University of Arizona Food Products & Safety Lab: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.1,313.2

On 7/16/21, at approximately 0725 hours while performing ante-mortem inspection in the uncovered cattle pen (most west pen), I SPHV Dr. REDACTED, observed the following non-compliance: The uncovered cattle pen (which held 6 cattle) had approximately 1.5-2 inches of standing water located on the cement area (approx. 8’ by 6’ ft. area) of the pen where the water trough was located. While Dr. Sam Garcia, Plant manager, moved the cattle in the pen for ante-mortem inspection, one steer ran through the standing water, slipped, and fell on its side. All four hooves lost contact with the ground and wet mud could be seen on the side of the animal that contacted the ground. I informed Dr. Sam Garcia that a non-compliance report would be issued due to non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.1 and 313.2 as the establishment did not prevent livestock from slipping and falling due to inadequate footing. Additionally, the establishment’s humane handling records indicate “inspect pens, alleys, and gates first week of each month” and under this section “provides good footing” was not recorded for the month of July. The humane handling records also indicate under the heading “monitor handling of animals each day we slaughter” that “all animals are moved at a walking pace with minimal excitement and discomfort.” Humane handling records for today were not completed, and REDACTED, stated that humane handling records are completed at the end of the day after all animals are moved. U.S. rejected tag #B45644512 was applied to the gate of the affected pen. This finding represents a non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.1 and 313.2.

313.2

On 6/16/21, at approximately 0835 hours while performing a humane handling verification task outside in the holding pen (right before the knock box), I SPHV Dr. REDACTED, observed the following non-compliance: At 0800 hours, when I walked outside to the animal holding pen located right before the knock box, I saw that nine (9) sheep were located in the holding pen without water. The temperature outside was 93 degrees Fahrenheit . The establishment presented a total of ten (10) sheep and one was being processed on the kill floor. When I came back inside, I observed that it took the establishment about 7-10 minutes to process one sheep carcass before slaughtering the next sheep. I found Dr. Sam Garcia, plant manager, and notified him that there were currently nine (9) sheep in the holding pen without water, and it is taking the establishment about 10 minutes per carcass. I stated that this would put the last sheep at 1.5 hours without water. Dr. Sam Garcia stated that he ran the sheep up to the holding pen and would put some back. At 0835 hours, I walked outside to the holding pen and saw that there were five (5) sheep in the holding pen without water, the rest of the sheep had been slaughtered. These were the same sheep that were without water 35 minutes ago, as the establishment is only slaughtering ten (10) sheep. I found Dr. Sam Garcia and informed him that a non-compliance would be issued due to the animals being without water for 35 minutes. This finding represents a non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e).