Local Cuts Meat Company: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 0745 Hours, While performing Livestock Humane Handling Task Category VIII Stunning effectiveness the following was observed. Animal number one. Use of the hand held captive bolt did not result in immediate unconsciousness. The knock applied contacted the animal. The animal tried to stand was breathing heavily and bellowed. The stunner attempted to apply a second stun with the back-up captive bolt. The back up would not fire, I asked that the firearm be used without delay due to reload time on the captive bolt. Mr. Heath Mayes used the firearm to render the animal immediately unconscious as I stepped outside into the pen area walkway. After the single shot from the firearm the animal showed no further signs of sensibility or consciousness. Mr. Mayes went to contact the Manufacturer representative of the captive bolts as he had been here on 9/14/21. At 0934 the representative replied via text and informed Mr. Mayes that the firing mechanisms in the captive bolts are defective and must be replaced. The .22 caliber firearm will be used to properly stun animals until the captive bolt firing mechanisms can be replaced and tested. Inspection of the skinned head revealed that the original stun was applied only about half an inch above eye level. These observations are non compliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). Animal #2 Effective stunning and rendering animal unconscious with use of .22 caliber Firearm. Establishment Manager Mr. Heath Mayes was informed of the non compliance. Similar non compliance documented on 09/09/2021 # GNQ0614095209. Corrective actions were either ineffective or incorrectly implemented.

313.15(a)(1)

Local Cuts is a new slaughter plant. On 09/09/2021 it was its 1st day of slaughter operation. At approximately 0730, I CSI REDACTED while performing livestock humane handling task category VIII Stunning effectiveness, along with Dr. REDACTED DVMS. I observed that the first knock applied and contacted the animal. The animal fell down and showed signs of return to sensibility (breath twice), eyes twitching. Dr. REDACTED asked the stun operator to stun it again. After the second stun, the animal showed (agonal gasping), and Dr. REDACTED asked the stun operator to stun it again, the stun operator applied multiple knocks on the front and the poll. No other signs observed, the animal remained unconscious through bleeding. Before the stunning of the 2nd long horn bull, Dr. REDACTED asked plant manager and the stun operator to have a backup captive bolt available and loaded, and to apply a security knock following an effective 1st knock. At approximately 1108 hours, on the 2nd long horn bull the first knocking attempt (hand-held bolt) was applied, the captive bolt contacted the animal’s head, the animal remained conscious, was still standing on all four legs, eye movement and normal respiratory breathing. A second immediate and effective stun was applied, and the animal fell and rendered into complete unconscious, and assurance security knocks applied. The animal remained in complete unconsciousness through bleeding. This noncompliance report is document for the Plant failure to produce immediate unconsciousness with the 1st knock, in violation of the regulatory requirement of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), “The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals...”. Plant Management personnel Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED were notified of the humane handling noncompliance and the forthcoming NR. No other noncompliance with the same root cause to link this NR with.