New Angus, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

At 1320 in the barn, I observed the following noncompliance in HATS Cat III, Feed and Water. In pen 16R, a nonambulatory disabled (down cow), separated from other cows, remained alive in the pen without access to water. While there was a full trough behind her, her condition did not allow her ready access to it. Although she walked off the trailer and made it into the pen, during antemortem inspection at 1114, she was down and rose twice (once for about 30 seconds before lying back down and the second time for several seconds). From antemortem inspection at 1114 to the time I walked through the barn at 1320, it was reasonable to conclude she did not have water all that time. I notified Stockyard Supervisor REDACTED and he immediately euthanized the cow. The establishment failed to provide water at all times per 9 CFR 313.2(e).

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 7:40am while performing HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. At the Harvest restrainer area, standing on the mezzanine stand (about five (5) feet high and five (5) feet to the right side of) behind the shackler), the employee shackled three cows prior to rendering the animals unconscious. The first cow was shackled as soon as he saw the leg before the head restrainer was put into place, the second cow was approximately a foot away from the head restrainer when it was shackled and the third cow was shackled before being rendered unconscious. The cows did not struggle or vocalize while the shackle was being placed. All three animals were immediately rendered unconscious with a single pneumatic captive bolt stun and were hoisted after the captive bolt was applied. At this time, I stopped the line and U.S. Rejected tag #B37801536 was applied to the controls. I informed Supervisor REDACTED about why I stopped the line and asked him to call over the radio for the PHV. Supervisor REDACTED, QA Supervisor REDACTED and Harvest Managers REDACTED and REDACTED were informed of the noncompliance with 9CFR 313.15(a)(1) and the forthcoming noncompliance record (NR). I removed U.S. Rejected tag #B37801536 as per instructed by the PHV, and slaughter operations resumed.

313.1

At approximately 1004 hours, on 1/7/22, while observing HATS Category IV – Ante-mortem Inspection near pen number 7, I, SCSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category VII – Slips and Falls: I observed two steers fall onto their stomachs and three steers slip going down to forelegs while being moved for ante-mortem at a walking pace around the corner of the pen. The steers got back up immediately and began moving again with no observable injuries. I observed slippage was caused by excessive mud-like build-up at the entrance of pen number 7, and that this same build-up was observed throughout the barn holding area. I notified, Mr. REDACTED of my observations and he mentioned the pens were reused overnight and had been cleaned out on January 4, 2022. At approximately 1204 hours while verifying HATS Category IV – Ante-mortem inspection, I observed noncompliance with HATS Category VII – Slips and Falls: I observed a brown mud-like build-up near the entrance to pen number 14. Establishment employees were moving 36 head of steer in pen 14 for the inspection when I observed one steer fall, landing on its stomach. I observed six other steers slip on either their front legs or rear legs. No injuries were observable as the steers immediately got back up and resumed movement. I notified Mr. REDACTED that this ongoing issue was noncompliant as the animals did not have good footing and kept slipping and falling during movement out of the pens. Mr. REDACTED assured me that he would remove the excess build-up from the pens entrances and began calling an employee with a skidder to remove the build-up from the pens. At the time, I did not take a regulatory control action as no injuries were observed and immediate corrective actions by Mr. REDACTED. I verified compliance prior to additional animal movement. At approximately 1410 hours, I verbally notified Establishment Administrator, Ms. REDACTED, of the noncompliance with the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.1(b), as the pens were not sufficiently maintained to provide good footing to animals during movement. Recent previous noncompliance records show no same or similar documents to associate this record with.