Meatworks: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category IV: Ante-mortem Inspection On Thursday, August 11th at approximately 0800 the following noncompliance was observed while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task: Four beef cattle were standing in pen 7 in the barn. The animals were crowded together and pressed up against the gates on all four sides of the pen. I determined that they did not have sufficient space to lie down. I had observed the cattle being dropped off at the establishment the previous afternoon and was aware that the animals were held overnight. I notified kill floor supervisor REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance record would be issued. The animals were immediately relocated to a larger pen. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), there shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On Thursday, May 26 at approximately 1100 the following noncompliance was observed while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task in the barn: Two bovines were held in pen #6. I observed that there was no water bucket in the pen and determined that the animals had no access to water. I immediately notified slaughter supervisor REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance would be issued. I verified that an establishment employee immediately provided water to the animals. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.

313.15(a)(1)

While performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task (HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness) at approximately 0928 on Monday, March 28, 2022 the following noncompliance was observed: A goat was restrained in the small restrainer on the kill floor. I observed an establishment employee administer an initial stun with a captive bolt to the animal’s head behind the poll. The goat remained conscious while standing and reacting to surroundings after the failed stun attempt. The animal also began to vocalize. A second captive bolt stun was immediately applied to the front of the animal’s head and effectively rendered the animal unconscious. The animal was then successfully bled without regaining consciousness. A close observation of the animal’s head revealed that the animal’s horns covered a large portion of its head behind the poll, which likely contributed to the incorrect placement of the initial stun attempt. U.S. Rejected tag no. B37552474 was applied to the chute at the entrance of the kill floor and the establishment was notified that slaughter operations could not resume until preventative measures were taken to ensure noncompliance would not reoccur. Plant manager REDACTED and kill floor leads REDACTED and REDACTED were notified of my findings, regulatory control action, and that a noncompliance would be issued. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), captive bolt stunners shall be applied to livestock so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On Thursday, December 30, the following noncompliance was observed: While performing a Livestock Humane Handling task in the barn at approximately 1000, I observed a single bovine in pen 9. There was no water bucket in the pen and the animal had no access to water. I notified an establishment employee who immediately provided water to the animals. I notified team lead REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance would be issued. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On Wednesday, December 29, at the following noncompliance was observed: While performing ante-mortem inspection in the barn at approximately 0825 I observed four market swine in pen 4. There was no water bucket in the pen and the four animals had no access to water. I notified an establishment employee who immediately provided water to the animals. I notified team lead REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance would be issued. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On Tuesday, October 12, 2021 while performing a Livestock Humane Handling task the following noncompliance was observed: At approximately 0840 on 10/12 a roaster pig was observed in pen 3 in the barn. Pen cards provided by the establishment and signed by IPP proved that this same animal was observed during ante-mortem inspection at 0815 on 10/11, and was therefore held by the establishment for over 24 hours. A visual inspection of the barn indicated that the animal did not have access to feed. An establishment employee verbally confirmed that the pig had not been given feed while at Meatworks and immediately provided it for the animal. I notified Plant Manager REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance would be issued. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 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.