Blue Ridge Meats of Front Royal: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.2

On 5/1/2024 at approximately 1100 hours, I (CSI REDACTED) observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category III Water and Feed Availability. At approximately 1100 hours while verifying water and feed availability in the pens, I observed a trailer with a black colored market hog backed up to the loading ramp. The hog was confined to approximately one half of the trailer in an area measuring approximately 3' x 4'. The area on the trailer was enclosed on all four sides with wood panels and open on the top allowing direct sunlight onto the animal, inside the enclosed area with the animal was an overturned bucket. FI REDACTED while performing ante mortem inspection on the animal at approximately 0840 hours, shortly after its arrival, mentioned to Mr. REDACTED (REDACTED) REDACTED (Establishment Employee) that the animal had overturned its water bucket and suggested providing more. The time lapse from the original observation by FI REDACTED of the animal without water at approximately 0840 hours to my observation at approximately 1100 hours was over two hours. Inside pen #14 there were two sows, the water bucket inside of the pen with them was standing upright but was empty. Inside pen #11 there was one large hog, the water bucket inside the pen with it was standing upright but was also empty. I informed Mr. REDACTED (Production Lead) of my observation and informed him of the noncompliance. The above observation is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(e).