Westminster Meat Packing, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category III: Water Availability 9 CFR 313.2(e) On Monday, August 8, 2022, at approximately 02:30pm while performing the Handling of Livestock component of the Livestock Humane Handling verification task at Establishment M46498, the SPHV observed the following Noncompliance in the barn-holding area for live animals. While observing the animals (ovine, caprine, and bovine) held for future slaughter, it was noted that no water was contained within any of the water troughs except for pen 6. Pen 6 contained lambs/sheep/goats and was connected to an outdoor holding area. This outdoor area had a water trough containing water but the inside water trough in pen 6 was empty. No other additional sources of water was observed in any of the other pens. REDACTED (plant owner/manager) was notified of the Noncompliance, previous associated noncompliance's, and the establishments failure to adhere to the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(e). A review of the PHIS database since January 1, 2022 found three similar/associated noncompliance's: NR YKB5311064230N, NR YKB4607062230N, and NR YKB4606033401N. All were documented for animals not having access to water. Associated noncompliance's result from the development of continuous adverse trends in noncompliance and continued demonstration of ineffective correction actions (either not fully implemented or not effective). Continued failure to meet these regulatory requirements may result in additional regulatory or administrative action per the Rules of Practice (9 CFR 500). This document serves as written notification that your failure to comply with regulatory requirement(s) could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.

313.2

HATS Category III - Water and Feed Availability On June 30, 2022, while conducting the Livestock Humane Handling task the following noncompliance was observed. At approximately 10:30 am hours, I observe all animals in the holding pen were without water. The establishment has six pens to hold animals before slaughter. A thoroughly inspection of all livestock watering system revealed, there was no water flowing into all six troughs. Pen 1 has an estimate of 30 lambs without access to water. Pen 2 has 18 beef without access water. Pen 3 has a mixture of goats and lambs with an estimate of 30 animals without access to water. Pen 4 has 14 beef without access to water. Pen 5 has 9 beef without access to water. Pen 6 has a mixture of goats and lambs with an estimate of 80 animals without access to water. A NR was issued the previous day for animals not having access to water. I had a discussion with REDACTED at 0730 this morning regarding animals not having access to water. REDACTED stated he would have the issue corrected in two hours by purchasing new floater for the watering system. During the slaughter process, I conducted a Humane Handling task to ensure all animals had access to water. During the inspection, it reveals all animals did not have access to water. A reject tag (B43049722) was placed on the kill box until water was supplied to all six holding pens. At 11:35 am, once all animals had access to water, the reject tag was removed. REDACTED was notified orally and visually about the condition of the holding pen and that an NR would be issued. A review of the PHIS database for the previous 90-days found one similar/associated noncompliance's; on June 29, 2022, NR YKB4607062230N / 1 was documented for animals not having access to water. Association of like noncompliance results in the development of adverse trends in noncompliance and demonstrated ineffective correction action. Proffered corrective actions are either not fully implemented or not effective. Continued failure to meet these regulatory requirements may result in additional regulatory or administrative action per the Rules of Practice (9 CFR 500).

313.2

HATS Category III - Water and Feed Availability On June 29, 2022, while conducting the Livestock Humane Handling task the following noncompliance was observed. At approximately 3:20 pm hours, I observe all animals in the holding pen were without water. The plant has a watering system that uses a float device to shut off water before it overflows. The plant has a value system located in the basement that shuts off water in other areas of the plant to provide maximum water pressure to other areas of the plant. The value level was in the shut of position to help supply maximum water pressure to the poultry slaughter/processing area during operation. After the value level was raised by a plant employee, water began to flow into the water trough at a slow rate. A thoroughly inspection of all six-watering system revealed, there was small amounts of water coming through all six values but was inadequate to supply water to all the animals in the holding pens. Pen 1 has an estimate of 70 lambs without access to water. Pen 2 has 18 beef without access water. Pen 3 has a mixture of goats and lambs with an estimate of 50 animals without access to water. Pen 4 has 14 beef without access to water. Pen 5 has 9 beef without access to water. Pen 6 has a mixture of goats and lambs with an estimate of 160 animals without access to water. Dr. REDACTED notify plant owner (REDACTED about the condition of the holding pens and that a NR would be written. REDACTED called me and we discussed the inadequate watering system in the holding pens and he stated he would corrective the watering system in the morning. There was no management at the plant at the time the noncompliance was discovered. However, there were still plant employees in the building, and they immediately started hauling water buckets and using a water hose to fill up the empty watering troughs. REDACTED was notified orally about the condition of the holding pen and that an NR would be issued. Water must be available at all time to animals. A 90-day review of the establishment's previous noncompliance reports did not reveal any related non-compliances. Failure to meet these regulatory requirements may result in additional regulatory or administrative action per the Rules of Practice (9 CFR 500).

313.1,313.2

HATS Category III Water and Feed availability At approximately 7:30 am on 3/1/22 the following non-compliance was observed. While performing anti-mortem inspection the IIC observed the automatic water trough in pen 1 and 2 to be empty, preventing the animals in the pens access to water. The water in pen 3 and 4 was observed to be frozen solid and the automatic water trough in pen 5 and 6 was empty, preventing the animals access to water. The IIC informed establishment management this is a non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.1 and 9 CFR 313.2.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water Availability On Monday, January 31, 2022, at approximately 07:30 while performing the Handling of Livestock component of the Livestock Humane Handling verification task at Establishment M46498, the SPHV observed the following Noncompliance. While observing the animals (caprine) held in pen 6, it was noted that the water contained within the water trough was completely frozen and unable to be utilized by the animals held in pen 6. No other source of water was observed in pen 6. The SPHV took regulatory control of the pen 6 using FSIS Form 6502-1. The establishment's corrective action was relocating the animals from pen 6 to a different pen where liquid water was available. REDACTED (plant owner) and REDACTED (plant owner) were notified of the Noncompliance and the establishments failure to adhere to the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(e). This document serves as written notification that your failure to comply with regulatory requirement(s) could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.