Kingdom Provisions: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(2),313.16(a)(1),313.16(a)(3)

At approximately 1145 on 07/02/2024, while verifying Humane Handling Activities, I, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI), observed a steer being slaughtered Kosher. The steer was positioned in the box where Ritual Cuts are performed. The steer had its neck cut while in the box. The door to the box that they use to roll out the unconscious animals was open about 2 feet on the bottom. The steer got out of the box and entered the room next to the slaughter floor. An employee of Kingdom Provisions opened the door to the outside and let the steer out. I observed the steer standing behind the building with its neck cut and bleeding. REDACTED then shot at the steer several times with a Remington 7600 Pumpmaster 30-06 rifle. After the first shot, I observed the steer conscious and still standing. Mr. REDACTED then fired two more shots while I was in a safe area behind the building. After the third shot I observed the steer on the ground. The Knocking Box and Chute were Rejected with US Rejected tag B-45999668. This was noncompliant with 313.16(a)(1); 313.16(a)(2); and 313.16(a)(3). The district office was notified and issued a Notice of Suspension for humane handling. This establishment does not operate under a robust humane handling plan as they have just come out of abeyance from two previous humane handling suspensions.

313.1,313.2

Category II Truck Unloading Category V Suspect and Disabled At approximately 1230 hours, on January 18, 2024, while verifying truck unloading, I, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) observed the truck driver, and the plant manager, unloading, approximately, fourteen (14) beef animals from a gooseneck livestock trailer. At that point in time, I was unaware that additional animals were on the second level of the trailer, so I returned to the USDA inspection office. While in the USDA office, I heard lambs/sheep vocalizing, so I returned to observe the unloading of the sheep that remained on the trailer after the beef were unloaded. The driver of the trailer was performing this unloading activity without the presence of the plant manager. The sheep were in the “nose” of the trailer, and when I observed unloading, most of the sheep had already jumped down to the floor of the trailer from the second level. The sheep were being made to jump approximately four (4) feet down to the floor of the trailer from the second level to the main floor. The first sheep observed jumped down to the main floor with no issues. When the next sheep jumped down, it’s front feet buckled and it landed very hard on its head, doing a front flip (somersault), then rolling over onto its back. The sheep then rolled to its belly, visibly stunned, and shaking. I notified the driver to stop unloading the remaining sheep, but the driver was unable to. The remaining sheep jumped down but did not land on the fallen sheep. The fallen sheep rose to its feet unassisted, and I observed that its left front leg was broken below the knee as it was holding it up off the ground. The sheep remaining on the main floor of the trailer jumped off the trailer to the ground, an approximate one (1) foot drop. The injured sheep was walking on three legs but followed the rest of the group in jumping off the trailer onto the ground and then to the holding pen in the barn. I questioned the driver if any of the animals were limping at the time of loading and the driver affirmed that some of them were limping at that time. I then asked the driver how he had loaded the sheep and the driver said that he loaded them up the ramp using the decking system. The decking was removed after loading to make room for the cattle. I notified the plant manager Ms. REDACTED of my observations and discussion with the driver. The plant manager informed me that she had just been informed by the plant owner that the sheep had a broken leg prior to being loaded onto the trailer, however, she was unaware of it during unloading. No accommodations had been made on the trailer for separation of the animal or for appropriate facilities or ramps provided for safe handling and unloading of any injured animals. The above findings indicate a failure to comply with the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.1(a) and 313.1(b); as well as 313.2(d)(1). The establishment does not operate under a robust humane handling plan as they are in abeyance for a previous humane handling administrative enforcement action.

313.16(a)(1),313.16(a)(3)

Category VIII-Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 1400 hours on 10/19/2023, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) observed the following on the slaughter floor at Kingdom Provisions (Est 53882): The slaughter floor supervisor informed the FSIS CSI that he was going to use a firearm on the animal. The CSI informed the Food Inspector as well and they both moved to the opposite side of the slaughter floor wall. The inspector heard two shots and then looked around the side of the wall to observe. He observed the steer being released from the knock box. As the steer was rolling out, he was actively vocalizing. The establishment employee shackled the steer’s right rear leg. The steer righted itself and stood on 2-3 legs. It then began to charge the establishment employee that had been standing on the floor to cut the animal. The employee was shoved backward. An establishment employee quickly continued hoisting the conscious animal and a separate establishment employee slit the throat and the animal bled out. The steer was actively vocalizing throughout the incident prior to being cut. The FSIS Inspector immediately tagged the knock box with tag number B37427151 and contacted the supervisory chain. The inspector then checked the steer’s head and there were two bullet holes, one above the other. This establishment does not have a Robust Systematic Written Approach. A Notice of Suspension was issued. The Slaughter Floor Manager and Plant Manager were notified of the failure to comply with section 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) and 313.16(a)(3) of the Meat Inspection Regulations.

313.2

Category III- Water and Feed Availability On 10/19/23 at approximately 0700 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Verification task, I observed the following noncompliance. There were 2 market steers in the far pen immediately to the right while facing the entrance to the barn. The pen had a water bucket that was empty and the steers have been at the establishment for over 24 hours and had no access to feed. There was a billy goat that has also been at the establishment for over 24 hours, located in the middle pen in the middle section of the barn. The goat had no access to feed. There were 4 market beef located next to the goat. Two of the steers have been on the property for over 24 hours and there was no evidence that the animals had access to feed. There were 14 market beef located in the large pen in the back of the barn. There was an automatic waterer that was completely empty and dry. This is noncompliant with 9CFR 313.2(e) which requires water to be accessible to all animals in all holding pens and animals that are held longer than 24 hours must have access to feed. Mr. REDACTED, Plant Manager was notified of the aforementioned noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED provided water and feed to animals. Similar noncompliance’s were documented on Noncompliance Records AWD3811085025N and AWD2610071214N.