Countryside Quality Meats LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

At approximately 1505 hours, while performing HATS Category VIII –Stunning Effectiveness, I (CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: A steer was entering the knock box with minimal excitement. As the steer stood in the stun box unrestrained, the stunning employee grabbed a .22 magnum caliber rifle and informed me he would be using the rifle to stun the steer. I observed the slaughter floor and heard the rifle discharge. I observed that the steer was still conscious and was standing in the same location. The employee reloaded the same rifle and stated that he would be using the rifle again. I heard the rifle discharge and observed the steer’s head raise straight up and back. The second stunning attempt was also ineffective, as demonstrated by the steer remaining conscious and standing. The stunning employee was immediately handed a loaded 9mm pistol by another employee and stated he would be using the pistol. I observed from across slaughter floor and heard the pistol discharge. I entered the slaughter floor and observed the animal lying unconscious on the floor, indicating that the third stunning attempt had been effective. The employee then shackled, hoisted, and bled the unconscious animal. I notified Mrs. REDACTED Plant Manager, of the noncompliance and explained that there had been two ineffective stunning attempts using the .22 magnum rifle, and that I would be documenting the noncompliance. During the postmortem examination, three holes were discovered in the steer’s skull: a large penetrating hole at the intersection from the poll to the eyes, and two smaller penetrating holes approximately one inch below the larger hole. The establishment has failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1). On June 21, 2024, a similar noncompliance was documented, underlining issues with stunning ineffectiveness. The establishment's corrective actions for the ineffective stunning noncompliance on 06-21-2024 were related to captive bolt gun maintenance and were discussed further as the purposed maintenance took place. However, those actions were either not implemented or not effective in preventing additional noncompliance.

313.15(a)(1)

On Friday, June 21, 2024, at approximately 0825 hours, while observing HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness, I (REDACTED, DVMO) observed the following non-compliance: A stunning employee (REDACTED) attempted to stun a heifer with a hand-held captive bolt device. The first attempt was ineffective as the heifer remained conscious. The heifer remained standing, was tracking the surrounding with its eyes and tried to move its head while inside the knocking box. The heifer vocalized immediately after the captive bolt contacted the head. There was a wound observed on the head of the heifer approximately one inch above the half-way point between the eyes and blood was observed coming from its nose. The stunning employee immediately reloaded the captive bolt device and effectively restunned the heifer resulting in an unconscious heifer. I notified REDACTED (Assistant Manager) and REDACTED (beef stunning operator) of the noncompliance. Furthermore, I addressed the issue of noncompliance with REDACTED, the plant manager, both over the phone and in person upon her arrival at the plant. Today, the plant slaughtered two steers and one heifer. Therefore, no regulatory control action was taken due to the heifer being the last one slaughtered today. Postmortem inspection revealed two penetrating holes from the captive bolt stunning attempts. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." A similar noncompliance # PVG3008054723N was written on Thursday, May 23, 2024, due to stunning ineffectiveness.

313.1

HAT Category IV: On Thursday, May 30, 2024, at approximately 0800 hours, during the routine Humane Handling Verification Visit, DVM REDACTED and CSI REDACTED observed a compromised wire mesh gridwall panel in the alleyway. Located in the inner alleyway leading to the stunning area, the panel had detached from the metal post resulting in sharp metal edges protruding approximately 1 inch into the alleyway at 4 feet high. Despite plant personnel directing two cattle through the alleyway, which momentarily hesitated near the compromised site, no injuries were noted at the time of inspection. Upon discovery, I promptly informed the plant manager REDACTED of the establishment’s non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.1(a), which mandates that pens, driveways, and ramps must be devoid of sharp or protruding objects that could inflict injury or pain upon the animals. As an immediate corrective measure, Establishment Employee REDACTED swiftly retracted the damaged section of the wire panel and secured it back into position, effectively mitigating any potential harm to the animals. A similar noncompliance was written on 5-23-24 for failing to meet Humane Handling regulations. This document serves as written notification that your failure to comply with the regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.

313.15(a)(1)

Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness: On 05-23-2024 at 0830 hours while performing a Humane Handling task under Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness, I, REDACTED CSI, observed a young heifer enter the knock box from the livestock area. After the head restraint was put in place, the beef stunning operator attempted to stun the heifer with a captive bolt gun. The stunning attempt was ineffective, and the heifer vocalized, and the eyes remained open and tracking as the animal remained standing and still. The captive bolt gun was reloaded, and a second stunning attempt was immediately administered, which rendered the heifer unconscious. Postmortem inspection of the skull revealed overlapping penetrating holes from the captive bolt stunning attempts in the proper location. At 0835 hours I placed a US Retained tag 36867461 on the knock box to stop further slaughter activities and called establishment manager REDACTED to inform her of the regulatory noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) for not stunning the heifer effectively on the first stunning attempt. After discussing the findings and the establishment’s corrective actions with the frontline supervisor (FLS), the establishment manager, and employees, I removed the retain tag from the knock box.

313.2

HAT Category III - Water and Feed Availability: On 04-25-2024 at 0704 I was in the process of beginning slaughter ante-mortem inspection. As I walked into the barn area, I observed that the two water basins in pen four holding one goat and one lamb did not have any water available. At 0711 I informed establishment employee REDACTED that I had observed that there was no water available in pen four. An additional bucket of water was placed in the pen immediately. When the establishment manager REDACTED arrived at the establishment, I informed her that there had been a failure to make water available to the goat and lamb, and I would be documenting noncompliance with regulations 9CFR 313.2 (e) which states in part; Animals shall have access to water in a holding pens. A similar *noncompliance, with the same root cause was documented on *NR5906011623 written 01-23-2024. The corrective actions proposed by the establishment may have been ineffective in preventing the water issue. This document serves as written notification that your failure to comply with the regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.

313.2

9CFR Category III - Water and Feed Availability: At 0703 I was performing ante- mortem inspections on 13 swine in pen number one. I observed the large plastic tank and determined that the tank water fill system was not allowing for water availability due to ice. The tank was full however had become frozen. As I inspected a lone sheep in pen number four, I observed that there was no water available in the basins, and the five-gallon bucket was frozen. This issue was brought to the attention of one employee who was present at the time. At 0725 another employee initiated the watering of the lamb and the swine. The establishment manager was not present at the time but was notified of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e), which requires that water be available at all times, and that animals held longer than 24 hours have access to feed. I tagged the gate leading to the areas without water with US rejected tag#B-45011160 from 0705 until 0730 when I verified that water had been made available to the pens mentioned in this report.

313.2

I began the ante- mortem inspection of the animals presented for slaughter in pens 1 and 2 at 0656> 0702. I entered pen 2 and discovered that although the water tank was full the float mechanism was not allowing the water to fill into the basin where the 7 swine in pen two could reach it. I informed employee REDACTED of the lack of adequate water for the swine in pen 2. I verified that acceptable corrective actions were taken at 0705 when a hose was used to fill the smaller basin where the swine could drink it. I later explained to establishment manager REDACTED that I had taken a regulatory action under HAT Category III - Water and Feed Availability: The establishment’s failure to provide water with a functional water tank indicates non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e), which requires that water be available at all times, and that animals held longer than 24 hours have access to feed. I used US retain tag 45011150 to withhold all of the animals present from slaughter until I spoke with the establishment manager, and she offered acceptable verbal corrective actions. The retain tag was removed at 0740.