Chenoa Locker, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness At 7am, the first beef was loaded into the knock box using the head gate and plant employee REDACTED asked if they could begin slaughter operations. I told him they could begin. REDACTED attempted to stun the beef cow and the animal did not go down. The cow looked confused with eyes responding and blinking for a couple seconds and then began to bellow. Plant owner REDACTED saw this and told REDACTED to give him the captive bolt. REDACTED reloaded the captive bolt and administered a second stun and that was not effective, as the cow was still standing. The cow was bellowing. A third attempt to stun was made by REDACTED to no avail. REDACTED reloaded the captive bolt and administered a 4th and a 5th stun, to which the animal was still standing. On the 6th attempt, the cow went down and was rendered unconscious and insensible to pain. U.S. Rejected tag no. B-45 191911 was placed on the knock box to halt all slaughter. The establishment failed to comply with the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iv). Both individuals that attempted the stun do not do this on a normal basis. A phone conference was administered between the Establishment Management, Chicago District Office and its State partners at 8:50am. This conference call resulted in a suspension of inspected slaughter operations at Chenoa Locker.

313.2

Upon doing ante mortem on the livestock in the pens, I seem that the lambs and goats in the first three pens did not have water. There were no buckets in the pens and no ice in the troughs. This is in direct violation of: § 313.2 Handling of livestock. (e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down. Plant management has been made aware of this non-compliance and this report.