Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing Company Inc: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness As I arrived at the knock box to observe stunning effectiveness on 8/16/2021, at approximately 1522 hours, I observed a beef cow standing facing to the West. The cow was alert and responsive and not vocalizing. However, cattle normally enter the knock box facing East. I asked the stun operator REDACTED what happened and observed him quickly use a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCB) to effectively stun the cow. Mr. REDACTED told me the cow had spun around. I observed the dressed head from the cow (#222) and saw two penetrating stun holes. I U.S. retained the head using tag NO. B37337275. As I only observed one effective stunning attempt and two knock holes, it is reasonable to conclude that there had been a previous, ineffective stunning attempt prior to my arrival at the knock box. I verbally informed Mr. REDACTED, VP of Operations, of the noncompliance and showed him and SPHV Dr. David Gallatin the head. This NR is associated with NR IYC3108070331N / 1, dated 7/31/21, for the same root cause. Corrective actions were either ineffective or not properly implemented.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness While observing stunning effectiveness on 7/31/2021 at approximately 0630 hours, I observed an ineffective stunning attempt on a beef cow. After the first stun attempt with the hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, the cow remained standing and flung its head back with the HHCB device still in its head. As the stun operator immediately grabbed the HHCB device from the cow’s head, I observed the cow blink approximately 2-3 times. The stun operator immediately used a HHCB device to deliver the second stun, which rendered the cow unconscious. I observed the dressed head and verified two separate penetrating stun holes. The head was retained using U.S. Retained tag number B37337354. The Denver District Office was contacted via supervisory channels and I verbally informed QA Manager REDACTED of the noncompliance. No regulatory control action was taken at the stunning area due to the immediate corrective actions taken by the establishment in order to render the animal insensible. This NR is associated with NR IYC4307075301N/1, dated 7/1/21, for the same root cause.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness While observing stunning effectiveness at approximately 0548 hours, I observed an ineffective stunning attempt on dairy cow #8. After the first stun attempt with the hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, the cow remained standing. There was no vocalization. The cows head was upright, and the animal was alert with normal eye tracking. The stun operator immediately used the backup HHCB device located at the stun box to deliver the second stun, which rendered the cow unconscious. I observed the dressed head and verified two separate penetrating stun holes and retained the head using U.S. Retained tag No. B37337161. I informed Dr. REDACTED, SPHV/IIC, of the ineffective stun. No regulatory control action was taken at the stunning area since the establishment applied corrective actions promptly following the ineffective stun. The Denver District Office was contacted via supervisory channels and I verbally informed QA Technician REDACTED and Plant Manager Matthew Smith of the noncompliance. This NR is associated with NR IYC2215041915N / 1, dated 4/15/21, for the same root cause.

313.2

HATS Category VI- Electric Prod/Alternative Object Use On 6/23/2021 at approximately 0830 hours, while I was observing stunning and driving of animals as part of the routine humane handling task, I observed the following noncompliance. A small steer with long horns was turned around and partially collapsed on its forelimbs in the alley to the stun box, with a large Charolais bull directly facing the steer. The animals were close enough together that the brisket of the bull was over the head of the partially collapsed steer. I observed and heard Stun Operator REDACTED use the electric prod on the rump of the bull to drive the bull past the steer and to the stun box. The steer immediately stood up at the sound of the electricity of the prod. The bull flinched in response to being prodded and squeezed halfway past the turned around steer, but the alley was too narrow for it to squeeze past the steer completely. Stun Operator REDACTED then prodded the steer in the rump, which flinched in response and squeezed slightly more past the bull. Stun Operator REDACTED then turned the electric prod around and used the blunt handheld end of the prod to strike the steer on the face directly below the poll twice, which caused the steer to squeeze past the bull completely. When the two animals were finally free of being squeezed together, the bull slipped and fell, then stood back up and moved into the stun box. I notified QA Manager REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance. This is a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(a) and 9 CFR 313.2(b). The striking of the steer on the face with an object was inappropriate object usage and usage in a sensitive area. The bull slipping and falling when being driven past the steer was what constituted as excessive excitement and discomfort when being driven to the knock box. There have been no Humane Handling NR’s or MOI’s documented for this same root cause within the past 90 days.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness While observing stunning effectiveness on 4/15/2021 at approximately 1155 hours, I, SPHV REDACTED observed an ineffective stunning attempt on a jersey cow. After the first stun attempt with the hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, the cow partially collapsed onto its forelimbs but remained standing on its hindlimbs. There was no vocalization, but the cow remained conscious. I observed the cow blink multiple times, turn its head from side to side, and twitch its ears in response to noise. The stun operator immediately began to try to get the cow’s attention to get the cow to stand up, because the stun operator could not reach the cow’s head to deliver a second stun. After a short duration, the stun operator yelled “Hey” and the cow pulled its ear back in response, then stood back up completely. The stun operator immediately used the backup HHCB device located at the stun box to deliver the second stun, which rendered the cow unconscious. I observed the dressed head and verified two separate penetrating stun holes and retained the head using U.S. Retained tag number B37337122. The Denver District Office was contacted via supervisory channels and I verbally informed Plant Manager Matt Smith of the noncompliance. There have been no Humane Handling NR’s or MOI’s documented for this same root cause within the past 90 days.