Alaska Meat Packers Incorporated: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On Monday, April 22, 2024, at approximately 0830 hours, I, the DVMS in the presence of the CSI and SPHV, while performing a humane handling verification visit, I observed the following events. The stun operator had driven a heifer into the stun box and was utilizing the head catch with chin rest along with the fabricated body squeeze bars. The stun operator and utilized the primary hand-held captive bolt device on an extension pole to stun the animal. The animal collapsed to the floor, pupils dilated with no blink response nor any vocalization, but the animal continued to breathe. The stun operator readily retrieved the pre-loaded backup hand-held captive bolt device and applied a security stun, but the animal continued to breathe. I did not observe any signs of sensibility (no blinking, no eyes tracking, no vocalization, no righting reflex) and therefore recommended the establishment shackle, hoist and bleed the animal. I continued to observe the animal, and it never exhibited any signs of sensibility, but it continued to breathe until it had been fully exsanguinated. At approximately 0915 hours, I, along with the CSI and SPHV, observed a steer driven into the stun box utilizing the head catch with chin rest. The stun utilized a livestock marker on the steers head to place a dot for stun device placement. The stun operator utilized the primary captive bolt device on an extension pole to stun the steer. The steer collapsed to the floor but continued blinking, vocalizing and attempting to throw its head from side to side. The stun operator readily retrieved the pre-loaded backup captive bolt device and applied a second stun attempt. The animal continued to vocalize with eyes tracking, blinking and breathing. The plant manager retrieved the backup firearm (.357 pistol loaded with .38 caliber ammunition) from the room off to the side of the stun floor as establishment employees and IPP vacated the slaughter floor. I heard the firearm discharge and entered the slaughter floor to observe the steer was unconscious. The steer remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting and bleeding process. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I, along with the CSI, SPHV and plant manager, observed three stun penetrating stun holes in the target zone of the skull. The plant manager was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record (NR). At approximately 1000 hours, I, along with the CSI and SPHV observed a second steer driven into the stun box utilizing the head catch with chin rest. The stun operated utilized a livestock marker on the steers head to place an X for stun device placement, which was verified by the plant manager and the SPHV. The stun operator utilized the primary captive bolt device on an extension pole to stun the steer. The steer remained standing and continued blinking, vocalizing and attempting to throw its head from side to side. The stun operator readily retrieved the pre-loaded backup captive bolt device and applied a second stun attempt. The animal remained standing and continued to vocalize with eyes tracking, blinking and breathing. The stun operator readily retrieved the backup firearm (.357 pistol loaded with .38 caliber ammunition) at the stun box and as establishment employees and IPP vacated the slaughter floor, I heard the firearm discharge and entered the slaughter floor to observe the steer was unconscious. The steer remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting and bleeding process. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I, along with the CSI, SPHV and plant manager, observed three penetrating stun holes in the target zone of the skull. The plant manager was verbally notified that the Denver District Management Team would need to be contacted. U.S. Retain tag#B3571777 was applied to the stun box. U.S. Retain tags#B45990549 and B45990547 were applied to the hand-held captive bolt devices. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment is currently operating within the abeyance period for a humane handling enforcement action.

313.2(f),313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

“HATS Category VIII: Ineffective Stun On 12/4/23, at approximately 0835am, I observed the stun operator at Alaska Meat Packers Inc. ineffectively stun a cow (2-year-old Highland cross) with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device in the stun box with a head catch. After the first ineffective stun attempt, I observed the cow bellowing, remain standing and fully conscious in the stun box with its head held upright, showing signs of controlled movement and labored breathing. The stun operator attempted to immediately stun the cow a second time with the backup HHCB device, which was ineffective, as the cow was still standing, bellowing and moving around in the stun box with its head in the head catch. At approximately, 0838am, the stun operator attempted a third stun with the HHCB device, which was still ineffective as the animal remained standing and continued bellowing. At approximately, 0840am, the manager vacated the slaughter floor to go retrieve a firearm (pistol) utilizing .38 special cartridges from the office. In the interim, I recommended to continue stunning the animal until insensible. The stun operator attempted a fourth stun to the cow with the HHCB device. The cow was no longer bellowing but remained standing and showed signs of consciousness with stagnant eye movement and blinking in response to touching of the eye. I instructed the stun operator to utilize the pistol for the next stun attempt. At 0843am, the stun operator discharged the pistol, rendering the cow unconscious. The animal showed no signs of being conscious and was immediately shackled and hoisted up on the rail, to bleed out. At approximately 0846 am, I applied U.S. Reject tag to the stun box with U.S. Rejected Tag NO. B35943884. The establishment management was verbally informed of the forthcoming noncompliance. Upon inspection of the split skull, two of the HHCB penetrating holes appeared to be within the target zone, whereas another two of the penetrating HHCB holes appeared to be too high. The firearm penetrating hole was within the target zone. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued within the past 90 days for the same root cause. This establishment was operating within the abeyance period for a Notice of Suspension for Humane Handling.

313.15(a)(3),313.16(a)(3),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1),313.2(f)

HATS Category VIII: Ineffective Stun On 10/20/23, at approximately 0858am, I observed the stun operator at Alaska Meat Packers Inc. ineffectively stun a cow with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device in the stun box without a head catch. After the first ineffective stun attempt, I observed the cow lying down in the stun box with its head held upright, showing signs of controlled movement and labored breathing. The stun operator attempted to immediately stun the cow a second time with the backup HHCB device, which I observed the stun operator load, but was unable to reach the cow while leaning over the stun box. After several attempts to get clear placement, the stun operator had another employee hold his legs so he could lean over into the stun box. At approximately 0902am, stun operator applied the second stun attempt which was also ineffective. After the ineffective second stun, the cow began vocalizing. A third stun attempt was applied with one of the reloaded HHCB devices at approximately 0904am. This attempt was also ineffective as the cow continued vocalizing, rhythmic heavy breathing and moving around slightly within the stun box while still holding its head up. After the third ineffective attempt, Ms. REDACTED asked the FSIS inspection for advice and/or input on whether the plant should use their firearm instead; to which our inspection team stated, yes please use the firearm. At approximately 0905am, establishment management vacated the slaughter floor to retrieve a firearm (pistol) utilizing .38 special cartridges. Everyone cleared from the slaughter floor and went to a safe location into the hallway/breakroom. At approximately 0908am, the stun operator attempted to stun the cow for the fourth time with the firearm. The attempt was ineffective as the cow continued vocalizing. I continued waiting in the hall for another (fifth) attempt, then an employee came out and informed everyone that the animal was dead. When I walked back onto the slaughter floor at approximately 09:10 am, I observed the cow to already be shackled and hoisted up on the rail, with its neck slit and bleeding out. The animal no longer showed signs of being conscious. At approximately 0913am, I applied U.S. Reject tag to the stun box with U.S. Rejected Tag NO. B35943003. The establishment management was verbally informed of the forthcoming noncompliance. Upon inspection of the dressed head, three penetrating holes were observed, which were angled into the sinuses. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This noncompliance will be associated with NR#EUM5713092526N/1 issued on 9/25/2023. The establishment is currently operating within a deferral period for a humane handling Notice of Intended Enforcement