Bright Oak Meats, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 1055, FI REDACTED observed that Mr. REDACTED, slaughter floor supervisor, administered an ineffective stun to a horned cow while using a handheld captive bolt device (HHCBD). The cow remained standing but did not vocalize or otherwise show overt distress. Mr. REDACTED then immediately administered a second stun with a backup HHCBD. The animal was rendered unconscious by the second stun, and plant employees confirmed the animal was fully insensible prior to dragging, bleeding, or shackling. The stun box was tagged with USDA Reject Tag 9678952. Mr. REDACTED was verbally informed of the non-compliance. The head was inspected and two penetrating stun holes were observed. The establishment has a robust written humane handling plan. There have been no other non-compliances for the same root cause issued within the past 90 days. The USDA Reject Tag was removed after correlation with the FLS and DVMS.

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1145, while performing HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness of the Livestock Humane Handling Task, I observed a new slaughter floor employee stunning several lambs with a handheld captive bolt device. When the new stun operator got to a horned lamb, he requested assistance from Mr. REDACTED, Slaughter Floor Supervisor, about where to place the handheld captive bolt device. Mr. REDACTED provided verbal instructions and the new stun operator stunned the lamb. I observed the lamb was seen to fall but I did not observe its reflexes tested at that time. After stunning all [MDF1] 6 animals, the new stun operator opened the door of the stun box and began to drag the carcasses out to be bled. I observed the new stun operator observe the heads of each animal to look for unconsciousness before he moved it each animal. At the same time, I observed and the new stun operator noticed that the horned lamb was standing in the corner. I observed the lamb was disoriented and standing stiffly with its head down. The new stun operator immediately alerted senior slaughter floor staff and the primary stun operator applied a second effective stun to the lamb. I observed the primary stun operator then apply a security stun. After the skull was skinned, I observed three penetrating holes. All three holes were full thickness and exposed the brain. Mr. REDACTED and Ms. REDACTED, Production Manager, were verbally notified that this was a humane handling noncompliance. The stunning area was rejected with tag #B9678964. The Denver District Management Team was contacted via supervisory channels. There have been no humane handling non-compliances issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days.