JBS Tolleson Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At 1135 hr while verifying stunning effectiveness from the mezzanine level directly over the knock box and knock box operator I observed the following non-compliance: As one holstein steer (House number 1117) entered the restrainer the animal repeatedly kept moving its head from one side of the restrainer to the other side. The operator waited till he thought he had the opportunity to deliver the captive bolt knock to the target area on the forehead. When he finally delivered the knock the animal quickly moved its head again. The knock was delivered to an area just above the right orbit bone of the eye in the lower right quadrant of the animal's forehead. I could see that the knock was out of the target zone and that the knock had created a wound over the orbit bone. In response to the knock the steer had not been rendered unconscious as the animal was still alert and it continued looking from side to side, its eyes tracking its surroundings. The operator recognizing that the stun had been ineffective promptly delivered a second captive bolt stun to the middle of the target area on the forehead. In response to the second stun I noted the animal was unconscious as it was no longer alert and no longer tracking its environment with its eyes. I immediately informed REDACTED (Harvest Superintendent) of my finding and that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. Subsequently the head was examined at the USDA inspection station and the presence of two knock holes were confirmed, one directly over the orbit bone of the right eye and the other in the center of the top of the forehead. Each delivered stun is expected to produce immediate unconsciousness. That a captive bolt stun was delivered that was ineffective represents non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.15(a)(3).

313.1

HATS Category IV Ante-Mortem Inspection On 9/7/2024 at approximately 0900 hrs while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection on cattle on the south side of the holding pens by the scale, I observed the following regulatory non-compliance: Upon entrance to the scale, there’s a cattle crossing approximately 4 inches wide x 15 feet in length the animals must walk across to get to the scale. The cattle crossing is a depression in the path that is fully covered by smooth metal and firmly fixed to the ground. The smooth metal was missing and created a gap approximately 4 inches wide and 10 feet in length. In several areas of the crossing there were pieces of broken metal with sharp edges. While observing animals cross through this area the animals would place their hoofs in this large gap that had missing and sharp fragmented pieces of metal. I placed U.S. Reject Tag B-46675984 on the entrance of the scale so that it would not be used until IPP could verify that the sharp edges were repaired. I showed REDACTED (Harvest Superintendent) and REDACTED (Cattle Pen Supervisor) the findings and informed them that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. That the establishment failed to maintain the driveway in good repair and free of sharp protruding objects represents non-compliance with 9CFR 313.1(a).

313.1

HATS IV: Ante Mortem On July 22, 2024 at approximately 1132 hours while performing ante-mortem inspection I observed the following regulatory noncompliance: In cattle Pen #16 I noted a sharp metal edge on one of the poles located inside the pen. In addition, there was protruding metal with a sharp point on a second pole located inside the pen. There were no cattle being held inside the pen at the time of my observations. I took regulatory control action and placed US Reject Tag B46619924 on the pen and informed REDACTED (Yards Supervisor) of the non-compliance and that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The failure to maintain pens in good repair and may cause injury or pain to animals represents non-compliance with 313.1(a).

313.1

HATS Category IV Ante-Mortem Inspection On 2/7/2024 at approximately 0618 hrs while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection on cattle on the north side of the holding pens, I observed the following regulatory non-compliance: There were two rusted sharp metal edges each about 4-5 inches in length protruding inward (where an animal could inadvertently rub against them) that were detached from the cross-metal pipe of the sheet metal wall adjacent to pen 8 (north alleyway). I placed U.S. Reject Tag B-45094834 on the alleyway so that it would not be used until IPP could verify that the sharp edges were repaired. I showed REDACTED (Cattle Pen Supervisor) the findings and informed him that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The establishment failed to meet the requirement of 9 CFR 313.1(a) which states “Livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may cause injury or pain to the animals.” A review of NRs for the past 90 days revealed 1 NR, ECD5415020303 (dated 2/2/2024) issued for the same root cause (i.e sharp metal edge protruding into an area where it could injure an animal).

313.1

HATS Category IV Ante-mortem Inspection On 2/2/2024 at approximately 0720 hrs while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection on cattle in Pen 18 (north side) I observed the following regulatory non-compliance: One of the metal support pipes that make up the pen gate had split into two pieces. I noted that one of the edges of the pipe where it had split was jagged, sharp and pointed in an upwards direction. The sharp edge of the pipe was approximately 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 an inch in length. The sharp edge of the pipe could cause animal injury if an animal came in contact with it. The animals that were in the pen were safely moved to another holding pen. I placed U.S. Reject Tag B-45094814 on the pen so that it would not be used until IPP could verify that the gate was repaired. I showed REDACTED (Cattle Pen Supervisor) my findings and informed him that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The establishment failed to meet the requirement of 9 CFR 313.1(a) which states “Livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may cause injury or pain to the animals.”