Meatworks: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.1

HATS Category IV- Ante-mortem Inspection: The following noncompliance was observed on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at approximately 1200 while performing a livestock humane handling verification task: I observed that the bottom horizontal rail was broken on the metal gate separating pens one and three in the barn. The entire rail had broken off and was laying in pen three, leaving the sharp metal edges from both the gate and the rail exposed in areas where the establishment holds animals. I affixed U.S. rejected tag no. B37552344 to the broken gate. I notified interim plant manager REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance record would be issued. Mr. REDACTED and kill floor supervisor REDACTED were instructed to not hold animals in pen one or three until the sharp edges were covered or removed and the U.S. rejected tag was removed. Per 9 CFR 313.1(a), livestock pens shall be maintained in good repair and be free of sharp or protruding objects that may cause pain or injury to the animals.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability The following noncompliance was observed on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at approximately 0800 while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task in the barn: A single bovine was held in pen #3, and I determined that the animal had been held in the same pen since the afternoon on Monday, July 24. I did not observe any loose grain or pieces of hay to indicate that the animal had been feed. An establishment employee confirmed that the animal was not provided access to feed since being received by the establishment two days prior. I immediately notified slaughter team lead REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance record would be issued. I then observed an establishment employee provide a bucket of grain to the bovine. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to feed if held longer than 24 hours.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability The following noncompliance was observed on Wednesday, February 15th at approximately 0845 while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task in the barn: Ten market swine were held in pen #4. Located inside the pen were two large blue buckets that held no water. In pen #2, three very small pigs were being held. The top of the water bucket in pen #2 was above the three pigs head level and I determined that they could not access the water due to their height. I immediately notified an establishment employee and I observed the animals in pens #2 and #4 receive access to water. Slaughter manager REDACTED was notified of my findings and that the noncompliance would be documented. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.

313.1

HATS Category VI On Friday, December 2nd the following noncompliance was observed while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task: At approximately 1225 I observed a dairy cow in the restrainer on the slaughter floor with its head secured in the head restraint. The length of the animal exceeded the length of the restrainer, so the tail gate portion of the equipment was unable to close. The tail gate, which opens and closes vertically, functions manually with the use of a rope and pulley. The tail gate was not fully raised, so the full weight of the gate was resting on the cow’s tail head. The animal was restrained in that position for approximately 3 minutes while employees performed other tasks. I notified a kill floor employee that the equipment appeared to be causing discomfort to the animal and the tail gate was raised so it wasn’t resting on the cow. Once the gate was lifted, I observed cuts and abrasions on the animals’ tail head where the gate had been forcibly pushing. I applied U.S. rejected tag no. B37552385 to the restraint and notified plant manager REDACTED of my finding and that a noncompliance would be documented. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.1(a), livestock pens, driveways, and ramps shall be free from sharp or protruding objects.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On Wednesday, November 16th at approximately 0830 the following noncompliance was observed while performing a Livestock Humane Handling verification task in the barn: Two market swine were held in pen #3. I observed that there was no water bucket in the pen and determined that the animals had no access to water. I immediately notified slaughter supervisor REDACTED of my findings and that a noncompliance would be issued. I verified that an establishment employee immediately provided water to the animals. The establishment implemented a “barn checklist” as the preventative measure in response to Livestock Humane Handling noncompliance record KJR5107085411N. Per the establishment’s corrective action report dated 8/11/22, “to ensure livestock is [are] properly watered... this log will be maintained REDACTED”. While reviewing the “barn checklist” on 11/16, I observed that the log had not been completed since 11/13 and determined that the preventative measures have not been implemented as they were written. This shall serve as official notice of noncompliance. Per 9 CFR 313.2(e), animals shall have access to water in all holding pens.