Redwood Meat Co., Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Redwood Meat Co., Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.2
On August 15th at approximately 1450, I had gone out to the holding pens to conduct ante-mortem inspection on a market hog. The hog had been transferred from the covered barn to holding pen #6. The temperature that day was in the low 70's. Holding pen #6 is not shaded and open to the sun. The hog had been in the pen for roughly 2 hours. The water source available for the hog was too tall for the animal to reach, so it did not have access to the water. He was laying in the corner of the pen with, its mouth was open, and it was panting heavily. There were no establishment employees in the pen area. I, CSI REDACTED, found a 5-gallon bucket and gave the hog water, which it immediately starting to drink from. The hog seemed to be fine after that and was moving about in a normal fashion. I informed the REDACTED, the owner of the situation and the action I took. I informed him that despite the fact that there was water in the pen the hog could not reach and that I would be issuing a N.R. REDACTED said that he understood, and his corrective action will be to put in a shorter water trough for the animals to have access to. 313.2(e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down.
313.2
On January 31, 2023, I SPHV Dr. REDACTED observed the following noncompliance, while I was conducting a Humane Animal Handling task outside in the pens. At approximately 1030 hours, I observed establishment employees begin the transition between lamb slaughter over to beef slaughter, they led 3 beef from their pens into the alley area that leads to the knock-box. I later observed that establishment employees were rushing to rinse the slaughter floor down and begin their lunch break after having knocked a heifer. At approximately 1050 hours when I walked back into the slaughter floor, I noticed that all slaughter employees and supervisors had gone to lunch and left the beef in the alley without any access to water. I returned from my lunch break at 1140 hours and observed that the cattle were still locked in the alley without any water and all employees were still out to lunch. After walking to the Administration Office at 1145 hours, the office was locked, and I was unable to find another supervisor. At approximately 1205 hours, Plant Owner REDACTED was inside of the Administration Office, I walked over to Mr. REDACTED and informed him that I would be issuing a Humane Handling noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED asked if I was going to issue one even if it had been less than 30 minutes, I informed him that I would as it had been longer than that. At 1212 hours, establishment employees knocked the first heifer in the group of 3 beef. A U.S retained tag was not applied to the knock box as the weather was not extremely hot, and cattle did not look distressed. The above is not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) or Humane Animal handling task category water and feed availability. Per 313.2(e); Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down. This noncompliance will not be associated as a review of noncompliance notices issued within the last 90 days does not show a noncompliance of similar cause or circumstance.
