worker would bring small groups of about 15 or 20 pigs into the “shoot” pen, close the gate, put half into the restrainer and in a few minutes would put the rest of them in the restrainer. This would be considered in process. However, when the company break arrived, about 15 pigs were placed in the pen and the gate closed, blocking access to the waterers in pen three which is from where the pigs were being moved. They had no access to water for about 15 or 20 minutes. I informed Mr. Andy Zubek, plant manager, of the situation and informed him I would issue a non compliance record. 9 CFR 313.2(e) states in part that animals shall have access to water in all holding pens. Mr. Zubek stated that he planned to place water nipples on a different wall of the pen where he felt they were less likely to be damaged and that if the waterers could not be turned on for some reason, that they would just leave the gate between pen 3 and “shoot” pen open during breaks to allow the pigs access to water.