HOFFMAN'S QUALITY MEATS: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

On March 17, 2022 at approximately 0745 hours, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, and FI REDACTED observed the following Livestock Humane Handling non-compliance. Slaughter floor Supervisor, REDACTED, applied a penetrating captive bolt device ineffectively, and the animal was not rendered unconscious with a single application. REDACTED immediately reloaded the same device and applied an effective stun. RCA was applied to the knock box with U.S. Rejected Tag B28188409. After the head was skinned it was confirmed there were two penetrating holes into the animal's skull. One was placed caudally 0.5 inch and left 1 inch into the frontal sinus and the other just right of midline into the brain and directed toward the brainstem. DVMS Dr. REDACTED was contacted to discuss the situation and confirmed the incident was not egregious, but would still be considered a humane handling non-compliance. Plant Manager, Mr. REDACTED was verbally notified of the incident and non-compliance, and proceeded to consult with Mr. REDACTED to confirm what had happened. Mr. REDACTED stated the animal had moved its head which was the reason for the ineffective shot. Mr. REDACTED stated this was a very rare occurrence and he would ensure Mr. REDACTED has the back-up captive bolt device ready at all times as stated in their Robust Systematic Approach to Humane Handling plan. RCA was removed at approximately 0800 hours. Mr. REDACTED had arrived to the establishment at approximately 0730 hours, about 1.5 hours after the start of the shift, and stated to Dr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED that he had just went to bed at 0500 hours this morning. This incident is a in non-compliance with the following regulation: 313.15 (a) (1): The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.

313.2

313.2

On 2/10/22 at approximately 0510 am while performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task, HATS category #3, I, CSI REDACTED found the following to be non-compliant. In the evening of 2/8/22, cattle were brought to the establishment to be slaughtered on 2/9/22. Some of the cattle was held over until 2/10/22. Four of these cattle were held overnight and were placed into a smaller pen. This small pen had no water. Also, there was no evidence of any food given, corn or hay. Dressing floor supervisor REDACTED had not yet arrived at the establishment to be notified of this non-compliance. Through the issuance of this non-compliance report, the management of Hoffman Meat’s is notified of the failure to comply with 9 CFR requirements as described in 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 1/12/22 at approximately 0510 am while performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task, HATS category #3, I, CSI REDACTED found the following to be non-compliant. There were 19 adult Bovine animals in the back pen of the barn (the off-loading area). There was one black water barrel that the water was frozen solid. There was also a blue water barrel (in the same pen) approximately 10 feet away from the black one that was completely empty. No evidence of water or ice. Slaughter floor supervisor REDACTED had not yet arrived at the establishment. I informed plant manager REDACTED that the animals had no access to water. He instructed another employee to give the animals water. This was done immediately therefor no regulatory control action was taken. Through the issuance of this non-compliance report, the management of Hoffman Meat’s is notified of the failure to comply with 9 CFR requirements as described in 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 routine humane handling task on 12/28/2021 at 0630 hours, I, CSI REDACTED observed a holding pen containing approximately 11 cattle. When checking the water supply for these animals, I observed a dry blue drum containing no water standing in the upright position. The drum was located in the corner closest to the kill area. Searching for other potential water sources, I observed no other drums containing clean water in the pen. I notified slaughter floor supervisor REDACTED of the noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED informed me that the cattle must have dumped the water. Confirming with FI REDACTED, he also observed no drums containing water in the same pen at approximately 0510 hours. Compliance was restored at approximately 0640 hours. No regulatory action was necessary as the establishment took immediate corrective action. The establishment failed to meet regulatory requirements described in 9 CFR 313.2(e).

313.2

On October 26, 2021 at approximately 18:15, while performing his inspection task, CSI REDACTED informed me, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, of the following noncompliance in the barn: In Pen #1 located immediately to the left when you exit the kill floor, two brown hogs were present and had a very small amount of water (approx. 1 to 1 1⁄2 inches from the bottom surface of barrel) and no food available. CSI REDACTED then noticed one brown hog in Pen #5 and one white hog in Pen # 4 with no water or food available. The brown hog in Pen #5 was laying on the floor on its side and appeared to have labored breathing. There was a white plastic water container in pen #5, but it was empty. In pen # 4, there was no water container or food present for the white hog. Both pens are located across from Pen #1 on the western side. On further investigation, CSI REDACTED, found these four hogs were in the barn since the morning of October 25, 2021. CSI REDACTED also noticed 15 steers standing in the larger pen on the south side of the cattle area. The gates that are normally open to allow the cattle to move freely to another pen were closed. They did not appear to have enough space to lay down. In the pen he observed one blue barrel for water that was empty, and two animals were trying to get water but could not. CSI REDACTED immediately notified the Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED also known as REDACTED. REDACTED immediately separated the animals and provided them fresh water. These findings are not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states that “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”. The establishment is officially notified of this non-compliance.