G.G. RUPPERSBERGER & SONS INC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.2

Today, on August 09, 2023, approximately at 0605 hours, I, CSI, REDACTED was notified by an IPP, REDACTED, who was performing Ante-mortem inspection at George. G. Ruppersberger and it was observed to be a non-compliance of Humane Handling HATS category III. There is common water trough between Pen 4 and Pen 5. There was no presence of water in the water trough. Another establishment employee acknowledged the absence of water. Establishment employee and slaughter floor supervisor, REDACTED, was notified about the absence of water. Approximately 30 cattles were present altogether in Pen 4 and Pen 5 and did not have access to water. At approximately 0610 hours, water was starting to come into the trough. This observance is a non-compliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.2 (e), “which requires that water to accessible to livestock in all holding pens, and that animals held longer than 24 hours have access to feed”. Mr. REDACTED, Plant Manager, is being notified to above mentioned non-compliance.

313.2

Today, on June 15, 2023, approximately at 0603 hours, I, CSI, REDACTED was notified by an IPP, who was performing Ante-mortem inspection at George G Ruppersberger and it observed to be a non-compliance under Humane Handling HATS category III. There is common water trough between Pen 4 and Pen 5. There was no presence of water in the water trough, as it was completely dry and in addition, fecal matter was also observed by an IPP. Establishment employee and slaughter floor supervisor, REDACTED, was notified about the absence of water. Approximately 25 cattles were present altogether in Pen 4 and Pen 5 and did not have access to water. At approximately 0618 hours, fecal matter was removed, and water was starting to come into the trough. This observance is a non-compliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.2 (e), “which requires that water to accessible to livestock in all holding pens, and that animals held longer than 24 hours have access to feed”. Mr. REDACTED, Plant Manager, is being notified to above mentioned non-compliance.

313.15(a)(1)

On today’s date of April 28th, 2023, I CSI REDACTED was notified by IPP that they were performing Ante Mortem inspection at George Ruppersberger establishment #M5931 and observed the following Humane Handling non-compliance. According to IPP’s recount of the incident, a brown Angus was observed walking calmly into the knock box at approximately 0628 hours. During this time the establishment employees struggled for several minutes to get the Angus to lock its head into the head restraint. After approximately 4 minutes the establishment employee was able to fully lock the animals head into the restraint, however his head was tilted slightly tilted making it difficult to attempt a stun. IPP reported that the establishment employee went to take his first knock with a .22 caliber captive bolt which struck below the center of the skull of the Angus. IPP reported that the Angus was still standing upright on all four legs and showed signs of consciousness as it immediately began to vocalize loudly with the addition of tracking eye movement and demonstrated a righting reflux. The establishment employee immediately rendered a second stun that was above the center to the right of the skull. The Angus was still vocalizing loudly as it stood up and demonstrated the same signs of consciousness noted above. According to IPP, the establishment employee immediately rendered a third shot in rapid succession to the center of the skull and the animals' hind quarters dropped indicating no signs of consciousness. The establishment employees proceeded to hoist the animal and cut the throat to perform a bleed out. At the time IPP stopped slaughter operations and contacted the SPHV on duty and notified him of the incident. IPP received instructions to resume slaughter operations and notify Supervisor REDACTED of that a Humane Handling non-compliance would be documented. Upon my arrival to the establishment I immediately notified plant manager REDACTED of the incident and that taking more than one stunning attempt to achieve unconsciousness represents a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), which states: "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." This noncompliance was in HATS category VIII "Stunning Effectiveness". This noncompliance is similar to previous NR’s issued, NR # WHD34080339N/1, dated, 3/10/2023, and the most recent NR # WHD2612032230N, dated, 3/30/2023. The establishment’s corrective/preventative measures were either not implemented or was ineffective in preventing reoccurrence of this noncompliance. Continued failure to meet the regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory and or administrative action(s).

313.15(a)(1)

On today’s date of March 30th, 2023, at approximately 1130 hours, I CSI REDACTED was notified by Food Inspector REDACTED that the following Livestock Humane Handling non-compliance was observed; During lamb slaughter at 1115 hours IPP observed an establishment employee administer his first shot to the center of the lamb’s skull with a .22 caliber captive bolt gun. IPP reported that the first shot proved ineffective as the lamb was demonstrating a righting reflux, eyes blinking, attempting to stand up on all fours, and showed clear signs of consciousness. According to IPP's recount of the incident, the establishment employee did immediately render a second shot with rapid succession and the animal's hind quarter dropped and indicated no signs of consciousness. IPP immediately took regulatory control action and stopped slaughter operations temporarily and contacted the SPHV on duty at 1117 hours. The inspector received instructions to resume slaughter and notified the plant supervisor REDACTED that a non-compliance would be documented. I arrived at establishment M5931 at approximately 1145 hours and spoke with the establishment employees about the incident. The establishment’s proffered corrective actions at the time were to take their time while slaughtering lamb and to hold the lamb’s head in place while administering a shot to render the animal unconscious. I agreed with their corrective actions. Mr. REDACTED was informed of the noncompliance and that taking more than one stunning attempt to achieve unconsciousness represents a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), which states: "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." This noncompliance was in HATS category VIII "Stunning Effectiveness". This noncompliance is similar to previous NR # WHD34080339N/1, dated, 3/10/2023. The establishment’s corrective/preventative measures was either not implemented or was ineffective in preventing reoccurrence of this noncompliance. Continued failure to meet the regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory and or administrative action(s)

313.15(a)(1)

On 3/10/23 at approximately 0845 while performing a Humane Handling Verification Task at Ruppersberger I observed the following humane handling non-compliance. A black Angus bull walked calmly into the knock box. The establishment employee went to take his first knock with the .22 caliber captive bolt in the correct placement. When attempting this knock, there was the sound of a release, but the animal was unaffected. The standing, blinking bull did not vocalize or show any indication that it had been struck. The establishment employee immediately took a second shot in which the bull stopped blinking and was leaning against the side of the knock box but was still partially standing. The establishment employee immediately took a third shot and which the animal remained leaning in the knock box. A fourth shot was taken in rapid succession and the animals hind quarters dropped and indicated no signs of consciousness. This facility has a head catch that keeps the animal partially upright, but there was no sign of a righting reflex during this process. I immediately tagged the knock box with US Rejected Tag B30289317, and I spoke with the establishment employees and informed them of the non-compliance. We discussed potential causes of this issue. This bull also had a heavy winter coat and an accumulation of hair on its head that could have affected the efficacy of the knock. This was the last bull of the day. The establishment’s proffered corrective actions at the time were to not accept any bulls until they have a higher caliber captive bolt or firearm. I agreed with their corrective actions and removed the US Rejected Tag at approximately 0855. After the head was removed and skinned, it was noticed that there were 2 holes present in the skull. Both were in the correct placement on midline one slightly above the other. One of the holes was where 2 of the shots were, and the other hole were where the other 2 shots were located. This was indicated by the increase in diameter of both holes. It was also noted upon skinning the head the skin/fat at the poll/frontal bone was approximately 1.25” thick. Taking more than one stunning attempt to achieve unconsciousness represents a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), which states: "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." This noncompliance was in HATS category VIII "Stunning Effectiveness". Mr. REDACTED was informed of the noncompliance and proffered the corrective actions.