Lonsdale Fresh Meat LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1),313.2(f)

At 14:40 on 01-04-2023 while performing HATS VIII – Stunning Effectiveness the following noncompliance was observed by IPP. One ewe was brought to the stunning area and placed in the stunning restrainer. An employee brought a hand-held captive bolt stunner (HHCB) and discharged it onto the poll of the ewe. The stunning attempt was ineffective, and the ewe remained conscious. A small amount of blood was present on the poll and the ewe remained standing and looked around observing the immediate area. Immediately the Manager, Mr. REDACTED told the employee to stun the ewe again. The employee reloaded the HHCB device and performed a second stunning attempt rendering the animal unconscious. After receiving verbal preventive measures from Mr. REDACTED slaughter operations resumed. A second ewe was slaughtered, it was rendered unconscious on the first stunning attempt. This is a failure of the 9 CFR 313.15(a). Animals that are stunned are to be rendered unconscious immediately and remain in that state. Mr. REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record.

313.1

On Tuesday, 11/22/22, a Humane Handling review and observation task was performed at Lonsdale Fresh Meat, establishment #792. At approximately 0830 hours, the following non-compliance was observed: One live beef was unloaded from a transport trailer into the holding pen at the establishment. Almost immediately after entering the pen, the animal began slipping and sliding in the walkway. There was at least 5"-7" of loosely packed snow and ice visible on the pen floor including the specific walkway leading to the stunning chute. IPP observed the animal fall at least two times. The second time it fell, it took approximately 20-30 seconds for the animal to regain its footing and stand back up. During that time, the animal attempted to stand back up and slipped back down at least three to four more times. When IPP alerted REDACTED, Owner, of this issue, he had employees add dried grass and/or hay to the walkway on top of the snow and ice. This seemed to offer more solid footing and the animal did not slip again. The plant has not met the requirements described in 9 CFR 313.1 in that pens, driveways, and ramps are to be kept in good repair and minimize the risk of animal excitement and injury while under the control of the establishment. This record will be linked to at least one other NR as the slip and fall risks have been documented in recent weeks. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements can lead to enforcement action as described in 9 CFR 500.4.

313.1,313.2

On Wednesday, 11/09/22, humane handling activities were observed at Lonsdale Fresh Meat, establishment #792. The following non-compliance was observed: At approximately 0915 hours, IPP also observed the animals in the holding pens outside the chute had no water available. The plant has not complied with 9 CFR 313.2 in that the plant's own Humane Handling program states REDACTED. At approximately 0915 hours, the first animal to be slaughtered for the day entered the stunning chute. IPP observed a slip while the animal was moving from the pen to the chute. The animal fell and got right back up. Approximately three minutes later, the same animal was agitated and slipped in the chute; going down on its two front legs but remained standing on the two hind legs. Immediately after getting back up, it slipped again and went all the way to the ground as all four legs came out from underneath it. At approximately 1035 hours, IPP observed the holding pens outside the chute again. One beef was found to have a wound and fresh blood on the back of its left hind leg approximately 2"-3" above the hoof. It appeared to be a puncture wound. Additionally, a bolt approximately three inches long was observed protruding from a wooden board approximately 8"-10" long, 4" wide, and 3/4" thick laying in the walk-way area of the pen. The location of the board and bolt was approximately 4'-6' behind the injured animal on the ground on its left side. That section of board and the bolt itself also had fresh blood on it. Photographs are available to support this information. The plant has not met the standards described in 9 CFR 313.1 in that pens and driveways are to be kept in good repair and free of objects that may potentially harm or injure and animal. Additionally, the owner, REDACTED, has been advised of the slip and fall risks due to the conditions of the pens and driveways An MOI document including more detail on the incident will be linked with this document as well as other humane handling NR's to demonstrate the on-going issues relating to the same or similar root cause.

313.1,313.2

On Wednesday, 11/09/22, humane handling activities were observed at Lonsdale Fresh Meat, establishment #792. The following non-compliance was observed: At approximately 0915 hours, IPP also observed the animals in the holding pens outside the chute had no water available. The plant has not complied with 9 CFR 313.2 in that the plant's own Humane Handling program states REDACTED. At approximately 0915 hours, the first animal to be slaughtered for the day entered the stunning chute. IPP observed a slip while the animal was moving from the pen to the chute. The animal fell and got right back up. Approximately three minutes later, the same animal was agitated and slipped in the chute; going down on its two front legs but remained standing on the two hind legs. Immediately after getting back up, it slipped again and went all the way to the ground as all four legs came out from underneath it. At approximately 1035 hours, IPP observed the holding pens outside the chute again. One beef was found to have a wound and fresh blood on the back of its left hind leg approximately 2"-3" above the hoof. It appeared to be a puncture wound. Additionally, a bolt approximately three inches long was observed protruding from a wooden board approximately 8"-10" long, 4" wide, and 3/4" thick laying in the walk-way area of the pen. The location of the board and bolt was approximately 4'-6' behind the injured animal on the ground on its left side. That section of board and the bolt itself also had fresh blood on it. Photographs are available to support this information. The plant has not met the standards described in 9 CFR 313.1 in that pens and driveways are to be kept in good repair and free of objects that may potentially harm or injure and animal. Additionally, the owner, REDACTED, has been advised of the slip and fall risks due to the conditions of the pens and driveways An MOI document including more detail on the incident will be linked with this document as well as other humane handling NR's to demonstrate the on-going issues relating to the same or similar root cause.

313.16(a)(2),313.1

On Wednesday, 11/09/22, humane handling review and observation HATS tasks were conducted at Lonsdale Fresh Meat, establishment #792. The following non-compliance was observed: At approximately 0840 hours, an animal on official establishment property was observed in a large holding area. The pen is fenced off with wire, including two to three rows of barbed wire totaling approximately five to six feet in height. Employees, including the owner, REDACTED, were pursuing the animal as it ran around the holding area. The area is approximately 100' by 100' in size. The animal attempted to jump over the fence and was stopped by the barbed wire. The animal did not appear to be physically injured. The plant has not complied with the regulations described in 9 CFR 313.16(a)(2) in that the driving method cannot cause undue stress or excitement to the animal. This animal was clearly agitated as it continued to run away from the employees over a three to five-minute period. The above described holding area contains a lot of equipment and items in a state of disrepair. At least seven places have been observed as possibly dangerous due to the material itself, such as broken cement and rusted parts. Dangerous areas observed also include sharp edges of metal and wooden items and tools are also present inside this pen. Lastly, the pen is fenced off by thin metal wires until the top two to three rows of wire. The plant has not met the standards described in 9 CFR 313.1 in that all holding areas must be maintained to minimize the risk of animal injury including fencing material and foreign objects within the area. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements can lead to enforcement action as described in 9 CFR 500.4. An MOI providing more detail of this incident will be liked with this non-compliance record. This record will also be linked to previously issued humane handling NR's as the same or similar root cause continues to be a problem.

313.16(a)(2),313.1

On Wednesday, 11/09/22, humane handling review and observation HATS tasks were conducted at Lonsdale Fresh Meat, establishment #792. The following non-compliance was observed: At approximately 0840 hours, an animal on official establishment property was observed in a large holding area. The pen is fenced off with wire, including two to three rows of barbed wire totaling approximately five to six feet in height. Employees, including the owner, REDACTED, were pursuing the animal as it ran around the holding area. The area is approximately 100' by 100' in size. The animal attempted to jump over the fence and was stopped by the barbed wire. The animal did not appear to be physically injured. The plant has not complied with the regulations described in 9 CFR 313.16(a)(2) in that the driving method cannot cause undue stress or excitement to the animal. This animal was clearly agitated as it continued to run away from the employees over a three to five-minute period. The above described holding area contains a lot of equipment and items in a state of disrepair. At least seven places have been observed as possibly dangerous due to the material itself, such as broken cement and rusted parts. Dangerous areas observed also include sharp edges of metal and wooden items and tools are also present inside this pen. Lastly, the pen is fenced off by thin metal wires until the top two to three rows of wire. The plant has not met the standards described in 9 CFR 313.1 in that all holding areas must be maintained to minimize the risk of animal injury including fencing material and foreign objects within the area. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements can lead to enforcement action as described in 9 CFR 500.4. An MOI providing more detail of this incident will be liked with this non-compliance record. This record will also be linked to previously issued humane handling NR's as the same or similar root cause continues to be a problem.

313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1),313.16(b)(1)(i)

While performing HATS task Category VIII, Stunning Effectiveness, at establishment M792, the following non-compliance was observed by CSI REDACTED: A large dairy heifer was being stunned by a designated establishment employee using a .22-caliber long rifle. CSI REDACTED stood behind and to the right of the employee approximately twelve to fifteen feet. The plant uses a restraining box, but it is not equipped with a head restraint. The establishment employee applied one ineffective stun which hit approximately 2.5”-3” above and center from the eyes but the heifer remained standing and conscious. Evidence of consciousness included blinking and focused visual observation of its surroundings, shaking of its head, and continuous breathing. A small amount of blood was observed on the forehead. The second ineffective stun was applied in approximately the same place as the first using the same rifle which did not require reloading. The animal did not appear agitated and did not delay the second shot due to positioning. The heifer backed up in the restrainer and shook its head but remained standing and conscious. The same previously mentioned signs of consciousness remained. There was a delay between the second and third stuns while retrieving the other gun and the ammunition. The establishment employee left the slaughter floor, went through the plant office and the adjoining restroom to a storage closet located approximately 50-60 feet away. The designated employee retrieved a .410 shotgun, and ammunition was retrieved from a small, unlocked box located in the office. The gun was loaded, and the third stun was applied in a similar location on the forehead to the first two ineffective stuns. The heifer immediately went down and was rendered unconscious with the third stun. CSI REDACTED immediately stopped slaughter operations and tagged the restrainer box with tag number B40473398. Manager REDACTED was immediately informed of my observations and the pending non-compliance record. Owner REDACTED was advised of the non-compliance and that the District Office had been contacted through my supervisory channels. During post-mortem inspection, CSI REDACTED observed two visible holes in the skull in the above-described location.