Double L Meat Processing: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

On Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:51am, myself (IPP REDACTED) reports noncompliance at the Double L establishment while performing a Humane Handling Verification PHIS task. IPP was verifying the Stunning Effectiveness (Category VII) HATS Category. On the initial attempt to stun the animal, a shotgun (with slug ammo) was fired. The animal had not been restrained in the head catch of the chute. The animal did not become unconscious on this first attempt (evident because the animal’s body did not drop and the animal was looking around still/moving around in the chute). IPP observed a bloody spot on the animal’s neck behind its head at this time. The secondary attempt to stun was performed with the same weapon and was successful. IPP investigated the chute area after the animal was stunned/bled, and notes that the animal had a large puncture wound on the back of its neck, approximately 3⁄4 foot away from the typical stunning location from the head. The puncture wound was approximately 2 inch by 2 inch, round in shape. This wound was not present on antemortem inspection of the animal. IPP also made more discoveries upon postmortem inspection of the carcass. There was a trail of debris from the wound entrance that ended in the thoracic vertebrae. At the deepest part of this wound, IPP found an orange piece of rubber/plastic, which IPP presumes as evidence of the bullet entry. The slug part of the bullet was not found. At 11:16am, Reject tag #B-45 201740. Tag will be removed once an appropriate response and Preventative Measures are received by IPP. The carcass will be further trimmed in Processing to remove the debris field created from the bullet wound. This situation is noncompliance with the Regulations cited on this NR. IPP notified Plant Manager REDACTED of the tag on the chute and this NR verbally, and now written.

313.1,313.2

On Monday, March 4, 2024 at 2:30pm, IPP noted noncompliance at the Double L establishment. While performing a walkthrough with an FSA/EIAO Agent, the following items were discovered below in the animal pen area: ·Pen 1 gate mounting bolts (3 in quantity) were protruding about 3 inches into the pen area. The highest bolt did have some blood on it. ·On the corner of the building, the alleyway where animals are driven had approximately a 2inch by 2inch space where sharp metal was protruding. ·4 screws attached to the handle of the sweep chute were sharp and protruding about an inch. ·A green gate had a 1⁄2 inch opening with burs that were sharp to the touch (facing inside the animal holding area) ·4 screws were protruding from a wooden beam that was adjacent to the sweep tub area. The items above are noncompliant under the USDA Regulations, specifically for the Handling during Antemortem Humane Handling Category (Category IV). Noncompliant regulations are cited on this NR. At the time of discovery for these issues, the establishment had completed USDA slaughter for the day. After notification of the items, the establishment began correcting them immediately. A reject tag was not utilized in this instance because all of the noncompliant issues were addressed prior to the establishment continuing with USDA slaughter line. REDACTED was notified of this NR verbally on 3/5/24, and now written.

313.2,313.15(a)(3)

On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, IPP REDACTED noted noncompliance at the Double L establishment while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task. IPP observed a missed stun attempt on a USDA Beef at 1:40pm while observing the Stunning Effectiveness Category. Kill Floor Manager REDACTED was observed using the Captive Bolt gun on the animal. The stunning of this animal was performed in the pen area (not the chute) of the facility. When Mr. REDACTED attempted to stun the animal, she moved her head. The animal did not immediately fall to the ground, indicating she was conscious. Mr. REDACTED immediately recognized the missed stun and grabbed his secondary/backup stunning device (a shotgun) that was being held by Mrs. REDACTED next to him. The animal was effectively stunned at this second attempt, and showed no signs of consciousness. Upon direction by Dr. REDACTED, IPP applied a U.S. Rejected tag (Tag # B-45 201716) to the Stunning Chute Area. IPP notified REDACTED of this noncompliance immediately & in writing with this NR. IPP also noted a secondary noncompliance while verifying the Humane Handling Water & Feed Availability requirements. Three USDA Beef were presented today for Slaughter under inspection. The animals arrived at 8:46am. IPP observed water within the establishment’s holding pens that morning, however the animals were transferred to the Sweep Tub pen immediately after arrival. The last animal was knocked at 1:40pm, and up to that point they had not been supplied any water. IPP concluded this situation as a noncompliance with Regulation 313.2 because the animals were in a holding pen for multiple hours without access to water.

313.2

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, I, IPP REDACTED, documented a noncompliance at the Double L establishment. At 915 am, while performing the Humane Handling Category of Monitoring for Slips and Falls, the animals remaining from yesterday (who have now been at the facility for 25 hours) have no evidence of being fed. A group of USDA animals (2 lambs, 5 market swine, and 1 beef cow) arrived yesterday at approximately 8:10am. Antemortem records will confirm that antemortem inspection was performed at 8:15am that day. Today, there were 2 lambs and 2 market swine remaining in the animal pens from that group. IPP confirmed that the plant did not have any feed on hand or in storage. IPP notes this is a noncompliance with the Humane Handling Category of Water and Feed Availability. At this time, IPP notified Kill Floor Manager REDACTED of these events. Mr. REDACTED then notified Plant Manager REDACTED that the plant needed animal feed. Mr. REDACTED then let IPP know that the animal feed was enroute to the plant. At 9:55am, IPP notes that feed was given to the animals that had stayed over 24 hours. Both Mr. REDACTED and Mrs. REDACTED were notified of this NR verbally, and now written.