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

313.1,313.2

On 11/29/2022 at approximately 0928 hours while observing the establishments truck unloading procedures for lamb, Dr. REDACTED and I observed the following noncompliance. We observed the unloading of the first batch of lambs at the side ramp, adjacent to the main ramp. The lambs were unloaded from the trucks’ upper level holding first and were allowed to come down the ramp to line up at the closed gate. The gate was opened, and the lambs were allowed to move into the pens. We noted that the pens were sectioned off, but the gates were open, and the lambs were running together into the back pens. We observed several lambs slipping and falling as they were coming off the ramp and making a short jump onto the floor. We counted at least 10 lambs that slipped and fell to the ground and about 4 that just slipped and temporarily lost footing. None of the lambs that fell appeared to sustain any injury. There were approximately 80 lambs in the first batch allowed to exit truck. We noted that the end of the ramp was about 7 inches above the ground and the lambs were moving faster than expected down the sloped ramp. Immediately, a regulatory control action was taken when the first animal was observed to slip and fall. We informed Supervisor REDACTED to stop the off loading of the animals, however as the animals were moving at speed down the ramp, this proved difficult for the establishment personnel and the entire batch of lambs continued with further slip and falls. This finding is a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.1 (b) and 313.2(a). The establishment failed to drive the animals at a pacing no faster than walking speed and have ramps that are properly positioned for unloading animals. These finding lead to the slip and fall of several animals. Supervisor REDACTED was informed of the noncompliance. Later, Department manager REDACTED arrived and was informed of the situation and the noncompliance. She explained to us that the correct procedure for unloading animals was to have the sectioned pen gates closed so that the animals would line up on the ramp and slowly exit in small groups into the space just off the ramp. The establishment elected to use the other ramp available to continue the unloading of the remaining animals. During the second batch of lambs being unloaded we observed one lamb slip and temporarily lost footing as it exited the ramp but did not fall. Similarly, we noted the ramp exit was raised about 4 inches from the ground. No other issues were observed for the remaining truck unloading.