JMF Slaughter (Mobile Unit): Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2(f),313.15(a)(1)

HATS VIII: Stunning effectiveness On Friday April 22, 2021, at about 7:30 am, I, CSI REDACTED, observed the following non-compliance.  After properly restraining a lamb in the head gate and head restraint mechanism, the stunner operator conducted an initial stunning attempt using a hand-held cartridge fired captive bolt gun.    Although the device discharged as evidenced by sound, the stun was ineffective as the animal remained standing; the animal was calm and showed no signs of distress.   When the stunner operator observed the animal still standing, he followed with an immediate second stunning attempt; the animal again remained standing.   The lamb moved its head while restrained and the operator thought the head gate was preventing the lamb from dropping so he released the head gate.  The lamb then turned abruptly and moved to the rear of the chute as if nothing had happened. I observed the animal in the back of the chute and saw no evidence of bleeding or signs of discomfort and the animal did not vocalize.  The stunner operator immediately got the lamb back into the head restraint and administered a successful third stun. The third stun was effective as evidenced by the animal dropping to the ground; there was no eye movement, vocalization, nor attempts to right itself.    After tagging the knock box with U.S. Reject tag # B28103401 in accordance with 9CFR313.50(c), I examined the head with the operator after it had been removed from the carcass and observed that there were two distinct holes from the stunning attempts. The one hole was larger and lower from the normal soft center and to the left of the smaller hole which was the effective stun. I then informed the operator this was a stunning failure and non-compliant with 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1).   No similar incidents have occurred in the last sixty days.