Cuba Processing Plant, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Cuba Processing Plant, LLC slaughterhouse establishment in 2021.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2021.
313.16(a)(1)
HATS Catergory VIII- Stunning Effectiveness On Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at approximately 0817 hours, while conducting the PHIS Livestock Humane Handling inspection task in the establishment’s slaughter area, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. I observed a stunning failure on a cow when the initial gunshot (22 Mag) applied failed to render the cow unconscious and still standing, the establishment noticed and took immediate corrective actions and applied a second shot that rendered the cow unconscious. I observed the head of the cow and found two (2) bullet holes. I informed Plant Manager Scott Heintz of the noncompliance and a noncompliance report will be issued for the establishment's failure to meet the regulatory requirements of 9CFR 313.16(a). After determining that this humane handling noncompliance was non-egregious, I allowed the establishment to continue to slaughter. At approximately 1019 hours, while continuing to verify the stunning effectiveness in the establishment’s slaughter area, I observed a second humane handling failure on a bull. I observed an establishment employee apply an initial gunshot (20 GA) which failed to render the bull unconscious, the animal was still standing and alert. I observed after a second shot was applied that the bull was still standing and alert showing signs of consciousness. The establishment employee then reloaded the gun and applied a third shot which further failed to render the bull unconscious, the animal was still standing and alert. I observed the fourth shot was applied to the bull, it collapsed and showed no signs of consciousness. I reviewed the head of the bull and found one hole on forehead and a second grouping of shot penetrated through the nasal cavity. I immediately stopped slaughter and applied a U.S Reject Tag B24916631 to the knock box and notified Assistant Plant Manager John Heintz and Plant Manager Scott Heintz of the egregious inhumane treatment and regulatory actions. I immediately notified my supervisor of the egregious inhumane treatment that I observed. After reviewing noncompliance records for the past 90 days, an association will be made to noncompliance KHM1509051426N for the similar root cause of ineffective stunning procedures.
313.16(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness On Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at approximately 0841 hours, I, CSI REDACTED, observed a stunning failure on a steer in the establishment's slaughter area. An establishment employee applied the initial stun with a (22 Mag). After I observed the initial shot, the steer went down, but showing signs of consciousness including heavy panting and trying to return to a standing position. The establishment personnel noticed the consciousness and immediately applied the second shot. After the second shot was applied I observed the steer was unconscious. I, CSI REDACTED, investigated how many ineffective stuns (shots) were applied. At approximately 1015 hours, I observed the head of the steer and found two (2) holes to be on target. I informed Plant Manager Scott Heinz that a noncompliance report would be issued for the establishment's failure to meet the regulatory requirements of 9CFR 313.16(a). Review of PHIS data for this establishment did not show any recent noncompliance for the same root cause.
