Sunnyside Meats, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.2(f)

On 6 May 2021 at approximately 14:05 I, REDACTED, CSI observed the following noncompliance while doing routine slaughter observation: The last steer of the day was mis-stunned. I was at the final rail as an animal was led to the head gate. Plant personnel squeezed the animal from the sides after his head went through the head gate. The steer bellowed and moved his head up and down and side to side. Plant personnel attempted to stun the animal but appeared to be unsuccessful. After the initial shot the animal was still holding its head upright. It did not vocalize but its eyes remained open and did not relax its neck. The animal was being held by the side panels. Plant personnel did have a second HHCB device charged and ready. Plant personnel immediately applied a second knock which was successful in rendering the animal unconscious Plant personnel applied a second knock before I could get to the animal. I was at the animal’s head just after the second stun attempt and determined that the animal was insensible at that time by palpebral reflex test. I then spoke with Dr. REDACTED, SPHV at SMI. After speaking with Dr. REDACTED, I did not place any retain tags. I dissected the upper part of the bovine frontal bone to determine placement of the HHCB device and unsuccessful stun. The initial shot was somewhat high but still below the horns and along the midline of the frontal bone. The second attempt was lower on the skull by 2-4 cm and just off the midline. I spoke with plant personnel, including SMI lead REDACTED about the incident. I reminded plant personnel that further incidents will lead to increased regulatory actions. I notified REDACTED that an NR would be written regarding the incident.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 06/28/21 while I, REDACTED SPHV assigned to Est. 27236 Sunnyside Meats, Inc., was observing the slaughter of beef within a stock trailer, the following ineffective stun non-compliance was noted. Establishment employee, REDACTED applied an ineffective stun on a longhorn beef using a 20-gauge shotgun with 7.5 birdshot at approximately 09:00 MST. Due to the use of a firearm, I was not in the immediate area at the time of stun. I heard the firearm discharge once then REDACTED, slaughter floor employee, stepped out and informed me that the first stun was ineffective and that it was not safe to re-enter the stunning area. I immediately heard the firearm discharge a second time and I noted a bang as the animal dropped. The second stun effectively rendered the animal unconscious. Upon, further observation the first stun appears to have hit the animal in proper anatomical location, however it did not penetrate the skull. The second shot was properly placed within a few millimeters of the first and successfully penetrated the skull. REDACTED noted the animal looked up as he fired, then dropped to its chest and was still breathing after the first attempt. He immediately fired a second time in which the animal rolled to its side and appeared unconscious. I verbally notified REDACTED, Food Safety Manager, that a non-compliance NR would be written for 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) which requires that the animal be rendered unconscious on the first stunning attempt. There have been no other non-compliances issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days.