Little Colorado Meats (Mobile Slaughter Unit): Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.30(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness 9 CFR 313.30(a)(3), CFR313.16(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.16(a)(3) On Sept. 26, 2023, at approximately 8:30 a.m. I, CSI REDACTED observed an ineffective stun. The incident occurred after a large SRM cow was loaded into the restraint box. REDACTED, the Establishment Administrater, held his 20 gauge shot gun aimed at the cow and waited for her to become still. After a couple minutes, she did become still and Mr. REDACTED took the shot. At that moment the cow chose to drop her head several inches downward. The cow then turned and looked at him, apparently unaffected by the gun shot. I observed a U-shaped opening at the center and crest of her skull. Mr. REDACTED looked at me and I instructed him to shoot her again, which he did, using the same gun that had functioned correctly. The shot was effective and rendered the animal unconscious and there was no corneal reflex. I instructed the employee, REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED to hang, stick and bleed her, but the wait until I discussed the situation with my Supervisor, REDACTED. I also contacted Dr. REDACTED, SPHV and I was instructed to attach a tag the restraint box and until I received further instructions from the District Management team. I immediately rejected the restraint box and placed a Reject Tag # B 19 116651 on it. I later discussed the situation with Dr. REDACTED, District Veterinary Specialist and he instructed me to remove the Reject Tag and let the establishment continue to slaughter the two cattle they had scheduled and document a noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED, Establishment Administrater, was notified of the noncompliance. This was a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.30(a)(3), 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) and 9CFR 313.16(a)(3).

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

HAT Category VIII: Effective stunning 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) & 9 CFR 313.16(a)(2) At approximately 01133 hours while conducting a PHIS Humane handling review and observation at est. M345 Little Colorado Meats, the following noncompliance was observed in the stunning area/ kill floor. The Operations Director REDACTED in charge of performing the stunning failed to produce immediate unconsciousness by a single shot to a steer due to the animal head movement. Immediately Mr. REDACTED grabbed his emergency weapon that was located next to him and re-stunned the animal. The animal got unsensible/ unconscious with the second shot administered. I observed that the animal lost consciousness (no eye movement, no rhythmic breathing, no righting reflex, no vocalization). I immediately took Regulatory Control Action (RCA) by stopping slaughter operations, securing, and placing a US Reject tag(#B39133172) to the stunning area, I also notified Operations director REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance, HATS Category VIII -Stunning Effectiveness. I notified plant management that they could continue processing operations. I immediately contacted my FLS and SPHV in charge for guidance and notified plant management to hold until guidance from superiors (FLS, District Office Management. At approximately 1144 hours, I was notified by the SPHV that the plant was able to continue with the slaughtering operations, since the establishment has no trend Humane Handling noncompliance’s. (District Office Management) allowed the establishment continue operations after thoroughly addressing the establishment’s Robust Humane Handling program. As a corrective action plant management will let the animals to get more calm to produce less excitement, they will be more accurate when performing the stunning of the animals. The establishment has not met the Federal Meat Regulations as stated on this NR. 9CFR 313.16 (a)(2) The driving of the animals to the shooting areas shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Delivery of calm animals to the shooting area is essential since accurate placement of the bullet is difficult in case of nervous or injured animals. 9CFR 313.16 (a)(1) The firearms shall be employed in the delivery of a bullet or projectile into the animal in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal by a single shot before it is shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be shot in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.

313.2

At approximately 0600 hours, while conducting a PHIS Humane Handling review and observation task at little Colorado meats, Est. M345, the following noncompliance was observed, HATS category III- Water and Feed Availability, HATS Category I- Inclement Weather. The water was frozen solid in the tubs located in pen #1 and Pen #2 at the time of my inspection. When I arrived at 0600 hours the temperature was -5 degrees F. I observed four animals penned at the time of my inspection. The animals didn’t have any access to drinking water due to frozen water in the tubs. In pen #1 there were 2 cows, in pen #2 there were 2 cows. At this point regulatory control action was initiated by notifying and showing my observations to Operations Director REDACTED. I verbally notified Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. Mr. REDACTED stepped inside the tub using one of his feet to applied pressure to break the Ice formed inside of it. Then he used a rake to remove the ice out of the tubs. After he finished removing the ice, he told me to observe at the penned animals in pen # 1,2 and told me that none of the four animals penned seen to be thirsty since they weren’t drinking any water after he broke the Ice. Mr. REDACTED stated that the animals drank water the night before. On 12/19/2022 USDA IIC and Dallas District Personnel conducted a Humane Handling Meeting with Plant Administrator REDACTED, due to the repetitive non compliances report in regards the frozen water. As a preventative measure Ms. REDACTED stated that the establishment was only going to be accepting animals the day of harvesting, to prevent the frozen water in tubs while there were animals penned prohibiting animals to have access to drinking water. Plant Director REDACTED also notified IIC that an employee was going to monitor the water tubs couple of times throughout the night to ensure the water does not froze in the pens. The establishment failed to meet regulatory requirements of 9CFR 313.2, 9 CFR 313.2(e) states, “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. The failure of the establishment to provide access to water was documented two other occasions. This noncompliance report is linked to WXH3311124915/1N documented on December 15,22, WXH0408124908N documented on December 08, 2022.

313.2

At approximately 0604 hours, while conducting a PHIS Humane handling review and observation task at Little Colorado Meats, Est. M345, the following noncompliance was observed, HATS category III – Water and Feed Availability, HATS category I- Inclement Weather. The water was frozen solid in the tubs located in pen #1 and pen #2 at the time of my inspection. When I arrived at 0604 hours the temperature was 9 degrees F. I observed four animals penned at the time of my inspection. The animals didn’t have any access to drinking water due to frozen water in the tubs. In pen #1 there were 3 cows, in pen #2 there was one cow. At this point regulatory control action was initiated by verbally notifying Establishment Administrator, REDACTED of my observations. I verbally notified Ms. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. Operations Director, REDACTED drove to the Mobile Slaughter Unit location and broke the ice formed inside the drinking water tubs. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2. 9 CFR 313.2(e) states, “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. The failure of the establishment to provide access to water was documented on two other occasions. This NR is linked to WXH3409113628N dated November 28, 2022, and WXH0408124908N dated December 8, 2022.

313.2

At approximately 0605 hours, while performing a PHIS Humane handling review and observation task at est. M345 MSU pens, I observed the following noncompliance. I observed that the penned animals didn’t had access to drinking water due to frozen water in the tubs. The drinking water inside the tubs located in pen #1,2 was solid frozen at the time of my inspection. There was a total of 4 cows penned. 1 cow in pen #1 and 3 cows in pen #2. At this point regulatory control action was initiated by verbally notifying establishment administrator REDACTED of my observations. I verbally notified Ms. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. Ms. REDACTED notified me that operations director REDACTED drove to the MSU location and broke the layer of ice created inside the drinking water tubs. The establishment has not met the requirements of the Federal Meat Regulations. FSIS Directive 6900.2 as stated on this noncompliance report. 9CFR 313.2 (e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed.