Hamzah Slaughter House, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

On 8/5/22 at approximately 1215 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3 (food and water), the following was found. One pen in the barn with 5 veal had no water available. Another pen in the barn had 6 veal and 5 sheep with no water available. The ambient temperature at the time was 83 F with 70% humidity. Establishment personnel were notified, and immediate corrective action was taken by giving the animals water. Similar non-compliances for the same root cause were documented on 3-9-2022, 3-30-2022, 4-21-2022, 5-18-2022, 6-15-2022, and 7-4-2022. Plant Manager REDACTED and Assistant Plant Manager REDACTED were notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

On 8/4/22 at approximately 1045 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3 (food and water), the following was found. A pen in the barn with 11 beef/veal had no water available. The ambient temperature at the time was 87 F with 60% humidity. When asked, Assistant Plant Manager REDACTED informed IPP the animals had been dropped off about an hour before. Establishment personnel were notified, and immediate corrective action was taken by giving the animals water. Similar non-compliances for the same root cause were documented on 3-9-2022, 3-30-2022, 4-21-2022, 5-18-2022, and 6-15-2022.   Plant Manager REDACTED and Assistant Plant Manager REDACTED were notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

While performing a humane handling verification task, HATS category 3 (water and feed), CSI REDACTED observed the following non-compliance; At approximately 930 hours, while in the barn CSI observed three pens of lambs/goats with no access to feed.  The first pen contained approximately 20 animals, the second pen contained approximately 20 animals and the third pen contained approximately 50 animals.  There was some hay on the floor but this was heavily contaminated with feces and urine.  The hay racks used to feed the animals in all three pens were empty.  There was hay stored in the barn for feeding (not accessible to the penned animals observed) and water was available in all three pens. CSI questioned manager REDACTED to determine how many of the animals had been on the premises overnight.  Mr. REDACTED stated that only 2 beef and 6 lambs were delivered today and that those animals had already been processed.  Because it was a Monday, it is reasonable to conclude that the animals in question have been held a minimum of 24 hours (possibly longer). Manager REDACTED was notified of this non-compliance and immediately went to the barn to give the animals hay.  At approximately 1000 hours, CSI verified the presence of hay in the racks of the pens in question and compliance was restored. The above documented observation demonstrates your establishment's failure to comply with 9CFR 313.2(e).

313.2

On 6/15/2022 at approximately 1135 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3 (food and water), the following was found. Returning from the establishments 30-minute lunch break, it was found that the lamb and goat that had been put inside the establishment to be slaughtered did not have access to water during the 30-minute lunch break. Establishment personnel were notified, and immediate corrective action was taken by offering the animals access water.  Plant manager REDACTED and assistant plant manager REDACTED was notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

On 5/18/22 at approximately 1135 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3 (food and water), the following was found. Returning from the establishments 30-minute lunch break, it was found that the lamb that had been put inside the establishment to be slaughtered did not have access to water during the 30-minute lunch break. Establishment personnel were notified, and immediate corrective action was taken by giving the animals water. It was also noted that the lug that had been being used earlier for the animals water was empty and put on top of a cart that is used to place skin on heads.   Assistant plant manager REDACTED was notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

On 4/20/22 at approximately 1135 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3, the following was found. Returning from the establishments 30-minute lunch break, it was found that the lamb and goat that had been put inside the establishment to be slaughtered did not have access to water during the 30-minute lunch break. Establishment personnel were notified and immediate corrective action was taken by giving the animals water. Plant manager REDACTED and assistant plant manager REDACTED was notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

On 3/30/22 at approximately 1135 hours while performing a routine Humane Handling task, HATS category #3, the following was found. Returning from the establishments 30-minute lunch break, it was found that the lamb and goat (approximately 25) that had been put inside the establishment to be slaughtered did not have access to water during the 30-minute lunch break. There was a grey tub on the floor, but it was empty of water and was inside the knock box area where the animals would not have been able to access it. I notified the first plant employee that was returning from break. He immediately opened the divider gate that was keeping the animals away from a watering troth that did have water in it. Plant manager REDACTED and assistant plant manager REDACTED was notified of the establishments failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e). 9 CFR 313.2(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.

313.2

On March 9th 2022 at 11:54 AM, I, Dr. REDACTED, was informed of the following Humane Handling noncompliance by IPP. Three veal were brought into the holding area on the kill floor for slaughter at 10:45 AM and there was no water present for the animals. The establishment employees went to lunch and by 11:45 AM the animals still had no water available. Ms. REDACTED, Plant Manager, and Mr. REDACTED, Owner, were verbally notified and the animals were promptly provided water in the presence of IPP. This is a non-compliance with the following regulation: 313.2 (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.