Strauss Brands LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3)

At approximately 0543 hours during antemortem inspection of animals coming off the truck (HATS Category II Truck Unloading),  I observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness.  A lamb came off the truck with a broken leg and went down near the entrance of the truck. An establishment barn employee administered a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) stun to the head and confirmed a negative palpebral reflex. It was moved from the dock to the floor outside the barn office to proceed with unloading. Approximately two minutes later the lamb started to breathe, which was noted by QA supervisor Mr. REDACTED and Dr. REDACTED. I observed the lamb was conscious, lifting his head off the ground in a controlled manner, breathing rhythmically. I found the corneal and palpebral reflexes to be intact.  The lamb also exhibited eye tracking movement. I immediately called for the  barn employee to stun the animal again. The employee administered a second stun, using the same HHCB captive bolt and the animal was rendered unconscious. Mr. REDACTED and plant manager Mr. REDACTED were informed of the forthcoming noncompliance record and that I would be contacting the Des Moines District Office through supervisory channels for further guidance regarding possible enforcement action. The restrainer was tagged with U.S. reject tag #B41824402.

313.1

At approximately 0700, I, REDACTED CSI, was verifying animals remained unconscious at the rail (HATS Category IX). During this verification I observed an establishment employee moving around at the restrainer area. I moved over to see what was occurring in the restrainer area. An employee was trying to pry up the diamond grated flooring on the lead up ramp, just prior to the restrainer area. After approximately 15 seconds I observed that a calf had its hoof caught in a broken area of the grated floor. The animal was calm and laying down during the time that the employees were lifting the flooring to remove its hoof. After approximately 30-45 seconds the flooring was moved enough to remove the hoof and the animal stood up and stepped back out of the area where the flooring was damaged. After the animal was removed from the area, I observed a small scrape between the claw and the coronary band that was bleeding. I rejected the restrainer using U.S. Reject Tag # B37423878. Barn Supervisor Ms. REDACTED, who had been supervising the employees the entire time, was notified of the noncompliance with 313.1 and the forthcoming noncompliance record. Establishment administrator Ms. REDACTED, was also notified of the noncompliance. The establishment initiated corrective actions and repaired the broken area. At approximately 0800 hours, I inspected the repair and removed my US Reject tag and production resumed.