Lighthouse Custom Meats LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Lighthouse Custom Meats LLC slaughterhouse establishment in 2024.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2024.
313.2
On 8/15/2024, at approximately 9:10am, while performing HATS Category III- Water and Feed Availability verification, I, Dr. REDACTED (DVMO), observed that there were 6 hogs and 4 lambs in the holding pens with no water available to them. I also observed that there were 2 plastic bowls laying upside down in the pens, which were supposed to have water in them. Additionally, in the corner of the hog holding pen was a water reservoir with a water nipple which was empty. I took a regulatory control action and verbally notified the owner, Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED immediately filled a plastic bucket with water and took it to the holding pens and refilled the plastic bowls with water. I relinquished regulatory control upon restoration of compliance. I advised Mr. REDACTED of the regulatory requirement 9 CFR 313.2(e) “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down.”
313.2
On May 9, 2024, at approximately 1115 hours EST, the following observations were made. An approximately 300-pound hog was confined within the knock box. The electrical stunning equipment operator wet the hog down with water and set the B&D stunning equipment to the “Hi” setting in preparation for stunning. The operator applied the device to the head of the hog in contact behind the ears. The animal vocalized in response, became momentarily rigid, and remained conscious, i.e., rhythmically breathing and eyes open and in a sternal position. During this time, the electrical stunning equipment remained in contact behind the ears and continued discharging as indicated by smoke emanating directly from beneath the points where the wand was in contact with the hide of the hog. The operator recognized the animal was not effectively stunned and quickly removed the device from contact with the hog and immediately replaced the device in the same position, again discharging the device as he did so. The hog vocalized in response and remained in a sternal position. The device remained in contact with the hog, continuously discharging with smoke emanating from the contact points on the hogs hide. During this time, and as the device continued discharging, the operator used the device to roll the hog into lateral recumbency in preparation for a heart stun. The operator removed the device from contact with the hog and allowed the animal to remain in lateral recumbency. The knock box door was opened to administer the heart stun and the hog immediately rose, vocalized, and stumbled from the knock box onto the kill floor. The operator pursued the hog for a distance of approximately 7 feet where he was able to reapply the electrical stunning device to the head and effectively render the hog insensible at that time. A heart stun was subsequently placed, and the hog was stuck to initiate exsanguination. These observations are noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.2(f), 9 CFR 313.30(a)(1), and 313.30(a)(3). Establishment management was notified of the noncompliance and egregious nature of the incident. Regulatory control of the process was verbally imposed and a U.S. Retained tag was placed on the knock box.
