Collagen Solutions: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 0950 hours. A Quality Assurance (QA) employee REDACTED came to my office and asked if I could come to the holding pens, because they have a hog that was stressed out and was laying down on the floor shaking. QA asked if they could slaughter the hog. I performed antemortem inspection on the hog, HATS Category IV – Antemortem inspection. The hog was laying down, panting, and shaking. I then observed noncompliance with HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness. I observed the establishment employee use a “handheld captive bolt device” to stun the recumbent hog. The hog was conscious as it vocalized (one squeal) after the handheld captive bolt device was used. I immediately went to the front of the hog to observe for other signs of consciousness. Another establishment employee immediately went to retrieve a second handheld captive bolt just around the corner. I observed an establishment employee check the eyes of the hog (twice) by touching the eyeball. I observed the eyes of the hog were not tracking or blinking or was the head moving up or down. The hog did kick a couple of times and continued to shake, as it was doing prior to the first time the handheld captive bolt was used. An establishment employee stunned the hog a second time with the second handheld captive bolt. I confirmed the hog was unconscious after the second attempt. I told the establishment to halt production and I reached out for further instructions. I notified Ms. REDACTED (Supervisor) of the regulatory noncompliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). On post-mortem inspection of the head, two wounds were observed. Ms. REDACTED provided verbal preventive measures and I allowed production to resume.