Off the Rail Butchery: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 0910 hours on 5/12/2021 I (FLS Dr. REDACTED was performing slaughter and processing duties at KB Quality Meats M46292 in Blair, NE. I was in the USDA office when I heard the firearm discharge twice. I knew there to be two swine having been brought into the stunning area together. After the firearm discharged the second time, I could hear excessive vocalization of a swine. I proceeded to the kill floor. I heard one swine still vocalizing while in the chute. I observed the stun operator drop the bottom out of the chute and both swine rolled onto the slaughter floor. I observed one of the two swine to still be conscious. I observed the animal stand up, walk around the slaughter floor, and go under the chute while still vocalizing. I heard the stun operator say, “Oh you are still alive.” Mr. REDACTED the owner, was standing next to me and tried to find out what happened. Mr. REDACTED told the stun operator to hurry up and shoot the swine again. The .22 mag rifle had been replaced back in the gun rack about 6 foot away and I observed the stun operator reloaded the firearm. I observed the stun operator apply a second stun attempt that rendered the animal insensible. I applied US Reject tag B-45200996 to the chute once I contacted the DVMS, Dr. REDACTED thereby notifying the District Office. The head was skinned on the swine and I observed two entry holes. One hole was off to the lateral right side of the skull and did not penetrate the skull but had penetrated the skin and glanced the right side of the skull. The second hole was correctly placed and had fully penetrated the skull. I verbally notified Mr. REDACTED (owner) and Mr. REDACTED (production supervisor) of the non-compliance. Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED informed me that they would retrain the slaughter employee and only place one swine in the chute at a time to limit concerns about a misplaced ineffective stun. I removed the regulatory control off the chute and stunning areas at approximately 1024 hours to resume production. Mr. REDACTED will be the stun operator of the next few swine to retrain the slaughter employee.