Western Meat Processing, 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 Western Meat Processing, Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(1)
HATS VIII: Ineffective Stunning On Friday August 4, 2023, at approximately 1450 hours, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, observed the following humane handling non-compliance. At approximately 1450 hours, I was standing by the knock box performing HATS category VIII (Stunning Effectiveness). I observed a plant employee apply the captive bolt gun to three large lambs in the knock box and then open the knock box door to the slaughter floor. I then observed one of the lambs lift its head up (righting reflex), and I observed that the lamb was rhythmically breathing. I immediately went through the door onto the slaughter floor so I could observe the lamb’s eyes. I waved my hand in front of the lamb’s eye twice and the lamb blinked both times, exhibiting a menace response. The knocker quickly retrieved a captive bolt gun from outside by the knock box. He loaded the captive bolt gun and then effectively stunned the lamb, rendering the lamb unconscious. U.S. Reject Tag# B46541753 was applied to the knock box to stop all further stunning. I informed HACCP Coordinator REDACTED of the ineffective stun and that the knock box was tagged. At approximately 1600 hours, I observed the skinned head of the lamb that was ineffectively stunned. I observed two knock holes on the forehead. One knock hole was approximately half an inch above the level of the lateral canthus and a probing instrument indicated that the path of the bolt was aimed rostrally away from the brain. The second knock hole was at the level of the lateral canthus and the path of the bolt was aimed towards the brain. Captive bolt stunners must be applied to produce immediate unconsciousness. This is a non-compliance of the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).
313.2
HATS Category II: Truck Unloading On 5/17/23 at approximately 0918 hours, while in the unloading area verifying HATS Category II (Truck Unloading), the following humane handling non-compliance was observed. I observed a pickup truck arrive with 3 goats enclosed in the truck bed. There were two plant employees present and they had the truck back up to the alleyway. One of the plant employees then opened the truck bed door and climbed onto the truck bed. The other plant employee was standing by the side of the truck bed door. The employee on the truck bed crawled to the front of the bed and herded the goats off the truck. The three goats jumped down off the truck bed onto the ground, which was an approximately 3 foot drop. All three goats appeared to land on their feet, and I did not observe any lameness or other signs of injury. I informed HACCP Coordinator REDACTED of my observations and the forthcoming non-compliance. The establishment drove the goats over a drop off without providing adequate unloading facilities. This is a non-compliance of the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a).
313.2
On 4/17/23 at approximately 0740 hours, while performing ante-mortem inspection, the following humane handling non-compliance was observed. I observed that the water troughs in the suspect pen and in pens 6, 7, and 8 were all empty. There was one cow in the suspect pen and 6 cows in pen 6 that did not have access to water. There were no animals in pens 7 and 8. I informed an establishment employee working in the pens that the cows in pen 6 and the suspect pen did not have water. The employee immediately turned on the water and filled up the water troughs. I informed QC Assistant REDACTED and HACCP/QC Assistant REDACTED of my observations and the forthcoming non-compliance. Animals need to have access to water in all holding pens. This is a non-compliance of the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(e).
313.2
HATS Category II: Truck Unloading On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at approximately 0913 hours, while performing ante-mortem inspection, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, observed the following humane handling non-compliance. At approximately 0913 hours, I was performing ante-mortem inspection on cattle in pen# 7, which is adjacent to the unloading area. While I was performing ante-mortem inspection, I saw that a trailer was being unloaded into the pen adjacent to pen# 7. When I finished performing ante-mortem inspection, I observed that a bull had already been unloaded from the trailer and there was a recumbent dairy cow still on the trailer. The dairy cow was in sternal recumbency and was facing the back of the trailer. I observed a plant employee use the hand-held electric prod approximately 2 times, but the dairy cow did not stand up. For several minutes, the driver was talking to the plant employee and they were waiting for a supervisor to come outside to the unloading area. Then I observed the driver go onto the trailer and go behind the dairy cow. I observed the driver kick the dairy cow one time. The dairy cow did not vocalize or try to get up, but her whole body rocked forward when he kicked her. I then saw the plant employee immediately say something to the driver and the driver then got off the trailer. A few minutes later, HACCP Coordinator REDACTED came to the unloading area and spoke with the driver and the plant employee, and then shortly after the recumbent dairy cow was euthanized. I informed Mr. REDACTED of my observations and that the driver kicked the recumbent dairy cow, and I informed him of the forthcoming non-compliance. This is a non-compliance of the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) and 313.2(c).
