Johnston's Locker Plant, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.2

On 8/2/2023, at approximately 7:30AM, while performing the humane handling task at Johnston’s Locker Plant Inc. (M11198), I (CSI REDACTED) observed the following humane handling noncompliance involving two establishment employees. There were six cows at the facility (1 cow in pen #3, 3 cows in pen #2 & 2 cows in the alleyway) and the employees were trying to move cattle from the alleyway to the knock box. One employee sprayed five of the cows, with 145 degree Fahrenheit water while standing approximately 1 to 3 feet from the cows. All five cows were drenched in water. I notified him to stop, then he proceeded to pick up a metal pipe and poked one of the cows in the alleyway with the metal pipe in its side. Then a second plant employee climbed into the alleyway and forcefully kicked one of the cows in the middle of the face twice. I notified Dr. REDACTED and was instructed to tag the knock box. The knock box was tagged with a U.S Reject Tag No.B-46 100515 and Mr. REDACTED, kill floor and processing manager, was notified.

313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

On 2/15/23 at approximately 9:38AM on the slaughter floor, I, SPHV REDACTED and CSI REDACTED observed a stunning noncompliance at establishment M11198. Two shots were fired. The firearm used is a .22 caliber long rifle. The first shot did not render the cow unconscious. The cow moved within the pen with eye tracking movements. He was not vocalizing. The employee performing the stunning took immediate effective corrective actions and fired the second shot rendering the cow unconscious. On postmortem inspection, the head was skinned and the SPHV and the CSI noted that there were two distinct points of contact observed on the head of the cow. One point of contact was located left of the midline caudal to the left eye. The second point of contact was correctly placed on the midline. Management (Mr. REDACTED) was immediately notified of noncompliance.