Colorado Lamb Processors: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1),313.2

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness While completing a Livestock Humane Handling Task at Colorado Lamb Processors on March 28, 2023 at approximately 11:32am, I, the SPHV, observed a conscious lamb sitting upright and looking around while on the conveyer in front of the sticker, during Halal slaughter that utilizes electrical stunning before cutting the throat of the animals for bleeding. The sticker and the employee in charge of bringing the animals down the conveyer motioned for the SPHV to come assist with the situation. Upon arriving at the bleeding conveyer, the aforementioned employees asked the SPHV what to do. The sticker at this point in time was exclaiming that there had been an initial electrical current stun delivered to the animal, however the animal did not appear to be in distress, as it was calmly sitting sternal on the table while chewing cud, eyes tracking, and blinking. The SPHV informed the employees to contact their supervisor and that the animal would need to be rendered insensible as soon as possible, either by placing the animal back in line for electrical stunning or with their backup hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, in order to proceed with the slaughter day. The Hide-On Supervisor arrived at the bleeding conveyer, while loading the backup HHCB device, and delivered stun #2 to the animal while the animal was sitting sternal on the conveyor in front of the sticker and restrained manually by firmly grasping the left ear and mandible, which the animal struggled against. Following the stun, the SPHV observed the animal remain upright on the table, blinking, chewing cud, with blood pouring out of it’s nose. At this time, the SPHV advised the Hide-On Supervisor to deliver another stun immediately. After reloading the HHCB device, a third stun (second HHCB stun) was delivered to the animal. The animal continued to remain upright, this time showing more signs of distress by moving its head around quickly. The SPHV assessed the blinking reflex by touching the cornea, and the animal responded by repeatedly blinking, rhythmically breathing, still bleeding through its nose but not vocalizing. The Slaughter Floor Manager arrived at the location of the animal, reloaded the HHCB device and delivered a 4th stun (third HHCB stun) to the animal, rendering the animal unconscious. The SPHV verbally notified the Slaughter Floor Manager that a Regulatory Control Action would be taken by placing a US Reject tag B41418881on the restrainer, and that no more lambs should be stunned until the floor was released, but all stunned animals could be run through to the cooler. Upon inspection of the head, three penetrating stun holes were observed. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This noncompliance is being associated with MOI # GXL2215015926G issued on 1/26/2023. This establishment operates under a robust systematic approach to livestock humane handling.