Sioux-Preme Packing Co.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category II – Truck unloading At approximately 5:30 am on Tuesday September 7, 2021 after performing antemortem (HATS Category IV), I observed a barn employee using a paddle with excessive force. At the truck unloading area, just before animals enter the tattoo station, the employee was trying to get a market hog to go around the end of a gate. I watched him slap the market hog with the raddle paddle 2 or 3 times with the force normally used by the barn staff to move market hogs. When the market hog wouldn’t move, he swung the paddle harder hitting the animal below the tail. A second hit was made with even more force. I observed him leaning into the paddle and slightly twisting his body hitting the market hog below the tail again. The market hog responded by arching its back and moving around the end of the gate. Regulatory action was not taken. I notified REDACTED, person in charge of the crew tattooing and weighing the market hogs, that there would be an NR written for slapping a hog to hard with a paddle. Twice I observed the employee hit the market hog with excessive force. It is for this reason I find the establishment is not in compliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.2(a)(b).

313.1

At approximately 5:25am, while performing HATS Category IV-antemortem inspection, I noticed noncompliance with HATS Category III: the nipple waterers in pens 10 and 11 were dry. I entered the pens, which were full of pigs, and found that there was no water available for the pigs. Each nipple waterer was dry, and water would not flow from the nipple when depressed. Upon further examination I noticed that a new electric shut off had been added to the water line and the larger valve above the new shut off was not turned on. I went to the barn office and told Mr. REDACTED, Barn Manager, that there were two pens without water and that I was going to write a noncompliance report. He immediately went to go investigate and got the water turned back on in pens 10 and 11. While finishing antemortem I noticed there were three more pens of market hogs without water. Pens 1, 2 and 3 also had new electric shut offs installed. The main line running to those three pens was also shut off. Mr. REDACTED was still in the barn, so I immediately let him know of the situation. Because there were five pens full of market hogs without water this morning the establishment was not in compliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.2(e) which reads: Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens. The water was turned back on to all pens by 5:50am.

313.15(a)(1),313.5

HATS Category IX – Consciousness on the Rail I Dr. REDACTED was entering the REDACTED area on my way to the barn to do 08:30 antemortem (HATS Category IV) at approximately 0810 hours. As I was walking down the steps, I noticed a market hog on the shackle line bending from side to side and kicking its front legs. As I approached the pig, I noticed there was no blood coming from the sternal area of the pig and upon looking closer noticed the pig, now 5 or 6 head away from the sticker, did not get stuck while passing through the stick area. I noticed the sticker signaling to his fellow employee that there was a hog needing Hand Held Captive Bolt (HHCB) stunned. After the employee stunned the market hog, I waved at the shacklers to stop the line. The pig continuously was trying to right itself lifting its head in a controlled manner from side to side with some rotation. I noticed the eyes were wide open and congested with blood. I checked for a palpebral reflex and one was present. The first stun went midline between the ears which was about 1.5 inches higher than a junction of two lines drawn between each ear and the contralateral eye. An effective second stun attempt was administered. Mr. REDACTED, Kill Floor Supervisor, just arrived and I showed him that the pig had not been stuck and that the employee attempted to stun the animal. The employee administering the HHCB stun had both hands on the gun with no additional restraint or assistance. I could see the HHCB rod between the pig and the device after the first firing. At that time, I tagged the REDACTED entrance gate with U.S. Reject tag number B34760686 and told Mr. REDACTED that they could not slaughter until further notice. The pig was marked so the head could be salvaged and the pigs already euthanized were processed. After salvaging the head, I watched Supervisor REDACTED split the head. Mr. Rick Getman, Plant Manager, and Miss REDACTED, Head Supervisor, and I examined the head. One stun attempt did not penetrate the skull bone ventrally midline between the ears and another stun penetrated the skull. You could see the circular shaped damage caused by the HHCB penetrating rod. This damage extended caudoventrally into the center of the brain cavity. These observations are not compliant with Regulation 9 CFR 313.5(a)(3) and 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).