Cattlemen's Processing LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3)

HATS VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 7/14/21, at approximately 0847 hours, I, SPHV Dr. REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: A black steer was in the knock box. An establishment employee attempted to the stun the steer with a handheld captive bolt device. The captive bolt device discharged, and a hole was observed in the steer’s head – off center from the midline of the skull. The steer lost balance (was not fully standing) but was not completely down. Both hindlegs appeared to be up and both front legs appeared to be down. I observed that the steer’s right eye was blinking. As the steer leaned forward in the knock box, I touched the right eye which elicited a blink and eye tracking. The plant employee attempted to stun the steer again but dropped the handheld captive bolt device. At this point, the plant employee stepped down from the platform and approximately 90 seconds had passed between the first stun attempt. The employee administered an additional captive bolt stun to the steer in the knock box. The steer was effectively rendered unconscious on this second stun as verified by lack of eye movement, vocalization, or righting behavior at 0848 hours. I immediately placed U.S. rejected tag #B45644518 on the knock box. I informed Brandon Shelton, Plant Co-owner, that the knock box is tagged, and that I would be contacting my Frontline Supervisor. I informed Mr. Shelton that a noncompliance record would be issued for noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1): The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.