Hoffer's Ligonier Valley Packing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness On Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at approximately 0740 on the kill floor at Hoffer’s Ligonier Valley Packing Est. 4025, while observing the Stunning Effectiveness category of the Livestock Humane Handling task, I observed the following noncompliance: A bull was run into the knocking pen and was restrained by the head gate. The animal started to struggle against the head gate so the establishment applied nose clips in an attempt the restrain the animal. The animal continued to struggle and started to vocalize. The establishment made a stunning attempt with a captive bolt gun that was ineffective. The bull remained standing, continued to struggle, and continued to vocalize. The establishment performed a corrective action by reloading the captive bolt gun and making a second stunning attempt that was effective. The bull ceased struggling and went limp. The establishment then administered a security stun and the animal remained unconscious during bleeding and subsequent dressing. No regulatory control action was taken due to the immediate corrective action. I inspected the head after it was removed and observed three separate holes in the cranium. One was approximately 2.5 to 3 inches to the right of the midline and approximately 3 inches above the right eye. The other two holes were directly in the midline of the cranium and approximately 1 inch apart. A search of noncompliance records from the past 90 days did not find any similar noncompliance. This is a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). Mr. REDACTED was verbally notified of this noncompliance and was given a copy of the NR.