Western Valley Meat Company: 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 Valley Meat Company slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(1)
At approximately 1343 hours, while in the stunning area, CSI REDACTED observed a Jersey cow in the squeeze chute to be stunned. The establishment employee positioned the pneumatic gun to stun the animal and fired the device. An audible sound from the pneumatic gun could be heard. In that moment, the Jersey cow moved its head away from the employee and immediately afterwards, remained conscious. CSI REDACTED heard vocalization and started walking towards the establishment employee. The establishment employee immediately grabbed a handheld backup captive bolt gun and rendered the animal unconscious after firing the backup device. When CSI REDACTED reached the animal and establishment employee, she observed two holes on the animal’s forehead. One hole in the middle of the forehead from the handheld backup device had visible blood and brain tissue coming out of it. The other hole was just above the animal’s right eye and had only blood visible. At approximately 1347, CSI Armistead informed me, SPHV Dr. REDACTED of her findings. SPHV Dr. REDACTED requested from establishment management to rail out the affected carcass. At approximately 1430, Regulatory Superintendent REDACTED and Dr. REDACTED observed the head of carcass number 21131 in the SPHV inspection area. The skull had two knock holes, one located in the middle of the skull (point of intersection from opposing eye orbits to horns) and another hole at approximately 3 inches below and between the eye orbits. SPHV Dr. REDACTED informed Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.15.(a)(1).
313.2
On Saturday October 29, 2022, at approximately 0557 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task, I CSI REDACTED observed a noncompliance with 9CFR 313.2(e). Cattle held in pen 21 and pen 22 did not have access to water; the water trough between these two pens did not have any water available for animals. I immediately called FSQR Manager REDACTED to inform her of my observation. Yard employee arrived at 0610 hours turned on valve and filled trough with water for cattle. Water valve was shut off but in working conditions. Yard Supervisor REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance. Thirty-eight (38) cattle were in Pen 21 and seventy-nine (79) cattle were in Pen 22. The incident above is a noncompliance with 9CFR 313.2(e) “(e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens...”
