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

313.2

HAT Category III: Access to Water 9 CFR 313.2(e) On 6/16/21, 0300, at the holding pens of Sanchez Slaughterhouse M12455, a noncompliance was observed while performing Livestock Humane Handling task. HATS Category "Water and Feed availability". Pen 2 observed to have a single cattle with no access to water. I informed Mr. REDACTED, owner, of the condition. Mr. REDACTED performed remedial action, lowering a bucket of water into the pen at approximately 0305. Mr. REDACTED was informed that a noncompliance report will be documented in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e). No associated noncompliance in the last 90 days.

313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.2,313.15(a)(2)

Humane Handling NR, Est. M12455, Sanchez Slaughterhouse HATS Category VI: Electric Prod, Alternate Object Use On Saturday November 27, 2021, at approximately 0558 hours, the SPHV heard a bovine vocalizing in the holding pens. The SPHV proceeded to the holding pens and at 0601 hours observed the establishment owner with a handheld battery-operated electric prod in his hand. In the chute leading to the stun box, the SPHV observed a bovine in right lateral recumbency with its rear legs under the chute guard rail and its head facing away from the stun box. The SPHV observed the establishment owner repeatedly apply a handheld battery-operated electric prod to the animal on head with the animal vocalizing and attempting to rise in response to each electric prod application and instructed the establishment owner to cease using the electric prod as it was excessive. The establishment owner then attempted to reposition the animal by pushing its legs underneath it in the chute then by repositioning the animal’s rear quarters; at this time, the establishment owner determined the animal’s head was stuck and attempted to manually free the animal’s head. An establishment employee suggested stunning the animal where it lay; the SPHV verified the animal had received ante mortem inspection and was ambulatory prior to becoming trapped in lateral recumbency in the chute. The establishment employee retrieved a hand-held captive bolt device, and the establishment owner effectively stunned the animal on the first stun application. The SPHV verified the animal remained insensible as the establishment employees brought the animal into the shackling and bleeding area, hoisted the stunned animal, and bled the carcass. The SPHV correlated with the Denver District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS). No regulatory control action was taken as the SPHV maintained regulatory control of the situation. The SPHV verbally notified the establishment manager of the forthcoming NR for excessive use of an electric prod. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(b), 313.15(a)(2), and 313.15(b)(1)(iii). A review of noncompliance records demonstrated no other issue with the same root cause within the past 90 days.

313.1

Humane Handling: M12455 (Sanchez Slaughterhouse) HATS Category IV – Ante-Mortem Inspection On 10/30/2021, at approximately 0257 hours, I (Dr. REDACTED, SPHV) while performing Ante-Mortem inspection with CSI REDACTED, observed the livestock present in the holding pens being held for slaughter. I observed a total of eighteen (18) cattle in seven pens, housing 1 to 3 animals in each pen. I observed two cattle in pen #5 with fresh blood on the wet (from the overnight rain) concrete floor. The smaller of the two black angus within pen #5, a heifer, had fresh blood down the side of her face coming from her exposed left horn core. Upon further inspection I observed the degloved horn sheath on the pen floor with fresh coagulating blood. I observed blood smeared at height of heifer’s head upward in an arc shape, near the door of the pen on metal grid. I observed several areas on the metal grate pen that are not intact, incomplete grid pattern, with rusty jagged edges. The animal appeared bright, alert, and excited/fractious. I contacted DVMS Dr. REDACTED for guidance. I informed Dr. REDACTED that I had observed these cattle yesterday in the dirt pen, prior to separation in the ante-mortem pens, with no injuries observed at that time. I verbally notified Mr. REDACTED Sr., establishment owner, and Mr. REDACTED, establishment manager, of the noncompliance. As per 9 CFR 313.1(a) Livestock pens, driveways, and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may, in the opinion of the inspector, cause injury or pain to the animals. Loose boards, splintered or broken planking, and unnecessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired. There have been no non-compliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days.