A. Decoite Packing House, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

Humane Handling: M580 (A. Decoite Packing) HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness On 1/10/2022, at approximately 1020 hours, I was performing on-line slaughter inspection duties when the following was observed. A large, curved horn, beef cow was brought into the stunning chute. The stun operator attempted to render the animal unconscious with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, which I heard discharge but I did not hear the animal collapse to the floor. I made my way to the stun box and heard a second HHCB discharge attempt, with again no corresponding animal collapse being heard. By this time I had arrived to the stun box and observed the cow was still standing, moving, and conscious. I observed a third stun attempt with the reloaded primary HHCB device, which was effective to produce unconsciousness. A fourth stun was applied as a “security knock”. I was able to verify that the cow remained unconscious at this point through shackling, hoisting, and bleeding. The stun operator explained that on both of the first two attempts the cow had moved and bumped the operator’s hands with it’s horns, causing the HHCB device to make contact with the head and fire. Once the skull was dressed I was able to verify that there were 4 penetrating holes in the skull. One hole was located lateral right into the sinus, and the remaining three holes were all grouped in the correct stun location. No regulatory control action was taken due to the observed immediate corrective actions. I informed Denver DVMS Dr. REDACTED of the non-compliance once I was able to clear the floor. Following the verification of unconsciousness, I verbally informed the Plant Manager of the non-compliance. We discussed that due to the way the horns were shaped it would be very difficult to place accurate attempts with the HHCB device and I was informed that future cattle with similar horns will have the rifle used to stun. No recent NR’s have been issued due to ineffective stun attempts and this appears to be an isolated occurrence.