Carlton Packing Company: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 5/13/24 at Approximately 1120 am I was informed by an establishment employee of a non-ambulatory swine to stun in the barn just outside of the pen. I entered the barn with two establishment employees, the first stun operator applied the first stun attempt with the primary hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device. The primary HHCB device made contact with the swine but did not successfully render the animal unconscious. The hog was stunned and alert and rose to its feet but did not vocalize. The first stun operator did not have a backup HHCB device immediately available and had to return to the stun box/stunning area to retrieve the second HHCB device. The first stun operator handed the backup HHCB device to the second stun operator. The second stun applied the second stun with the backup HHCB device, which was successful at rendering the hog immediately insensible. I then entered the establishment to speak with compliance manager to inform him of the inhumane event and forthcoming noncompliance. I did not tag the stun box until after speaking with the SPHV. U.S. Retain Tag #B35-732297 was placed on the stun box and the establishment management was verbally notified. Upon inspection of the dressed head, one penetrating hole was below the target zone and a second 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. The establishment operates under a robust systematic approach for the humane handling of livestock.