Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.5

At approximately 0013 hours while performing HATS Category IX, Conciousness on the Rail, I observed the following noncompliance. While standing across from the hog stickers, I heard an employee fire the captive bolt gun approximately fifteen shackled hogs past the point where I was standing; however, from my vantage point, I could not observe the hog. I turned to look back at the shackled hogs passing in front of me a hog rhythmically breathing with in-and-out chest movements. Upon closer examination, I observed the hog exhibit purposefully eye movements and blinking as it was turning on the shackle. I immediately radioed for a supervisor to stop the bleed chain as a conscious hog had been observed and to stun the hog. Immediately after the radio call, a nearby establishment employee applied an effective stun to the conscious hog with a hand-held Captive Bolt Gun. The hog began to reflexively kick and eye movements and blinking ceased. I informed Night Shift Hog Kill Superintendent Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance and that a regulatory control action will be taken. I applied US Reject Tags B37 082021 and B37 082016 to the REDACTED CO2 Stunners. This is noncompliant with regulation 9 CFR 313. 5(a)(3). Prior to this noncompliance, the establishment operated under a robust systematic approach to humane handling.

313.2

HATS Category III – Water and Feed Availability At approximately 1818 hours during the 2nd shift on 8/11/2021 while performing antemortem inspection (HATS Category IV) and verifying water and feed availability (HATS Category III) for hogs on site, I observed the following noncompliance. While walking by the establishment’s resale hog pen (Pen 1), I observed approximately 27 hogs present in the pen. There was no feed or remnants thereof present in the pen. When I reviewed the hog pen checklist for this pen, it indicated that hogs were carried over from the day before and the pen was last checked by the establishment for humane handling compliance (water present, gates closed/locked, no sharp areas, etc) at 1435 hours on 08/10/2021. There were no notations designating a time when feed was placed in the pens. I then asked Animal Handling Specialist, Mr. REDACTED, when the last time was the establishment shipped out the resale hogs. He stated at approximately 1430 hours on 8/10/2021. During antemortem inspection at approximately 1815 hours during the 2nd shift on 8/10/2021, I had observed 4-5 hogs present in the resale pen (Pen 1). As no resale hogs had been shipped following the 1430 hours load out on 08/10/2021, this timeline would put the hogs I observed in the resale pen (Pen 1) on 08/10/2021 at approximately 1815 hours as still being in the resale pen on 08/11/2021 at approximately 1818 hours and thus being held on site for longer than 24 hours without access to feed. I then informed Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. Immediate corrective actions were to place feed in the resale pen for the hogs. This was verified completed at the conclusion of antemortem inspection at 1839 hours. This is non-compliant with regulation 9 CFR 313.2(e). This non-compliance record is being associated to NR WLJ2714012830N from 1/30/2021 for resale hogs being held for longer than 24 hours without being fed. The establishment’s preventative measures were either not implemented or have failed to prevent the reoccurrence of the noncompliance.

313.2

HATS Category III On 07/26/2021 at approximately 1249 hours, while verifying HATS Category III Water and Feed Availability and HATS Category IV Antemortem Inspection, I noted the following noncompliance. Pen 4 was empty, so I entered the pen to check the hogs in Pen 2. As I walked along the side of the pen, I tested the waterers for water flow. No water came out of the waterer, so I looked up at the manual shut-off valve on the southwest side of pen 4. The water to the shared wall between pens 2 and 4 had been shut off manually. The waterers on this shared wall are the only source of drinking water for pen 2. I immediately got an employee’s attention and had him turn the water back on. He then tested the waterers to make sure the water was flowing. I then informed Day Shift Barn Manager REDACTED of the noncompliance. After signing for pen 2 I checked the pen checklists for pens 2 and 4. Pen 2 had last been checked at 0919 hours on 07/26/2021. The water availability had been marked as okay. Pen 4 had not been used at all on 07/26/2021. The water was potentially turned off for pen 2 for the entire time the hogs had been present in the pen, which would have been greater than 3 hours. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(e). A similar incident was discussed in the establishment awareness meeting on 7/20/2021. The MOI number is WLJ0721073720E.