Eagle Grove Cooperative: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.2

At approximately 9:45 am while performing the second morning ante-mortem pen check, I observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category III Water and Feed Availability. Three hogs were secluded in a small area behind an open gate that was tethered to the wall to allow for bobcat access through the Shipper holding pen. The area was small allowing only enough room for turning around and laying down with no air circulation as the wall is composed of concrete and the gate is composed of solid sheets of metal. The area in which they were secluded has no access to water and all three hogs were experiencing an increase in respiratory rate and rapid open mouth breathing. I notified QA Animal Welfare Auditor REDACTED about the noncompliance and that an NR would be issued. The sprinklers were turned on and the door was untethered and closed to allow the animals access to the pen in its entirety and allow access to the water nipples in the pen.

313.2

At approximately 6:20am, after performing the first morning ante-mortem pen check, I observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category VI Electric Prod/Alternative Object Use. A group of hogs was making a lot of noise and trying to go the opposite direction of the REDACTED. The REDACTED operator was trying to make some of the hogs move forward by motivating them with the rattle paddle but the hogs behind were excitable, making vocal noises, and trying to escape the alley by moving backwards towards the stationary swing gate. One hog that was close to the stationary gate began to climb upon the other hogs as the other hogs were pushing on him. The mobile swing gate was moving towards this group of hogs in addition to the rattle paddle being used in front of them. One hog’s head was now above the level of the stationary gate and climbing over the other hogs as the mobile swing gate was coming towards him. The hog then fell over the other side of the stationary gate landing head-first onto the concrete floor behind the stationary gate. The hog stood up, shook its head and ran back down the alley away from the gate. I stopped procession of hogs to the REDACTED. I placed U.S. Reject tag # B-45098713 on the two alleys. I explained to Barn Floor Supervisor REDACTED that a noncompliance record would be issued. The supervisor immediately verbally retrained the REDACTED operators about overly exciting the hogs with objects, and they plan to conduct formal re-training with additional corrective actions to follow.