Island Grown Farmers Cooperative: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

At approximately 9:15 am 08-17-2022 while observing stunning of a big steer with a 22 magnum Ruger rifle, The CSI observed the following noncompliance. The stun operator was attempting to stun the steer that was loaded in a gooseneck trailer standing facing the back end of the trailer. I observed the first stun attempt contact the head, above the nose, the animal remained standing with visible blood leaking from the hole. Once the animal stopped turning around in circles inside the trailer, the stun operator  applied a second stun attempt with the same rifle and the animal collapsed to the floor . As the stun operator opened the trailer door the animal, I heard the animal moaning. The stun operator applied a  third stun to the poll of the animal, which immediately rendered the animal fully insensible. The CSI, informed the plant supervisor of the non compliance and that a regulatory action would be taken. I attached US retain tag #B 37054695 to the trailer door and then contacted the Frontline Supervisor. The Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. On inspection of the dressed head, I observed a penetrating hole above the nose and penetrating hole on the front of the skull and a penetrating stun hole in the poll.  No noncompliance records have been issued in the past 90 days for same root cause.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 11:43am at Est.M21700 at REDACTED, the fourth animal to be slaughter, a large steer, was loaded into the stun box. The animals head was not in the head catch. The mobile slaughter unit Plant Manager went to stun the animal with a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCBD). The first stun attempt with the HHCBD did not render the steer unconscious. I observed the steer to remain standing, did not vocalize and tossed his head. I observed a hole in the center of its forehead and blood leaking from the nose. Another employee readily grabbed the backup captive bolt device and handed the device to the stun operator. The steer continued to raise its head up and down during this time. Once the animal calmed, the stun operator applied a second captive bolt stun, which was immediately successful at rendering the animal unconscious. I verified that the animal was rendered unconscious and then immediately called my SPHV supervisor. Regulatory control was taken by applying US Reject Tag B39028461 to the stunning box at 11:45am. Upon inspection of the skull, two penetrating holes were identified. One hole was approximately 2-3 inches lower than the center of the skull and approximately 0.5 inch off center to the left. A second hole was observed at the intersection between two diagonal lines extending from the eyes to the nuchal crest and centered on the forehead. The Denver District Management Team was contacted via supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days.

313.30(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 9:00am at Est. M21700 at REDACTED, the third and forth sows were loaded into the stun box. REDACTED, mobile slaughter unit Plant Manager, applied the first stun attempt to the first sow with an electrical two-prong stunner, behind the ears. I observed the sow vocalize and remain standing. Mr. REDACTED first stun attempt with the two-prong electrical stunner did not render the sow unconscious. Mr. REDACTED retrieved the backup hand-held captive bolt device (HHCBD) which was readily available to the stunning area. Once a viable opportunity was available, Mr. REDACTED applied a second stunning attempt with the HHCBD on the first sow, which was successful at rendering the sow insensible. After verifying unconsciousness of both sows, regulatory control action was taken by applying US Reject Tag B22079781 to the stunning box. Mr. REDACTED was verbally notified of the noncompliance and regulatory control action. The Denver District Management Team was contacted via supervisory channels and regulatory control action was released at 10:25am. REDACTED was notified that he would be receiving a noncompliance record (NR) for this humane handling incident. There have been no noncompliance records documented for the same root cause in the past 90 days.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 8:50am at Est.M21700 at Skagit River Ranch, the first animal to be slaughter, a large heifer, was loaded into the squeeze chute; its head was not in the head catch. REDACTED, mobile slaughter unit Plant Manager, went to stun the animal with a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCBD). Mr. REDACTED first stun attempt with the HHCBD did not render the heifer unconscious. The heifer remained standing and began to vocalize and toss her head. The backup captive bolt was about 15 yards away from the stunning area, around the corner from the front of the chute. An employee grabbed the backup captive bolt and handed it to REDACTED. The heifer continued to vocalize and raise its head during this time. Once a viable shot was available, REDACTED attempted a second captive bolt stun, which was successful. The time between the first stunning attempt and the second stunning attempt was approximately 5-7 seconds. I, CSI REDACTED, verified that the animal was rendered unconscious at this time. After verifying unconsciousness and then immediately called my supervisor SPHV Dr. REDACTED at 9:00am. Regulatory control was taken by applying US Reject Tag B42117537 to the stunning box at this time. The regulatory control was released at 9:34am after consultation with FLS Dr. REDACTED and DVMS Dr. REDACTED. REDACTED was notified that he would be receiving a noncompliance record (NR) for this humane handling incident. Upon review of the skull, two penetrating holes were identified. The first hole, in the center of the skull at the intersection between two diagonal lines extending from the eyes to the nuchal crest. This hole showed incomplete penetration into the skull. The second hole, was approximately 1cm to the right of the first hole, showing complete penetration into the skull. There have been no non-compliances for the same root cause documented within the last 90 days.