Missouri Prime Beef Packers LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(b)(1)(iii)

While conducting Livestock Humane Handling task in the stunning area on October 26, Dr. REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. At approximately 0645 hours, a polled BWF cow entered Knockbox 2 (KB2) by crushing downward the previous tan colored polled cow already stunned in the box. Handheld knock stunning had been administered to the tan colored cow, as well as several previous cattle entering KB2 within the few minutes prior to this event due to the operators inability to adequately restrain the animals using the head restraint function. This lot of cattle were not presenting their heads to be restrained as the equipment is designed leading to a larger amount of hand-knocks. The tan colored cow was not dropped from the box before the BWF cow excitedly entered Knockbox 2 from the alleyway behind. Without room for the BWF cow to move completely forward in the KB as the tan colored cow's head and neck was still occupying space in front of but not through the head restraint window, the BWF continued to attempt to jostle for position in the KB. The operator could not adequately restrain the BWF cow and utilized the handheld captive bolt to administer stunning. This cow was appropriately stunned in direct observation of IPP becoming immediately unconscious upon the 1st knock. The event was not stopped by Dr. REDACTED immediately after the 2nd cow entered KB2 based upon the most humane thing possible was to administer stunning procedures before the cow became recumbent in the equipment without access to her head, and the cow lying in KB2 was already appropriately stunned. Harvest Manager REDACTED who was in the immediate area received verbal notification that 2 cows were in KB2 simultaneously while the event occurred. However, there was no better option than to stun the 2nd cow while in KB2 quickly as there was no room to back her rearward in the alleyway and releasing her to the shackle pit un-stunned would be inviting injury to the cow and personnel. Mr. REDACTED shown Dr. REDACTED that the BWF cow received the two stun application when questioned about if the operator could provide the safety knock per establishment program by skinning down the head of the cow in question. Both knock holes were placed within 3/4 of an inch apart in appropriate location to be effective, and the cow did never regained consciousness. QA REDACTED, and Mr. REDACTED were notified of the forthcoming humane handling noncompliance for inadequate restraint per 9CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iii).