Los Banos Abattoir Co., Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.1

On 06/16/2022, at approximately 1440 hours while verifying HATS Category IV during ante-mortem inspection, the following non-compliance was observed. Company employee, Mr. REDACTED was moving the cows in Pen 1 for me, Dr. REDACTED to inspect and the rear legs of a dairy cow (with back-tag number 7340) fell into a partially covered drain hole. The cow was stuck and unable to move. While Mr. REDACTED was trying to get help, the cow managed to unstuck herself. No injuries were observed on the cow. At approximately 1450 hours, I notified Supervisor REDACTED of my observations and that I would issue a noncompliance report. Mr. REDACTED stated that he would move all the cows in Pen 1 to a different pen and have maintenance fix the drain cover. At approximately 1605 hours, I verified the drain cover in Pen 1 and it had four long metal tubes welded underneath the metal covering that go into the drain and prevents the covering from moving and exposing the drain hole.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS VIII: Ineffective Stunning On Friday, October 8, 2021, I, Dr. REDACTED SPHV, and Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, noted a humane handling noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). At approximately 1600 hours, while standing on the slaughter floor near the knock box, we heard the captive bolt gun discharge but could see the cow in the knock box still standing. We observed blood dripping down onto the floor of the knock box with the cow moving actively. We immediately started to follow up to alleviate animal suffering; we determined that the establishment was actively engaged to render an effective stun. Approximately 10 seconds later, we heard another captive bolt gun discharge and noted that the cow was still standing, moving around actively. Approximately 15 seconds later, we heard a third captive bolt gun discharge and saw the cow collapse in the knock box immediately after the third knock. When the knock box door opened, and the cow rolled inside; we immediately verified by direct observation that the cow was unconscious. At approximately 1608 hours, the cow was hoisted and bled. We then examined the head and confirmed that there were two knock holes on the forehead and one on the top of the poll; the first and second stun were ineffective; an effective stun would have caused the animal to collapse immediately. One knock hole was in the middle of the forehead. Another knock hole was on the forehead at approximately the level of the lateral canthus in the middle of the forehead. A third knock hole was located on the top of the poll on the left side and penetrated the soft tissue only; an effective stun would require more than soft tissue penetration. Following confirmation of the ineffective stun, we applied US Reject Tag #B37582365 to the knock box to stop all further stunning. We informed QC Supervisor REDACTED of the ineffective stun, the tag on the knock box, and the forthcoming noncompliance. The failure to produce “immediate unconsciousness” is a noncompliance; 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) states “(a) Application of stunners, required effect; handling. (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.” This noncompliance is linked to a previous ineffective stunning noncompliance #ZJG2616101006N, documented on 10/06/2021.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS VIII: Ineffective Stunning On Wednesday, October 6, 2021, I, Dr. REDACTED SPHV, and Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, observed the following humane handling non-compliance. At approximately 1305 hours, while standing on the slaughter floor near the knock box to perform HATS Category IX (Conscious Animals on the Rail), we heard the captive bolt gun discharge but could see the steer in the knock box still standing. Approximately 3 seconds later, we heard another captive bolt gun discharge and then saw the steer collapse in the knock box immediately after the second knock. When the knock box door opened and the steer rolled inside, we observed that the steer was unconscious. At approximately 1315 hours, the steer’s head was skinned and cleaned and brought over to the head rack. We then examined the skinned head and confirmed that there were two knock holes on the forehead, so the first stun was an ineffective stun. One knock hole was in the middle of the forehead, which was confirmed by the knocker to be the second stun. The other knock hole was on the forehead approximately 2.5 inches to the left of midline in the sinus, and a probing instrument indicated that the path of the bolt was aimed slightly laterally away from the brain. Following confirmation of the ineffective stun, we applied US Reject Tag #B36786736 to the knock box to stop all further stunning. I informed QC Supervisor REDACTED of the ineffective stun, the tag on the knock box, and the forthcoming non-compliance. Captive bolt stunners must be applied to produce immediate unconsciousness. This is a non-compliance of the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).