TTJ Packing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

At approximately 14:30 hours, while observing HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness, I observed the following noncompliance. I observed that the 7th animal to be stunned, a steer with backtag: 35AM0 735, was in the stunning chute but not head restrained. The animal had very abnormal skull anatomy so the establishment decided to use the .22 caliber rifle instead of the hand-held captive bolt (primary stunning apparatus). For rifle discharge safety, I was behind the partition adjacent to the stunning area. I heard the first gunshot then the vocalization of the animal, and the noise of the animal kicking on the side of the restrainer. The establishment employee applied a second stun with the rifle, and I heard more vocalization and kicking. At that time, I moved away from the partition and saw the animal was down and trying to rise. The animal was distressed and was vocalizing. I went back behind the partition and when the establishment employee applied a third stun with the same rifle, the animal’s vocalization and coordinated movement ceased. A fourth stun was placed in the back of the poll with the same rifle. After confirming the animal was insensible, I took regulatory control action by placing US retain tag B458043477 & B458043478 on the closed door from the barn to the restrainer. I then notified interim Plant Manager, Ms. REDACTED of the noncompliance with 9CFR 313.16 (a)(1), and that I would need to inform the district office through supervisory channels. Upon inspection of the dissected skull of the steer, I found that the forehead had an open wound approx. 1.5” in diameter that communicated with the frontal sinus. There was excessive bone-growth and inflamed tissue surrounding this wound and extending throughout the sinuses and skull bones. Multiple areas of bullet-caused tissue damage were noted in the sinuses and brain, but due to the preexisting skull abnormalities, specific entry wounds were obscured, except for one wound from a stun applied behind the poll.

313.15(a)(2)

At approximately 14:20 hours, while observing HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness, I observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category VI- Electric Prod and Implement Use. Standing at the chute from the slaughter floor (left of the animal) side, I observed the 37th animal to be stunned, a dairy cow with backtag: 35AM8 693, was secured in the head gate, establishment employee was utilizing a rope fashioned into a halter to restrain the animal’s head. After tying the head down to the right side of the chute, the establishment employee kicked at the animal’s head, and connected with their nose. The cow flinched but did not vocalize. The establishment employee then applied the captive bolt gun and stunned the animal insensible. Verbal regulatory control action was taken to stop stunning operations, due to the violation of 9CFR 313.15 (a)(2), and I closed the door from the barn to the chute. I did not observe any serious injury to the animal’s head that could have been related to the kick. I then notified Plant Manager, Mr. REDACTED of my observations and he assisted me in taping off the chute while I place U.S. Reject tag: B-45804336, so that no more cattle were to be stunned while I went to contact my supervisor. Mr. REDACTED was then notified that this action would be a humane handling non-compliance. He then took time to gather an account of the situation from his employee and determine appropriate corrective actions for this incident. Mr. REDACTED approached me with his corrective actions verbally, and regulatory control was released when I took the U.S. reject tag and tape down, and operations continued.

313.2

At approximately 14:15 hours, while observing HATS Category II- Truck Unloading and Category VII – Observations for Slips and Falls, I observed the following noncompliance. Upon arrived down at that unloading door I observed a non-ambulatory disabled heifer, with back tag: 35LD8 219, was in sternal recumbency with the front half of its body resting on the ground outside of the trailer. The barn supervisor, REDACTED notified the truck driver that he would euthanize the animal and then the truck driver could move his trailer; at which point REDACTED headed up the driving ramp to notify the stunning personnel that he needed the captive bolt gun and back-up for this animal. The truck driver did not follow the instructions given and proceeded to his truck, moved his trailer forward approximately 2-3 feet; the non-ambulatory animal stayed in sternal recumbency and did not vocalize while it slid off the trailer and its back half fell the approximately 8” from the trailer to the asphalt lot. REDACTED came back with the stunning personnel, at which point the stunner euthanized the animal with one captive bolt stun which rendered the animal unconscious and applied a second security stun as per their euthanasia SOPs for stuns outside of a chute restraint, U.S. condemn tag Z8291371 was applied to the carcass. Verbal regulatory control action was taken to stop stunning operations, while I attempted to contact FLS Dr. REDACTED and DVMS Dr. REDACTED. I then was able to reach DVMS Dr. REDACTED and determine the severity of the incident. After discussing the situation with Dr. REDACTED it was determined to be a non-egregious humane handling incident. Plant manager Mr. REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance, and regulatory control was released and operations continued at approximately 14:45.