Kinikin Processing: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On September 26, 2024, at approximately 0725 hours while verifying livestock humane handling during slaughter operations at Est. 44911, both the CSI and SPHV observed the following noncompliance. Establishment personnel had driven a large, mature, older sow into the standard metal livestock stun box. The stun box prevented the sow from being able to turn around, but the sow was still able to move from side to side and forward and backwards within the stun box. The CSI and I were in a safe location while the stun operator attempted to stun the sow with a .35 caliber rifle using hard tip full metal jacket ammunition. I heard the firearm discharge once, and when I attempted to re-enter the slaughter floor, I was notified by the stun operator that he was going to apply a second stun but with a 357-rifle also using hard tip full metal jacket ammunition. I observed the sow was not vocalizing but had remained standing and alert in the stun box. The CSI and I exited the slaughter floor and were in a safe location. Shortly thereafter I heard the firearm discharge for a second stun. When I attempted to re-enter the slaughter floor, the sow was standing on her rear legs, trying to climb out over the front of the stun box and get out of the stun box and was vocalizing. I observed blood on her face. The stun operator notified that me that he was going to stun again with the 357-rifle using hard tip full metal jacket ammunition. The CSI and I exited the slaughter floor and were in a safe location. A third stun attempt was heard, and when I re-entered the slaughter floor the sow was conscious but down on her front limbs with her rear limbs still standing straight up, voluntarily blinking, and rhythmically breathing. The sow was not vocalizing. The stun operator notified us that he was going to stun for a fourth time. The CSI and I exited the slaughter floor and were in a safe location. The stun operator had retrieved the .223 caliber rifle and applied a further stun attempt to the sow which rendered the sow insensible. I observed the stun operator verify unconsciousness by touching the cornea and receiving no response. The sow remained unconscious during the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. A regulatory control action was taken by tagging the stun box with U.S. Reject Tag #B11002530. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Upon inspection of the dressed head, one large penetrating hole slightly above the target zone was observed. All four projectiles entered in the same location. The hole was at an approximately 45-degree angle and had entered the cranium, verified via palpation by the SPHV. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This establishment maintains a Robust Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock. The U.S. Reject tag was removed from the stun box at 0801 hours.

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

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 0847 hours, I, the CSI, while performing stunning effectiveness verification observed the following inhumane incident. The establishment had driven a sow into the stunning box. I was in a safe location while the stun operator attempted to stun the sow with a .38-gauge firearm. I heard the firearm discharge once. When I attempted to reenter the floor, the employee said it was okay to come back onto the slaughter floor. I observed the sow was recumbent on her belly in the stun box with her eyes blinking, no vocalization, and rhythmic breathing. As I was observing the sow, her head shifted to the right and the sow began to rise using her front legs in a stepping motion. Once her front half was up, she began to rise using her back legs, but still no vocalization. The stun operator informed me that he was going to attempt to stun the sow again with the backup .357-gauge firearm. I vacated the slaughter floor immediately and was in a safe location while the stun operator attempted to stun a second time. I heard the firearm discharge once. When I re-entered the slaughter floor, the sow was laterally recumbent and insensible. The sow remained insensible throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. I applied USDA tag # B11002475 on the stunning box. The establishment was verbally notified of a forthcoming non-compliance record. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days. Upon inspection of the dressed head, two penetrating holes were observed within the target zone. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. This establishment operates under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.