Trenton Processing: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

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

HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness On July 20, 2022, at approximately 9:55 am, Veterinary Consumer Safety Officer (VCSO) Dr. REDACTED and Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) REDACTED observed the following stunning noncompliance. The establishment personnel attempted to stun a Holstein steer with the captive bolt in the knockbox while the animal was free standing. After the captive bolt was discharged, the inspection members observed that the animal remained standing, moved his head up/down, and was moving forward and backwards in the knockbox. The stunner retrieved a second charge for the captive bolt from the nearby shelf and re-positioned himself on the side of the knockbox for the second stun attempt. The second stunning attempt was delayed due to the animal’s head being inaccessible for proper stunning and free movement of the animal within the knockbox. When the animal raised his head, the establishment personnel delivered an effective stun with the captive bolt and the animal was rendered insensible on the second attempt. Two distinct holes in the skull were identified by inspection and establishment personnel during postmortem examination as a result from the captive bolt. Establishment Owner REDACTED and Plant Manager REDACTED were immediately notified of the noncompliance and that the event was considered egregious due to insufficient restraint that did not allow the employee to immediately administer the effective corrective action stun. Regulatory control action (NO. B34455856) was applied to the knockbox by CSI REDACTED. This incidence today is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iii). A Notice of Suspension was issued by the Chicago District Office.

313.1

HATS Category IV- Ante-mortem Inspection HATS Category VII- Slips and Falls At 6:30 a.m. on 7-20-2022 during a humane handling verification visit, Dr. REDACTED (District Veterinary Medical Specialist, DVMS) and the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI REDACTED) noticed two water troughs in pen 4 that are rusted and deemed unusable as they will not hold water and is a possible safety concern for the animals due to rust corroded sharp edges and several areas of railing that have rust corrosion with sharp edges and burrs throughout the holding pens. This was discussed with the new establishment owner (REDACTED) and plant manager (REDACTED). This is noncompliant with 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.” Later that morning, Dr. REDACTED observed two cattle slip while being moved into pen 3 during unloading. There was a buildup of manure on the pen floor. Dr. REDACTED notified the owner of the observations. The plant manager rinsed the barn floor with buckets of water and then applied a non-slip grip powder. No additional slips were observed. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.1(b) “Floors of livestock pens, ramps, and driveways shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide good footing for livestock. Slip resistant or waffled floor surfaces, cleated ramps and the use of sand, as appropriate, during winter months are examples of acceptable construction and maintenance.”