I’O Processing, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at approximately 0705 hours at the stun box, I, the Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV), while performing a routine livestock humane handling verification task, observed the following: I observed the stun operator attempt to stun a dairy cow with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device. I observed the device discharge and penetrate the skull; however, the cow did not drop to the floor. I also observed the cow blinking, eye tracking, and vocalizing. The stun operator immediately reloaded the HHCB device and delivered a second effective stun, rendering the cow unconscious. Following supervisory instruction, I took a regulatory control action (RCA) by applying USDA Retain tag #B43996471 to the stun box and informed establishment management that I would be correlating with district management. I immediately verbally informed establishment management of the forthcoming noncompliance record (NR). Upon inspection of the dressed head, there were two penetrating holes within the target zone of the forehead. The establishment determined that the stun device was not positioned properly on anatomic landmarks. The establishment retrained employees and, after correlating with the Circuit Frontline Supervisor (FLS), I removed the USDA Retain tag at approximately 0930 hours. This noncompliance is being associated with noncompliance record #YIE4419082023N issued on August 23, 2023, for the same root cause. The establishment failed to prevent recurrence of the noncompliance. The establishment operates under at Robust Systematic Approach to Humane Handling of Livestock.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at approximately 7:15am, I, the District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS), while performing a routine humane handling verification visit observed the following: Establishment personnel had driven a Holstein cow into the stun box, utilizing the head catch and neck restraint. The stun operator and the Slaughter Floor Manager were both at the front of the stun box, both holding loaded hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) devices. The stun operator applied the first stun attempt with the primary HHCB device, but the device misfired. The Slaughter Floor Manager immediately applied a second stun attempt with the backup HHCB device, but the backup HHCB device misfired. While both HHCB devices were being readily reloaded, I stepped up to the stun box and observed the cow to still be standing, blinking with eyes tracking, not vocalizing, rhythmically breathing, and no evidence of bolt contact on the forehead. The stun operator applied a third stun attempt with the primary HHCB device, which was ineffective at rendering the cow insensible. As I observed the cow to remain standing, not vocalizing, blinking with eyes tracking, and blood on the forehead from where the bolt had penetrated. The Slaughter Floor Manager immediately applied a fourth stun attempt with the backup HHCB device, which rendered the animal insensible. The stun operator then a applied a security stun with the primary HHCB device. I did not take a regulatory control action (RCA) due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. I verbally notified the Slaughter Floor Manager of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Upon inspection of the dressed head, there were three penetrating holes within the target zone of the forehead. The Denver District Management Team was notified. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment has implemented and is maintaining a Robust Systematic Approach to Livestock Humane Handling.