10,000 Lakes Beef, Inc: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category VI Electric Prod/Alternative Object Use At approximately 1230 hours a Food Inspector entered the office informing the SPHV that one of the cattle was running around the harvest floor. Upon reaching the harvest floor on the upper level of the hide on area, the SPHV observed team leads pulling on a rope going back to the area between the wall and the offal collection stand. A few moments later the animal was observed coming out of the area. The establishment had put a lasso around the steer’s neck and team leads were pulling on the rope to get it to move. The steer was pulling back against the pressure from the rope and was observed charging the team leads. Two scrapes were observed on the steer’s back. The team leads pulled on the rope repeatedly. The animal was on its feet for the duration of the incident, it repeatedly tossed its head as they were pulling it the rope, snorting, and vocalizing intermittently. When the animal was over by the head dropping station at approximately 1237, establishment employees were observed grabbing the steer’s tail and pulling and pushing it around the steer’s left hip to try to get it to move forward. The steer was still struggling, pulling against the rope. At least four employees were putting pressure on the steer at one time to try to move the animal. They tied the rope to a post by the hide puller and administered the captive bolt rendering the animal unconscious on the first attempt. The animal did not have a ritual cut. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2 (a) and (b) in that the establishment failed to handle this animal with a minimum of excitement and discomfort, they failed to use driving implements as little as possible to minimize excitement and injury. The restrainer was immediately tagged with US Rejected tag NO B34 354636. Chief Operating Officer Mr. REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance, that the restrainer was tagged and that the DVMS would be contacted. After consulting with the DVMS, Mr. REDACTED and QA Manager Mr. REDACTED were notified of the noncompliance and that a noncompliance record would be issued. Upon receiving appropriate verbal corrective actions regulatory control action was lift and the tag removed.

313.1,313.2

At approximately 0815 hours on 5/12/22, while verifying humane handling requirements near the knock box, I CSI REDACTED observed the employees had stopped knocking and hanging cattle and noted there was not an animal in the knock box. I then observed several establishment employees in discussion and looking into the chute leading into the knock box, so I went to a better vantage point for further investigation and observed a beef heifer lying on its side/back in the entrance to the knock box. The chute at this point was too narrow for the animal to get its feet underneath it and right itself. I was told by the employees that the animal behind this one had lifted it off its feet and tipped it over as they were coming into the knock box chute. Plant Manager REDACTED arrived and we discussed the situation and options available. I then went to the USDA office and informed SPHV Dr. REDACTED and informed him of the situation. Due to the nature of the incident the animal was allowed to be knocked and processed, pending postmortem inspection disposition. Failure to prevent animals from slipping and/or falling is in noncompliance with 9 CFR Ch. III Sections 313.1(b) and 313.2(a). Mr. REDACTED was informed of this forthcoming Noncompliance Report.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 1130 Barn Team Lead Mr. REDACTED notified the SPHV that one of the fat cattle had turned around in the chute, laid down and could not get up. The animal was observed near the top of the incline just prior to the turn leading to the restrainer, facing downhill. It was in right lateral recumbency with its legs trapped against the wall of the chute and its head lifted up off the ground. The barn team lead was observed to administer the hand-held captive bolt gun once into the head of the animal. The animal remained conscious, vocalizing while it purposefully lifted its head up higher towards its left side and held it there. The barn team lead immediately reloaded the hand- held captive bolt gun with a new cartridge and administered the captive bolt a second time, rendering the animal unconscious. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) in that the establishment failed to render this animal unconscious on the first attempt. Operations Manager Mr. REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance and that a noncompliance record would be issued.

313.1

At approximately 0958 hours, while in the barn performing HATS Category IV - Antemortem Inspection and verifying HATS Category VII – Slips and Falls and Category I – Inclement Weather, the following noncompliance was observed: Pen 4, which contained 44 fed heifers, was being presented for antemortem inspection. While observing the cattle exit at a walking pace into the alleyway, 2 cattle slipped, and then an additional 2 cattle fell. The cattle that fell landed with their entire belly area onto the ground, and front legs splayed outward. The cattle were able to rise, though with some difficulty due to the slippery footing. No injuries were apparent. When the same group of cattle were walking back into the pen, 4 more cattle fell, and 2 more slipped. The floor in the barn is grooved/waffled cement, however the grooves were packed with frozen sand/manure . Mr. REDACTED Barn Manager, was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED stated that the situation would be addressed prior to unloading of any additional cattle or moving of any cattle through the alleyway area. the CSI observed and verified the establishment placed corn cobs down in the affected area to reduce slipping. This concern was also brought up by IPP at the weekly meeting held with establishment management on February 11, 2022 and documented in MOI number GRU4315024211E.