National Cattle Works LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

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

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On June 28th, 2022, at 1235 hours while in conduction of Livestock Humane Handling Inspection for Stunning Effectiveness and Conscious Animals On The Rail, I observed the following noncompliance. While the third bovine scheduled for Slaughter was in the stun box, I observed the stun operator administered the first stun attempt with a .22 mag caliber firearm at the same time that the animal lifted its head. The bovine continued to remain standing in the stun box and continued to exhibit signs of consciousness. I observed blinking and rhythmic breathing but heard no vocalization. I observed the stun operator immediately administer a second stun attempt with the same .22 mag caliber firearm, which again failed to render the animal unconscious. The bovine continued to remain standing in the stun box and continued to exhibit signs of consciousness. I observed blinking and rhythmic breathing, but no vocalization. I observed the stun operator vacate the stunning area to retrieve a higher caliber firearm from a locker located in the room adjacent to the slaughter room. The stun operator returned to the stun box and proceeded to administer a third stun attempt with a .357 caliber, which successfully rendered the bovine unconscious, and I observed the bovine drop to the floor of the stun box. The stun operator then opened the latch to the door of the stun box and the animal rolled out onto the blood pit, I observed the tongue of the animal sticking out, there was no blinking of the eye, no breathing, nor vocalizing. The stun operator proceeded to bleed the animal. I took Regulatory Control by tagging the Stun Box with U.S. Reject Tag# B45437040. I immediately contacted the FLS. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. I verbally notified the establishment management of the noncompliance. This noncompliance will be associated with NR# CDS5308060410N documented on June 9, 2022, for same root cause. The establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to humane handling. Establishment was noncompliant with Federal Regulations 9CFR 313.16(a)(1), 313.16(b)(1)(i), and 313.16(b)(1)(iii).

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On June 9th, 2022, at 0951 hours while in conduction of Livestock Humane Handling Inspection for Stunning Effectiveness and Conscious Animals On The Rail, I observed the following noncompliance. While the second of three bovines scheduled for Slaughter was in the stun box, I observed the animal to be agitated, moving from side to side and back and forth within the stun box.  I then observed the stun operator wait until the animal held still, he then proceeded to administer the first stun attempt with a .22 mag caliber firearm and the animal moved its head just before the stun was applied. I observed the animal collapse to the floor of the stun box but continue to exhibit signs of consciousness. I observed the cow’s head move in a side-to-side motion, no vocalization was heard but, I observed normal blinking and rhythmic breathing. I then observed the stun operator immediately administer a second stun attempt with the same .22 mag caliber firearm, which successfully rendered the cow insensible. The stun operator opened the latch to the door of the stun box and the animal rolled out onto the blood pit, I observed the tongue of the animal sticking out, there was no blinking of the eye, no breathing, nor vocalizing, the stun operator proceeded to bleed the animal. I took Regulatory Control by tagging the knocking box with U.S. Reject Tag# B37337417. I verbally notified the Slaughter Manager that a noncompliance would be documented. I immediately contacted the SPHV and FLS. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. During inspection of the dressed head, I verified two penetrating stun holes. This noncompliance report will be associated with NR# CDS3709031208N documented on March 8th, 2022, for similar noncompliant concerns. Corrective actions provided by the establishment from the noncompliance report documented on March 8th of taking time to let the animal calm down before shooting it and take time to successfully render the animal unconscious in one shot were followed but unsuccessful.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On May 17th, 2022, at 0727 hours while in conduction of Livestock Humane Handling Inspection for Stunning Effectiveness and Conscious Animals On The Rail, I observed the following noncompliance. While the first bovine scheduled for Slaughter was in the stun box, I observed the stun operator administered the first stun attempt with a .22 mag caliber firearm. The bovine continued to stand in the stun box and continued to exhibit signs of consciousness. I observed blinking and rhythmic breathing. I observed the stun operator immediately climb the steps alongside the stun box and administered a second stun attempt with the same .22 mag caliber firearm, which successfully rendered the bovine insensible. The stun operator opened the latch to the door of the stun box and the animal rolled out onto the blood pit, I observed the tongue of the animal sticking out, there was no blinking of the eye, no breathing, nor vocalizing. The stun operator then proceeded to administer a third security stun with the same .22 caliber firearm, immediately the stun operator proceeded to bleed the animal. I took Regulatory Control by tagging the Knocking Box with U.S. Reject Tag# B37337416. I verbally notified the Establishment Management that a noncompliance would be documented. I contacted the SPHV and FLS, The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. During inspection of the dressed head that had been split, I verified three penetrating stun holes. This noncompliance will be associated with NR# CDS3709031208N documented on March 7th for similar noncompliant concerns.

313.16(a)(1)

On March 7th, 2022, at 1234 hours while in conduction of Livestock Humane Handling Inspection for Stunning Effectiveness and Conscious Animals On The Rail, I observed the following noncompliance. While the third bovine scheduled for Slaughter was in the stun box, I observed the animal to be moving from side to side and back and forth within the stun box. I observed the stun operator administered the first stun attempt with a .22 mag caliber firearm and the animal move its head just before the stun was applied. I observed the animal collapse to the floor of the stun box but continue to exhibit signs of consciousness. I observed the heifer’s head move in a side-to-side motion, no vocalization was heard but, I observed blinking and rhythmic breathing. I observed the stun operator immediately climb the steps alongside the stun box and administered a second stun attempt with the same .22 mag caliber firearm, which successfully rendered the heifer insensible. The stun operator opened the latch to the door of the stun box and the animal rolled out onto the blood pit where the stun operator proceeded to bleed the animal. I observed the heifer reflexively lift its head in a small up and down motion, however I observed the tongue of the animal sticking out, there was no blinking of the eye, no breathing, nor vocalizing. The stun operator then proceeded to administer a third security stun. I took Regulatory Control of the Slaughter Room with U.S. Reject Tag# B37337315. I verbally notified the Establishment Owner that a noncompliance would be documented. I contacted the SPHV and FLS, then released the Slaughter Room and relocated U.S. Reject Tag #B37337315 to the stun box. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. During inspection of the dressed head, I verified three penetrating stun holes. No records were found to associate with this noncompliance within the past 90 days.