Star Valley Meat Block: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.16(b)(2),313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness On 07/29/2022 at approximately 0920 hours, I, the SPHV, while performing HATS verification of stunning effectiveness, directly observed the establishment attempt to stun a beef cow in the stun box utilizing the head catch. The initial stun, applied with a 9 mm handgun with 124 grain jacketed hollow point ammunition, was ineffective at rendering the animal unconscious, as the animal remained standing; eyes were tracking; and the animal exhibited rhythmic breathing. There were no signs of distress or vocalization. The establishment stun operator immediately applied a second stun attempt using the same 9 mm handgun. The second stun was immediately effective at rendering the animal unconscious, and the animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. USDA Reject tag #B 41004707 was applied to the stun box and the Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the noncompliance. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two stun holes had penetrated the skull within the target zone. This noncompliance record is being associated with NR# KVD1600073629N / 1 issued on 7/28/2022 for same root cause. The 9 mm 124 grain jacketed hollow point ammunition used in this event was chosen as a corrective action by the establishment in response to an ineffective stun on 07/28/22 using a 9 mm 118 grain jacket hollow point. The establishment is currently operating under a Resumption of Voluntary Services. The establishment has recently implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling and stunning of livestock.

313.16(a)(1),313.16(b)(2)

HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness On 07/28/2022 at approximately 1315 hours, I, the SPHV, documented the following noncompliance. I was on the slaughter floor performing post-mortem inspection and heard a firearm discharge twice when the stun operator attempted to stun an adult beef cow with a 9 mm handgun utilizing 115 grain jacketed hollow point ammunition. I moved into sight of the stun box and observed the conscious animal restrained in a head catch. The animal remained standing; eyes were tracking; there was blood dripping from the nose; and the animal exhibited rhythmic breathing. There were no signs of distress or vocalization. The establishment stun operator immediately applied a third stun attempt with the same 9 mm handgun without needing to reload the firearm. The third stun was immediately effective at rendering the animal unconscious, and the animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. I did not need to instruct the stun operator to attempt to take immediate corrective actions. USDA Reject tag #B 245297040 was applied to the stun box and the Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the noncompliance. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed three stun holes had penetrated the frontal bone. The metal jacket of the projectile was observed in the most caudal stun hole. The copper fragment was lodged within the frontal sinus, and I was not able to probe communication from the frontal sinus to the neurocranium. The more rostral stun holes had penetrated deeper into the skull. The head was not split for further assessment. This noncompliance record is being associated with NR#KVD5715050826N/1 issued on 5/25/2022 for same root cause. The establishment is currently operating under a Resumption of Voluntary Services. The establishment has recently implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling and stunning of livestock.

313.1

HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls On Tuesday July 26, 2022, at approximately 0925 hours I, the DVMS, while performing a verification visit observed the following noncompliance. I was observing two establishment employees utilize a combination of rattle paddles and the animals’ flight zones to drive one of the two cattle from the northwest holding pen into the chute then to the stun box. I observed the black steer slip at the entrance of the chute and fall onto his sternum and ventral abdomen with the animal’s front legs stretching forward and its hind legs going out behind him. The animal immediately regained it’s footing and proceeded up into the chute. I did not observe the animal to have sustained any injuries. I verbally notified the Establishment Owner that a noncompliance record would be issued for slips and falls. There have been no noncompliance records of the same root cause issued within the past 90 days.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 05/25/2022 at approximately 1200 hours, I, the SPHV directly observed the establishment attempt to stun a bovine in the stun box utilizing the head catch. The initial stun applied with a 9 mm handgun was ineffective as I observed the animal remain standing with eyes tracking and rhythmic breathing. There were no signs of distress or vocalization observed. The handgun was already loaded with another round of ammunition and I observed the establishment stun operator immediately apply a second stun attempt. The second stun was effective at rendering the animal unconscious. I observed the animal remain unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. The Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two stun holes had penetrated the skull. There have been no noncompliance records issued within the past 90 days for the same root cause.