Ebels Family Center, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1,313.2

HATS Category III: Feed and water availability At approximately 0645 on Thursday 09/19/2024 while performing an odd-hour humane handling task, the following noncompliant condition was observed: Pen 6, located on the eastern side of the animal holding area, was observed to contain five beef without access to water. The pen is equipped with an automatic watering cup, however the water valve to the pen had been shut off due to a burst pipe below the water cup. The animals had been in the pen since the previous day (9/18) and due to the number of animals held on site could not be moved to another pen. REDACTED (barn manager) was shown the noncompliant condition and was informed that a noncompliance record would be issued. Animals from pen 5 were run into the chute leading to slaughter, and the gate between pen 5 and 6 was opened, allowing the beef access to water. No regulatory control actions were taken by IPP, since no other animals were going to be contained in the deficient pen. The above condition is a violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states that animals will have access to water at all times. REDACTED was also informed of the noncompliant condition and that a noncompliance record would be issued. A similar NR was issued on 08/05/24, though the base cause in that instance was due to overcrowding, not lack of water as in this case. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements may result in enforcement actions as described in 9 CFR 500.4

313.2

HATS Category III: Feed and water availability At approximately 1145 on Monday 08/05/2024 in the animal holding pens while performing antemortem inspection, the following noncompliant condition was observed: Pens 3 and 4 were observed to be overcrowded with market hogs. The two pens have a gate between them and to allow more room in either pen, allowing for a pen approximately 19 feet long, and 6 feet wide. There were 42 hogs contained within that area, resulting in overcrowding to a point where there was not available floor space, and some hogs were observed off the floor across others’ backs with no room to move off the other animals. The hogs had been unloaded approximately 10 minutes prior to IPP doing antemortem. The above condition is a violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states that animals will have access to water at all times. REDACTED barn manager, was informed that too many animals were contained within the pens and a noncompliance record would be issued. He was also informed some animals needed to be moved out of the pen to allow access to water. The gates into the center alleyway were opened, allowing more movement opportunities for the animals, allowing access to water. No similar noncompliance records have been issued in the past ninety days. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements may result in enforcement actions as described in 9 CFR 500.4