Hamzah Slaughter House, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.2

While performing a Livestock Humane Handling task IPP observed the following noncompliance. Both CSIs at the establishment walked down to observe the animals in the establishments barn and observed a truck unloading 15 lambs and 2 veal at approximately 7:25 AM. Both CSIs observed that the animals were left just inside the gate, which did not contain any accessible water for these animals. CSIs observed an animal of concern and contacted the on duty SPHV to inform them of the animal and were instructed to observe it again after some time. At approximately 8:30AM establishment personnel came to the office and requested an antemortem for a group of young goats that had just been brought up from the barn. Both CSIs performed the antemortem inspection and then walked back down to the barn to check on the animal that had raised some concern on the previous observation. It was found that the same group of 2 veal and 15 lambs were still in the same holding area with no access to water. Establishment employee and Acting Manager REDACTED was informed and stated that he was unaware that any animals had been delivered but would immediately send someone to water the animals. The animals lack of access to water for the approximate time period of 1 hour and 5 minutes is evidence of a failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2 (e). Establishment Administrator REDACTED was notified by phone of this noncompliance.

313.2

At approximately 11:45 AM, while performing a Humane Handling Verification task under HATS Category IV, the following noncompliance was observed. Establishment personnel had pushed a total of 5 beef cattle, with 2 adult beef cattle weighing up to 900 lbs. and 4 smaller beef cattle weighing approximately 350 to 600 lbs., into the alley between the back of the stunning box and the door leading to the outside. While preparing to place another animal in the stunning box area, establishment personnel opened the door back toward the group of animals, which prompted all of them to push themselves backwards. This lead to one of the smaller beef cattle being trampled by the larger animals, pinning it to the ground with its head turned back 180 degrees on its flank towards its rear. This is in noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2 (a). IPP immediately placed U.S. Reject tag No. B29864471 on the stunning box, and the establishment took an immediate corrective action by opening the door leading to the outside and moving the animals into a larger space. The animal was unable to get up until the establishment took this corrective action.

313.2

While performing verification activities for the Livestock Humane Handling HATS category 3 Water and Feed Availability, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following: Animals were brought to the establishment by a customer and dropped off around 1030 hours. At 1135 hours, while walking towards the barn CSI observed the animals (44 lambs, 2 goats and 2 veal) located in the alleyway. Both the gate leading to the barn and the gate towards the kill floor were closed. This left the animals with no access to water. This is a violation of 9 CFR 313.2 which states “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.” Plant Manager REDACTED was informed of this noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED immediately went to the barn and opened the gate, allowing the animals access to water. Two similar noncompliance’s were documented on 2/17/2023 and 3/16/2023. NR # UIE1107022217N was documented on 2/17/2023. For which the following preventive measure was proposed “immediate action: the bucket was cleaned and filled with water. Further planned action (1) the assigned personnel to the barn instructed to ensure that all animals must have water at all times in all holding pens (2) plant management of establishment 10805 will verify that the establishment is in compliance with 9 CFR 313.2 (c).” This proposed preventive measure was either not implemented or not effective. NR # UIE3012030216N was documented on 3/16/2023. For which no written response was provided.

313.2

At 1230 hours while performing verification activities for the Livestock Humane Handling HATS category 3 Water and Feed Availability, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following: While walking through the alley way immediately adjacent to the outside beef pen a goat was sitting alone. Both the gate leading to the barn and the gate further up the alleyway towards the kill floor were closed. This left the goat with no access to water. When CSI questioned plant employee REDACTED about why the goat was left in the alley way, Mr. REDACTED stated that there was supposed to be 30 goats presented for ante-mortem but only 29 made it to inspection. So, the goat must have fallen behind the group and been left. The 29 goats were presented for ante-mortem inspection at 1017 hours; therefore, the goat had been sitting in the alley way for 2 hours and 13 minutes. This is a violation of 9 CFR 313.2 which states “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.” Kill floor supervisor REDACTED was informed of this noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED immediately went to the barn to give the goat tub of water resulting in return to compliance with 9 CFR 313.2. A similar noncompliance was documented on NR # UIE1107022217N on the date 2/17/2023. For which the following preventive measure was proposed “immediate action: the bucket was cleaned and filled with water. Further planned action (1) the assigned personnel to the barn instructed to ensure that all animals must have water at all times in all holding pens (2) plant management of establishment 10805 will verify that the establishment is in compliance with 9 CFR 313.2 (c).” The proposed preventive measure was either not implemented or not effective.

313.2

At 8:00 AM while performing verification activities for the Livestock Humane Handling HATS category 3 Water and Feed Availability, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. Immediately upon entering the barn there was a pen to the left that contained 18 lambs. The lambs in this pen did have access to a water trough, however there was only approximately 1⁄2 of an inch of water completely contaminated with fecal matter. The water was an opaque brownish color throughout, and the bottom of the trough could be seen on one side. This is a violation of 9 CFR 313.2 which states, “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.” Mr. REDACTED was informed of this and stated that the animals had just been dropped off. I informed Mr. REDACTED that the animals were on the property and must have access to water at all times, regardless of how long they have been there to remain in compliance with 9 CFR 313.2. Mr. REDACTED immediately went to the barn to clean the trough and give the lambs water resulting in a return to compliance with 9 CFR 313.2.

313.2

On 1/6/23 at approximately 10:25 am while performing anti-mortem inspection on 2 veal and 44 lamb, the following Livestock Humane Handling, HATS category # 5, and HATS category # 6 was witnessed by IPP. At 10:25 am, IPP were notified that anti-mortem inspection was needed for 44 lamb that were in the slaughter floor holding area. FI REDACTED (IPP) was performing the anti-mortem inspection when he noticed one lamb that was lying down due to bad front legs. He then called the PHV, Dr. REDACTED. As per Dr. REDACTED instructions, he asked a plant employee to move the lamb to a safe area where it would not be stepped on by other animals. The plant employee then lifted the lamb by the front legs and began to pull it across the floor while its hind end was on the floor. Knowing the lamb had injured front legs, IPP told the plant employee that he could not do that. The plant employee then released the lamb, then asked the IPP, “Do you want me to call an ambulance’? The plant employee then proceeded to lift the lamb by all 4 legs and carried it to the door. To open the outside pen gate, the plant employee released the lambs back legs, holding it by the front legs again. He then released the lamb into the ramp/alleyway. At this time, IPP lost sight of the lamb and called Dr. REDACTED once again. At this point, CSI REDACTED stopped operations at approximately 10:31 am. Dr. REDACTED instructed IPP to tag the knock box and the two hoists. The establishment was allowed to complete the processing of the animals that had already been slaughtered. The knock box was tagged with U.S. Retained tag # B30381178. The two hoists were tagged with U.S. Retained tag #B30381179 and #B30381264. Through the issuance of this noncompliance record, the management of Hamzah Slaughter House, establishment 10805, is notified of the failure to comply with the following 9 CFR requirements. 9 CFR 313.2(D) Disabled livestock and other animals unable to move. (1) Disabled animals and other animals unable to move shall be separated from normal ambulatory animals and placed in the covered pen provided for in § 313.1(c). (2) The dragging of disabled animals and other animals unable to move, while conscious, is prohibited. Stunned animals may, however, be dragged.

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 09:00AM, while observing Plant Manager euthanize a beef calf in the barn (HATS Category 8), CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance, Plant Manager REDACTED placed the bolt gun on the calf's head and fired. The shot was approximately 1 to 1 and 1/2 inches below the recommended area for bolt gun placement. The shot entered the sinus area of the animal, and the calf did not vocalize but jerked its head away and remained lying on the ground. Mr. REDACTED immediately unloaded and re-loaded the bolt gun and placed another shot rendering immediate unconsciousness. This is considered non-egregious inhumane handling due to the fact that there was a mis-stun followed immediately by an affective stun. This is a direct violation of 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 animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." Additionally, this is a violation of 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(3) which states, "Immediately after the stunning blow is delivered the animals shall be in a state of complete unconsciousness and remain in this condition throughout shackling, sticking and bleeding."

313.2

While performing the Livestock Humane Handling task, specifically HATS Category 3, at approximately 07:45 AM, I, CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. There was an approximately 6-Month-old beef calf laying in the center of the entry way of the barn. There was a pen approximately 8 feet away through a doorway with an open gate that had two water troughs that were each approximately half full. The calf appeared to have a broken hip or leg and was unable to walk more than two feet without slipping and falling back to the ground. When asked Plant Manager REDACTED stated that he knew about the animal and would be killing under custom exempt. This is still considered a violation due to the fact that all animals on the premises must have access to water at all times according to 9 CFR 313.2 (e) which states, "Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down." Mr. REDACTED moved one of the water troughs to directly in front of the calf. This action brought them back into compliance.