Perry Way Foods, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On 8/31/23 at approximately 0930 hours, I was performing HATS category VIII and observed the following NR with HATS category VIII. While I was observing the stunning of a USDA Suspect sow in the “suspect pen,” I observed an ambulatory sow stunned by the establishment stunner operator with a handheld captive bolt gun. One employee was using a hog snare in the mouth and around the nose to restrain the animal. The initial stun did not render the animal insensible. Upon application of the first stun, the sow fell to the ground and became laterally recumbent. I observed the sow blinking and observed tracking eye movement. Extra rounds were readily available next to the stunner operator. The employees immediately noticed the animal was conscious, re-loaded the captive bolt gun, and applied a second stun which rendered the animal unconscious. A security stun was also applied after this second attempt. I informed Food Safety Coordinator, REDACTED, of the noncompliance. Ms. REDACTED stated they would retrain all employees who use the captive bolt guns. As a preventative measure, a second captive bolt gun will be carried for all captive bolt stuns. Also, the head was examined and will be used to enhance future training opportunities. Further inspection of the head on the harvest floor showed two partially overlapping skull penetration holes on the midline of a line drawn between the eyes. The third hole was on the midline of the skull approximately 1 inch above a line drawn between the eyes.

313.2

HATS Category II – Truck Unloading On 03/10/2023 at 0855 hours, while observing truck unloading on the dock, I observed a truck driver use the rattle paddle excessively. I was standing in pen “Bay D” while observing a truck driver unload a trailer of sows. The driver had just begun unloading sows from the backmost compartment of the trailer, also known as the “tail.” Instead of exiting the trailer, most of the sows were facing away from the entrance and were congregating against the opposite wall of the compartment. The driver was attempting to get the sows to turn around with a rattle paddle, but they were not moving and were huddled together. Eventually, the group of sows began turning around and started exiting the trailer. As the group of sows began moving in the compartment, several of them pushed the driver’s lower body against the wall of the trailer and a few sows ran into his legs as they were moving past him. The driver was not knocked over and remained standing. I then observed the driver strike multiple sows on their backs with excessive force. Between each strike he would bring the paddle above his shoulders and down onto the back of random sows in rapid succession. I began repeatedly calling the trucker’s name to get his attention to tell him to stop. He did not appear to hear me immediately. After 5-10 seconds the sows dispersed, and the trucker stopped using the paddle. I informed Barn Lead REDACTED that I would be issuing a noncompliance report for the driver’s excessive rattle paddle usage. REDACTED spoke to the driver. I observed the driver unload the remaining sows from the trailer and no further issues were identified. I later spoke to Plant Manager REDACTED who said they would speak to the driver and consider other actions to prevent the behavior from reoccurring.