Northstar Meat LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.30(a)(4)

HATS Categories: IX Consciousness on the Rail At approximately 1240 on 08-05-2021 at establishment M47788, as the SPHV was walking to the barn, a hog was observed attempting to right itself coming out of the wash cabinet. This cabinet has spinning brushes to clean the carcasses after they are shackled, hoisted, and stuck prior to entering the scald tank. The PHV lifted the ear to observe the eye. The hog’s eye was darting back and forth looking around. The hog lifted its head and vocalized when it was touched near the eye. The PHV then noticed that the hog had not been stuck, as it did not have a stick wound. The employee sticking was immediately notified by the SPHV that the hog had regained conscious and needed to have the captive bolt administered. The SPHV repeatedly put her fist to her forehead while verbally communicating that they needed the captive bolt gun. The employee then returned with his knife and stuck the hog while it was still conscious. The SPHV tried to stop him but was not able to. The hog vocalized again. The employee was again informed that the hog needed to have the captive bolt administered and the employees in the area were told that the chain needed to be stopped so the hog wouldn’t get pulled into the scald tank. At this time the hog was by the entrance to the scald tank and was then observed to be pulled onto the scald tank bars. When the bars dropped to lower the pig into the water, the hog was observed to thrash and vocalize. The tank was then stopped. Supervisor REDACTED then arrived and administered the captive bolt rendering the animal unconscious. Plant Manager Jim Sklavanitis was then notified by the SPHV that an egregious humane handling incident had occurred, that the stun box was going to be tagged and that the DVMS would be contacted. The stun box was tagged with U.S. Rejected tag no. B38 956982. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.30(a)(4) in that the establishment failed to stick the animal resulting in the animal returning to consciousness, they failed to stun the animal again prior to making the cut to bleed the animal, and in that the establishment failed to prevent the hog from entering the scald tank while still conscious resulting in unnecessary pain and suffering for this animal. Plant Manager Jim Sklavanitis was notified via a conference call that the Chicago District Office issued a Notice of Suspension (NOS) for the egregious incident.

313.2

HATS Category III- Water and Feed Availability At approximately 0625 on 06-16-2021 when performing antemortem inspection at establishment M47788, approximately 45 hogs had been carried over from the previous day in pen 1. These animals had arrived on the establishment premises prior to 0500 hours on 06-15-2021. The hogs were held in the trailer until there was space in the barn to unload them on 06-15-2021. The establishment did not begin slaughtering this group of hogs until 0630 hours on 06-16-2021. Feed was not provided to these hogs. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(e) in that the establishment failed to provide feed to animals held over 24 hours. Plant Managers Brandon and Jim Sklavanitis were immediately informed of the noncompliance and that a noncompliance would be issued.