Aurora Packing Company, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Aurora Packing Company, Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2022.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2022.
313.1
Handling during ante-mortem inspection. I ( Dr. REDACTED ) performed ante-mortem inspection at about 6:00 AM on third of August. I observed a steer laying on it's left side in the pen # three. Inspector REDACTED was also with me as a trainee. When I went closer to the pen # three, I observed that the steer was still alive. The metal pipe at the bottom of the pen # three was pressing the neck of the steer down on the cement floor. The steer was struggling to free itself from the metal pipe, but was unable to do so. I reported this incident to the livestock supervisor Mr. REDACTED. He immediately called a maintenance employee, who cut the metal pipe off and freed the steer. The steer didn't make any effort to get up. This steer couldn't walk so it was condemned as a non-ambulatory steer. This non-compliance report was a deficiency of the 9 CFR 313.1(a) Which states, "Livestock pens , drive ways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects, which may in the opinion of the inspector , cause injury or pain to the animals. Loose boards, splintered or broken planking , and un-necessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired". This document serves as a written notification that your failure to comply with requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.
313.2
I, Dr. REDACTED was walking near the drive alley of the cattle, when I noticed that one animal was struggling to keep standing. There were two head of cattle in front of it and the metal gate behind it. I couldn't see the head of this animal. It was either betweebn the hind legs of the animal in font of it or it was between the wall and the right side of the animal in front of it. It was struggling to raise it's head, but couldn't do it. The animal in front of it was pushing it back into the metal gate. I informed Mr. REDACTED about the suffering of this animal. He came over with another employee. Both of them tried to free the animal so that they could make some breating room for the animal struggling to keep standing. The Company was on lunch and no employees were in this area. This was violation of the 9CFR 313.2 which states," Drivingof livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Livestock shall not be forced to move faster than a normal walking speed."
