Star Valley Meat Block: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.1

HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls On Tuesday May 16, 2023, at approximately 0930 hours I, the DVMS, while performing a verification visit with the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. I was observing two establishment employees utilize a combination of sorting sticks with flags and the animals’ flight zones to drive one of the three cattle from the west holding pen into the chute. I observed one animal slip on its left forelimb and a second animal fall onto its left side while circling in the north holding pen. Both animals immediately regained their footing and the first animal proceeded up into the chute and stun box. I did not observe either of the animals to have sustained any injuries. At approximately 1030 hours, the SPHV, observed the following noncompliance. Two establishment employees were attempting to drive one of the remaining two cattle from the west holding pen into the chute when one animal slipped to its knees and the second animal fell onto its left side. Similar to the previous event, both animals immediately regained their footing. I did not observe either of the animals to have sustained any injuries. I verbally informed the Establishment Manager, that a noncompliance record would be issued for slips and falls. This noncompliance is being associated with NR# KVD2312031110N-1 issued on March 9, 2023, for same root cause. The establishments previously proffered corrective actions have failed to prevent noncompliance. The establishment is currently operating under the deferral period for a Notice of Intended Enforcement (NOIE) for a trend of humane handling noncompliances.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On May 11, 2023, at approximately 10:45 AM, while performing a routine HATS task, I, the SPHV, observed the following noncompliance. I observed a heifer restrained in the stun box and head catch. An ancillary stunning employee attempted to stun the heifer with a .22 magnum firearm. I observed the heifer remain standing with no vocalization. The ancillary stun operator readily reloaded the same firearm and immediately applied a second stun application. The beef was rendered insensible with blood observed dripping from both nostrils and remained insensible during the shackling, hoisting and bleeding process. U.S. Reject tag #B36820138 was applied to the stun box and the establishment owner was verbally notified of the noncompliance. Two penetrating stun holes were observed in the dressed head. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This noncompliance is being associated with noncompliance record #KVD1817031206N-1 issued on March 6, 2023, for same root cause. The establishment is currently operating within the deferral period of a humane handling Notice of Intended Enforcement (NOIE).

313.1

HATS Category IV: Ante-mortem Inspection/Facilities At approximately 8:42 AM while performing ante-mortem inspection the SPHV observed a steer being moved towards the chute to the stun box. The steer, without prodding or direct movement, pushed under a gate thereby folding the gate in half and exposing sharp edges where the metal broke. The beef forced entry into a small alley causing an approximately 6–8-inch superficial cut on the lateral surface of the right side of the beef’s neck. The beef was driven into a separate holding pen after it made repeated efforts to go back under the broken gate. The SPHV placed U.S. Rejected tag # B45-316553 on the holding pen prior to the chute that leads to the stun box. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.1(a). The Denver District Management Team was notified via supervisory channels. Once the establishment repaired the area, the U.S. Rejected tag was removed. There have been no noncompliance records with the same root cause issued in the past 90 days.

313.1

HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls Between approximately 0950 and 1145 hours on 03/09/2023 I, the SPHV, observed the following noncompliance during ante-mortem inspection and driving of animals to the stunning area. Two beef steers slipped and fell to their sides while moving through the holding pens to the alleyway. Establishment personnel were actively attempting to drive the 5 total animals in the holding pens at the time in order to sort the next desired animal for slaughter from the group. Both steers fell on to their sides, and one steer was stepped on by another animal in the group. The affected animals were able to immediately return to their feet and did not appear to have sustained serious injury. However, during post-mortem inspection both animals were noted to have superficial bruising consistent with a fall to their side. The floors in the holding pens are smooth concrete, and I observed feces to have accumulated. Establishment management were verbally informed of the forthcoming noncompliance at the time of the event. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. On 2/23/23 the establishment was issued noncompliance record NR# KVD5814022924N/1A for the same root cause. The establishment is currently operating under a Notice for Intended Enforcement for a trend of humane handling noncompliances.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On March 6, 2023 at approximately 0906 hours while performing HATS verification of stunning effectiveness, I, the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. I observed the establishment attempting to drive a pig into the stun box and utilize the fabricated removable blocker board to narrow the stun box. The swine was kicking and able to knock the blocker board off. I observed the stun operator inside the stun box with the swine and retreated to a safe location. Utilizing a .22 caliber revolver, I heard the firearm discharge. I observed the pig to remain standing and vocalizing. The stun operator immediately applied a second stun attempt with the same .22 caliber revolver and the pig was rendered insensible. I observed the animal to remain unconscious during the bleeding process. U.S. Reject tag # B-45 316554 was applied to the stun box. Two penetrating stun holes were observed in the dressed skull upon inspection. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This establishment operates under a robust systematic approach to livestock humane handling.

313.1

HATS Category I – Inclement Weather HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls At approximately 0900 hours on 02/23/2023 I, the SPHV, observed the following noncompliance during ante-mortem inspection. A beef heifer slipped while moving through the holding pens to the alleyway. Establishment personnel were not actively moving animals at this time. The animal fell to both knees and the chest contacted the pen flooring, but the animal immediately regained its footing. I did not observe the animal to have sustained any injuries. The floors in the pens are smooth concrete. I observed feces and ice to have accumulated on the smooth concrete holding pen flooring, but did not observe any salt, sand, etc. to have been put down on the concrete flooring due to the inclement winter weather conditions. Establishment management were verbally informed of the noncompliance. A review of the establishment noncompliance history does not show a similar NR documented in the past 90 days.

313.16(a)(1)

On 02/13/2022 at approximately 1049 hours, I, the SPHV, while performing HATS verification of stunning effectiveness, directly observed the establishment attempt to stun a pig in the stun box. The initial stun, applied with a .22 caliber handgun, was ineffective at rendering the animal unconscious, as the animal remained standing; eyes were tracking; and the animal exhibited rhythmic breathing. There was no vocalization, however the pig attempted to jump out of the stun box. The establishment stun operator redirected the animal back into the stun box and immediately applied a second stun attempt using the same .22 caliber handgun. The second stun was immediately effective at rendering the animal unconscious, and the animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. A USDA Reject tag #B45316548 was applied to the stun box and the District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted and the Denver District Office was notified through supervisory channels. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the noncompliance. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two stun holes. A projectile was found in the most caudal hole as it did not penetrate through the brain case. This noncompliance record is being associated with NR#KVD3317015817N-1 issued on January 12, 2023 for same root cause. The establishment is currently operating under a Resumption of Voluntary Services. The establishment has recently implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling and stunning of livestock.

313.2

HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls At approximately 1100 hours on 01/26/2023 I, the SPHV, observed the following noncompliance after ante-mortem inspection. A beef steer slipped while establishment personnel were attempting to move him using a combination of rattle paddles and a hot shot from the holding pens to the alleyway. The animal fell to his hock immediately regained it's footing and proceeded up into the chute. I did not observe the animal to have sustained any injuries. The floors in the pens are smooth concrete and are covered with salt to decrease ice. Establishment management were verbally informed of the noncompliance. A review of the establishment noncompliance history does not show a similar NR written in the past 90 days.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 2:35 pm on 1/12/23, I, the SPHV, observed a bull stunned multiple times with a 9 mm pistol in quick succession. The bull was restrained in the stun box and caught in the head catch. After the first stun attempt the bull remained standing and vocalized. The stun operator immediately applied a second stun attempt with the same firearm, which caused the bull to collapse but due to the bull’s thick neck, its head was still held up by the head catch. I observed a single blink of the left eye from a distance, but no eye tracking. The stun operator immediately applied a third stun application. The bull was fully insensible via palpebral response and remained insensible during the shacking, hoisting, and bleeding process. I applied U.S. Reject tag B-45316675 to the stun box and verbally notified the establishment owner of the noncompliance. The Denver District Management Team and District Veterinary Medical Specialist were notified through supervisory channels. This noncompliance is being associated with NR#KVD3210120108N-1 issued on December 6, 2022, for the same root cause.

313.2

On December 19, 2022 at approximately 0830 hours, I, SPHV, observed the following noncompliance. The water tank in the first pen was frozen, therefore water was not available to the three cattle being held in that pen. The second pen had no water available to a single steer held there. I verbally informed the designated plant supervisor of the noncompliance. There have been no noncompliance records for the same root cause within the past 6 months.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness On 12/06/2022 at approximately 1045 hours, I, the SPHV, while performing HATS verification of stunning effectiveness, directly observed the establishment attempt to stun a beef steer in the stun box utilizing the head catch. The initial stun, applied with a 10 mm handgun, was ineffective at rendering the animal unconscious, as the animal remained standing; eyes were tracking; and the animal exhibited rhythmic breathing. There were no signs of distress or vocalization. The establishment stun operator immediately applied a second stun attempt using the same 10 mm handgun. The second stun was immediately effective at rendering the animal unconscious, and the animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. A USDA Reject tag was applied to the stun box and the Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. The establishment owner was verbally notified. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two stun holes had penetrated the skull within the target zone. This noncompliance record is being associated with KVD3616085401N / 1 issued on 7/29/2022 for same root cause. The establishment is currently operating under a Resumption of Voluntary Services. The establishment has recently implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling and stunning of livestock.