Wolf Pack Meats: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

At approximately 0637 hours, while I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, was on the slaughter floor, I heard one gun shot from the knock box, then a second shot followed by a loud yell. I immediately walked to the knock box. I saw 5 lambs in the right front corner of the enclosure and one lamb in the center that was in sternal recumbency with its forelimb-hooves tucked between its hindlimbs, and its head and neck rested over its forelimbs. Its eyes were open, constricted, it had a palpebral reflex, but not vocalizing or attempting to stand up. I asked the employee what happened and he informed me that the first was a misfire and did not penetrate the animal and that the second shot I heard entered the back of the lamb’s head. The establishment employee performing knocking asked me if he could fire again. The establishment employee then shot the animal for the second time at the poll. After the second shot, the animal’s head dropped to the floor. This is a regulatory non-compliance per 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1); “The firearms shall be employed in the delivery of a bullet or projectile into the animal in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal by a single shot before it is shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be shot in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.” FLS REDACTED notified Mr. REDACTED regarding the humane handling non-compliance.

313.2,313.15(a)(2)

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, I SPHV Dr. REDACTED, observed two humane handling noncompliances. At 0800 hours, I noticed that an establishment employee was attempting to drive 2 heifers and 1 steer into the stunning area. These cattle were approximately 600lbs each. As the livestock refused to walk into the knock box, the employee became frustrated and soon began to strike a red plastic sorting board directly on the hips of the animals, when that didn’t work, he switched to the rattle paddle and began to use it on the rump of the heifers, and on the forehead of the heifers. I informed the employee that the paddle is not to be used excessively and it should not be used to hit the animals directly over their head. He then switched back to the sorting board to attempt to move the livestock into the cattle knock box. When that did not work, he grabbed the steer by both horns and attempted to pull it closer to the stunning area. I immediately walked over to both Plant Supervisor REDACTED, and Plant Manager REDACTED and asked them to speak with the employee who was becoming more frustrated with the animals refusing to enter the knock box. Soon after, I informed Ms. REDACTED that I would be issuing a noncompliance as this was a humane handling noncompliance under 9 CFR 313.2 (a), Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals, and 313.2(b), Electric prods, canvas slappers, or other implements employed to drive animals shall be used as little as possible in order to minimize excitement and injury. At 1130 hours, I witnessed the second humane handling noncompliance. I observed the establishment employee corral the remaining small cattle. 3 steers and 1 heifer were all herded into the cattle knock box. Two of them had horns about 12-15 inches long, one had smaller horns that appeared to be clipped and smooth measuring about 2 inches long. I walked over to the knock box and noticed how all four of the animals were lifting their legs up and down and bobbing their heads side to side to attempt to fit into such a tight space. I informed him that there should only be one animal in the knock box at a time, and that the animals were too overcrowded, creating a humane handling issue. The employee informed me that there is no way to prevent them from all entering at the same time. He proceeded to stun the heifer using a shotgun while the remaining 3 cattle stood in the knock box behind the one that had been stunned. I informed him that this is a humane handling issue. I informed Ms. REDACTED that there are too many animals in the knock box and I would be issuing an additional humane handling noncompliance. When I returned to the stunning area to observe the other three animals, I noticed that the steer with clipped horns that had been recently shot was hanging on the rail, and the rear gate of the knock box had been lifted, allowing the other two steers to back out of the knock box into the alleyway outside of near the establishment pens. The above is a humane handling noncompliance with 9CFR 313.15 (a)(2): The driving of the animals to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.