St. Joseph Meat Market: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 07:30 hours, I (Dr. REDACTED, SPHV) observed the following noncompliance while routinely performing humane handling (HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness): A Holstein steer was ineffectively stunned after the first stun attempt via hand-held, penetrating captive bolt device. It was conscious as seen by standing, stepping in place, and tracking the stunner’s movement with its head. The steer was in the restrainer but moved its head during the first stun attempt (there is no built-in head restraint).  A secondary, pre-loaded, hand-held captive bolt device was readily available and immediate action was taken by the stunner to effectively render the steer unconscious. On post-mortem inspection of the skull, one stun wound was centered on the forehead and the other was approximately two to three inches higher, centered on the poll. The harvest floor lead (REDACTED) was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance and management (Ms. REDACTED) was notified by me (Dr. REDACTED) via email the following day (April 19). This NR is being associated with a similar noncompliance that occurred on January 10, 2022, as documented in NR number LZC1309015110N/2.  The preventative measure in response to the previous NR was employee training.

313.15(a)(1)

At around 08:05 hours, I (Dr. REDACTED, SPHV) observed the following while routinely assessing humane handling (HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness): A Holstein steer was ineffectively stunned after the first stun attempt via hand-held, penetrating captive bolt device. It was conscious as seen by voluntary blinking, standing, and tracking with its head. The steer was in the restrainer (there is no built-in head restraint, but the animal was standing with minimal movement) and the employee performing the stunning was not the usual operator to support 9 CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iv). A secondary, pre-loaded, hand-held captive bolt gun was readily available and immediate action was taken by the stunner to effectively render the steer unconscious. On post-mortem inspection of the skull, one stun wound was centered on the forehead and the other was approximately one to two inches lower and less than one inch off-center to the left when viewed head-on. The interim harvest floor lead (REDACTED) was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance and management (Ms. REDACTED) was notified by me (Dr. REDACTED) via email of the establishment's failure to comply with the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iv). This NR is being associated with a similar noncompliance that occurred on August 9, 2021, also citing regulation 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), as documented in NR number LZC1514081009N/1. Preventative measures were either not adequate or not implemented to prevent noncompliance.

313.15(a)(1)

At 09:10 hours, the IIC (REDACTED, CSI) observed the following while performing routine inspection (HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness): A red angus cow was ineffectively stunned and conscious after the first stun attempt via hand-held, penetrating captive bolt device as observed by it standing and voluntary blinking. The cow was in the restrainer, but excited and excessively moving her head (there is no built-in head restraint available in the facilities). The typical employee was not performing the stunning so there was a less experienced stunning operator in his place to support 313.15(b)(1)(iv). A secondary, pre-loaded, hand-held captive bolt gun was readily available and immediate action was taken by the stunner to effectively render the cow unconscious. On post-mortem inspection of the skull, one shot was centered on the forehead and the other was adjacent but angled downward. The interim harvest floor lead (REDACTED) was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance and management (Ms. REDACTED) was notified by me (Dr. REDACTED) via email of the establishment’s failure to comply with the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iv). This NR is being associated with a similar noncompliance that occurred on January 10, 2022, at 08:05 hours as documented in NR number LZC1309015110N/1. Preventative measures were either not adequate or not implemented to prevent noncompliance.