Towson Cold Storage: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.16(b)(1)(i),313.15(a)(2),313.16 (b)(1)(ii),313.15 (b)(1)(i),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.16(b)(2),313.15(a)(1),313.16(b)(1)(iii),313.16(a)(2),313.15(b)(2)(i),313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

On Tuesday April 18th, 2023 at approximately 1145 hours during routine slaughter of swine IPP observed the following humane handling non-compliance at Towson Cold Storage establishment # M18731. Plant personnel attempted for approximately 10 minutes to move the first hog (large aggressive barrow) into the stunning area with both a paddle and a hot shock device. Barrow was agitated and aggressively biting at the employees and at the prods and vocalizing. The barrow was brought into the stunning area and plant personnel attempted to stun the animal using a .22 caliber long rifle. The barrow did not go down after the first attempted stun and continued to stay standing with blood seen dripping from both nostrils. He did not vocalize. The bullet was jammed inside the rifle and plant personnel needed to exit the stunning area/room to retrieve a tool to get it unjammed. This took 4 minutes. A second shot with the .22 long rifle was administered to the barrow. The animal was not stunned, continued to stand, and vocalized. :50 seconds elapsed and a third shot with the .22 long rifle was administered to the hog. The barrow did not go down, remained standing, and vocalized. :45 seconds elapsed and the fourth shot with a captive bolt was administered to the hog. The hog did not go down, remained standing, and vocalized. :50 seconds elapsed and a fifth shot with the .22 long rifle was administered to the hog. The hog did not go down, remained standing, and continued to vocalize. 1:00 minute elapsed and a sixth shot was administered to the hog and this shot successfully rendered the animal unconscious. Operations were stopped and U.S. reject tag #B38708372 was applied to the stunning area to prevent any additional animals from being slaughtered. Plant management was verbally made aware of the halt in operations. This is a failure of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) (2), (b) (1) (iii) (iv) and 9 CFR 313.16 (a) (1) (2) (3), (b) (1) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv), (b) (2). Upon postmortem inspection four entry holes were seen.

313.15(a)(1)

On Tuesday, 1/31/23, in the afternoon hours, IPP observed the following humane handling Non-Compliance. Approximately 1:20 PM, plant personnel brought the fourth hog into the knock box pen, a captive bolt was then used to knock the animal. This attempt was unsuccessful and missed the target area on the head of the hog. The animal immediately but briefly vocalized, and blood began to run from the nostrils. Plant personnel then took immediate corrective action by loading a .22 caliber rifle that was close by and firing it rendering the animal unconscious. The animal was then shackled, hung, and stuck. Upon postmortem inspection two holes were verified. This is a failure of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). No tag was applied to the box or animal. Approximately 1:40 PM, plant personnel brought the fifth and last hog into the knock box pen, a captive bolt was then used to knock the animal. This attempt was unsuccessful and missed the target area on the head of the hog. The animal briefly vocalized but IPP did not witness blood from the nostrils or mouth. Plant personnel then took immediate corrective action by loading a .22 caliber rifle that was close by and firing it rendering the animal unconscious. The animal was then shackled, hung, and stuck. Upon postmortem inspection two holes were verified. This is a failure of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). No tag was applied to the box or animal.