Ohio Farms Packing Co. Ltd.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(2),313.2

At approximately 11:48am while performing a HATS task in the barn for Ante Mortem, CSI REDACTED observed the plant employee in pen 1 as he was driving animals to the stunning area. The plant employee repeatedly struck the veal calf in the face with a paddle and then used the paddle to push the animals face toward the knocking area. The animal became visibly distressed and ran around the employee and away from the stunning area. This is Noncompliant of 9 CFR 313.15 (a) 2, 9 CFR 313.2. The situation was halted by CSI REDACTED until the supervisor was made aware of the Noncompliance. The Barn Supervisor REDACTED and another employee walked the rest of the animals to the stunning area. CSI REDACTED resumed the Ante Mortem inspection and informed REDACTED and REDACTED of the Noncompliance of 9 CFR 313.15 (a) 2, 9 CFR 313.2.

313.2

At approximately 6:55am while performing a HATS task for Ante Mortem, CSI REDACTED went down to the barn and the first group were being held without water. The animals were penned into the knocking area and the chute that leads to the knocking area before they were inspected, and no water was present. This is Noncompliant of 9 CFR 313.2 (e). I informed those present there would be an NR. I preformed the Ante Mortem inspection in pen one and told Plant Manager REDACTED of the NR after I finished.

313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

At approximately 1:55PM on November 29, 2022 while performing the humane slaughter of livestock task HATS Stunning Effectiveness, SPHV REDACTED observed an establishment employee who routinely stuns use a captive bolt stunning device on a Bob veal calf. The Bob was the last calf in the stunning area. The calf was calm, walking around and positioned near the chute. The establishment employee proceeded to place gentle pressure on the abdomen, pressing the calf against the chute. The establishment employee then proceeded to stun the Bob without head restraint. The device was deployed, the Bob moved its head and was knocked above the left eye. The shot did not render the animal unconscious. The stunner immediately went to grab the preloaded backup stunner, releasing the Bob, the Bob fell to the ground, stood up and walked a few steps. He then restrained the Bob's head, deployed the shot and rendered the Bob unconscious and insensible to pain. The Bob was then shackled, hoisted, and bled. I proceeded to visually check the skull and observed the wound above the left eye and the additional wound in the center of the skull. Mr. REDACTED the plant floor supervisor was verbally notified of the noncompliance and the establishment’s failure to comply with the regulatory requirements prescribed in 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iii). The establishment was issued DTY2613114301N on 11/01/2022 for a similar noncompliance in which the establishment failed to restrain a Bob and render the calf insensible on the first stunning attempt with a captive bolt gun. The establishment’s further planned actions in response to that noncompliance were to perform head restraint which was not implemented on this calf making it ineffective in preventing recurrence of the noncompliance.

313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1145 hours on November 1, 2022 while performing the humane slaughter of livestock task HATS Stunning Effectiveness, SPHV REDACTED observed an establishment employee who routinely stuns use a captive bolt stunning device on a Bob veal calf. The Bob was calm and walking around the stun area, which contained a group of calves. The establishment employee proceeded to try and stun the Bob without head restraint. The device was deployed, the Bob moved its head and was knocked above the left eye. A wound was noted above the left eye. The shot did not render the animal unconscious, and the Bob remained standing and walked a few steps. The establishment employee immediately went to grab the preloaded backup captive bolt. He deployed the shot and rendered the Bob unconscious and insensible to pain. The Bob was then shackled, hoisted, and bled. Mr. REDACTED the plant manager was verbally notified of the noncompliance and the establishment’s failure to comply with the regulatory requirements prescribed in 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(b)(1)(iii).