Lucky Moon Enterprises LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On March 10, 2023, at approximately 0825 hours, I, the CSI was observing slaughter operations at Lucky Moon. A steer was brought into the stun box. Its head was secured in the squeeze chute style head catch with chin lift, but the animal was bucking intermittently. The stun operator waited to apply the first stun to the steer with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, but the steer kicked and moved its head at the last moment, and the stun was unsuccessful at rendering the steer insensible. I observed the steer remain standing and kicking inside the stun box, but not vocalizing. The stun operator readily retrieved the pre-loaded back up HHCB device and applied a second stun attempt, which was unsuccessful at rendering the steer insensible as well, as the steer remained standing and kicking intermittently inside the stun box. The stun operator then readily retrieved the pre-loaded .22 caliber magnum rifle and applied a third stun attempt to the head, which successfully rendered the animal insensible. I observed the animal rolled out of the stun box and remain unconscious during bleeding. I applied U.S. Rejected tag #B874144 to the stun box. The plant manager was verbally notified of the noncompliance. After the animal was shackled and hoisted, the head was skinned in the area of the stun locations. I observed 3 penetrating holes. The firearm bullet penetrated at the center of the head, where the lines from ear to eye intersect. One captive bolt entry location was below and right of the firearm bullet entry location approximately 3 inches away. The other captive bolt entry location was above and left of the firearm bullet entry approximately 3 inches away. U.S. Rejected tag #B874143 was applied to the head. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records for the same root cause documented since the beginning of the establishment's slaughter operations approximately 60 days ago.