Double J Lamb Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

None

On 6/28/21, while performing HATS tasks at the knock box during a kosher slaughter operation, I observed the rabbi miss the full cut - a small amount of blood was coming from one side of the neck and the lamb remained upright and conscious. The rabbi declared the lamb non-kosher and the workers at the box proceeded to attempt shackling. I immediately took a RCA and stopped the line while letting the employee know that conscious animals cannot be shackled and that he needed to apply the captive bolt immediately. He responded by saying that he did not have one. I stated that the Verfication Plan stated there would always be a captive bolt in the knock box and that I had just seen it there on my check last week. Since it was not immediately visible to me, I summoned the employee who performs back-up knocks on the floor. He retrieved the captive bolt device from its station on the floor and proceeded to stun the sheep effectively. I found the plant manager and asked where the captive bolt for the knock box was located. He said he didn’t know but would try to find out. I waited for several minutes and he never returned to report to me where it was or bring it to the knock box to fulfill the requirements set forth in the VP. I began again searching for plant management. I found REDACTED who also reported that he was unaware that the captive bolt was not at the knock box. He immediately launched a search and after several more minutes found it in the maintenance garage. He checked its functionality and returned it to the knock box at which time the RCA was lifted. I verbally discussed with the employee at the knock box that any time a kosher cut fails, the animal needs to be properly stunned prior to shackling. He said he was previously unaware of the that on kosher slaughter days, but that he would begin performing it. I informed plant management to train the employees at the knock box of the procedure for back up stunning.

313.30(a)(4),313.16(a)(3)

At approximately 0930 on 5/12/21 while performing a HATS task at the knock box, I observed a lamb which had made the first turn in the rail and regained consciousness. The lamb was moving and attempting to right himself while blinking. I immediately stopped the line and requested the employee present stun the animal immediately. The employees present were unaware of a procedure to move forward with stunning. I then summoned the employee responsible for the cut. He proceeded onto the floor but also was unaware of a back up stunning procedure. Meanwhile, the lamb remained conscious while blinking and moving with an active corneal response. More employees responded to the stopped line and finally, approximately 1 - 2 minutes after the lamb regained consciousness REDACTED effectively stunned the animal with a captive bolt device. I took a regulatory control action and notified the knockers that they could not kill any more animals. REDACTED and REDACTED were informed to stop production at the killing step but that the lambs already killed could be processed. I placed US Retained Tag No B37573562 on the restrainer and instructed the employees present that it could not be removed.