Bluegrass Lamb Company, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

HATS category VIII: Stunning effectiveness At approximately 0730 hrs. EST, establishment personnel for Bluegrass Lamb Co. (M47248) Glendale, KY notified Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) of the intent to euthanize a suspect lamb (M-2826214) being held for treatment by the establishment. At approximately 0740 hrs. EST, Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (SVMO) REDACTED, DVM went to the holding pens of the establishment to find the suspect lamb lying in lateral recumbency, rhythmically breathing, with establishment personnel standing over the animal. Upon closer inspection, blood was observed running from the nares of the lamb, with normal eye movement. Dr. REDACTED inquired of establishment personnel if the lamb had been shot using the hand-held captive bolt device (HHCBD), to which establishment personnel stated the lamb had been shot twice in the poll region of the head with the HHCBD and confirmed as observed by the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) assigned to the establishment. When Dr. REDACTED approached the lamb more closely and made a loud clapping sound, the lamb was observed to flinch in response and have normal eye tracking. Dr. REDACTED informed establishment personnel the lamb was still sensible and the need to render the animal insensible. Establishment personnel retrieved the same HHCBD and fired a third shot to the forehead of the animal thereby rendering it insensible, and so it remained. Operations Manager REDACTED and Kill Floor Supervisor REDACTED were notified of non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.15(a)(3). U.S. Rejected tag #B45710220 was placed upon the kill floor entrance and the chain of command contacted for further guidance.