Malco's Buxton Meat Co: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category III: Water and Feed Availability On August 1st, 2024, at approximately 0845hrs, I, the CSI, initiated the routinely scheduled Livestock Humane Handling task as outlined in the Public Health Information System (PHIS). I observed the following non-compliance. In the left-rear large cattle corral were two market hogs. The establishment's provided Livestock Identification Form filled out by the animals' owner was dated 7/30/24, indicating that the hogs had been on premise for longer than 24 hours. This corral is not typically observed to be used for hogs as it lacks a nipple watering system that the smaller, central pens are outfitted with. The large corral only has a large cattle watering trough which is taller than these hogs. While water was present, it must always be accessible to the animals. The pen floor had clean, bare concrete with no feed present or evidence of the hogs having been fed since their arrival. After speaking with the Establishment Owner, I determined that the establishment was not in compliance with §313.2(e). The Establishment owner expressed surprise at the placement of these hogs and agreed to immediately move them to one of the several empty center pens where they would have access to water. Both hogs seemed alert and were ambulatory with no obvious signs of lethargy. The owner directed another employee to feed all hogs on premise since slaughter activities for the day had been postponed until the following day, which I observed. I verbally notified the establishment owner that I would be issuing a Non-Compliance Record (NR). A review of the establishment's history in PHIS indicates that no similar NRs have been issued due to the same root cause in the past 90 days.

313.2

On January 16th, 2024 at approx. 0730hr I, CSI REDACTED, performed a scheduled Livestock Humane Handling task as directed by the Public Health Information System (PHIS) and made the following observation. In the Northern-most corral of small livestock pens, inside the two center pens on the North-side of the center livestock driveway were two (2) heifers which (according to the the Livestock Identification/Drop-off form) had arrived the day before. Both pens had a bucket of water that was completely frozen over and no other means of accessing water available to the livestock. 9 CFR 313.2(e) requires that livestock have access to water at all times while in holding pens. As there were no staff or barn workers present, I notified REDACTED, est. owner, via text of the issue, who assured me a worker who lives onsite would attend to the issue. I further informed him that the livestock would require feed before the end of the day, as slaughter operations were not taking place. As no staff was present, a printed copy was left in the office which will additionally serve both as written and verbal notification of the non-compliance report. A review of non-compliance history in PHIS indicates no NRs with the same root cause have been issued in the last 90 days.