Nebraska Beef Ltd.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On May 6, 2024, while conducting antemortem inspection at Nebraska Beef M19336 I, the FLS, observed an ineffective stun on a non-ambulatory steer. At 1134 hours, the Floor Supervisor came out to pen 25 in the yards to stun a non-ambulatory steer. Three (3) hand-held captive bolts were readily available. As the Floor Supervisor placed the hand-held captive bolt device on the steers face plate, the steer moved its head causing the first stun attempt to be ineffective at rendering the animal insensible. The steer remained sternal and conscious with eyes blinking and tracking and rhythmically breathing but no vocalization was heard. One of the readily available backup hand-held captive bolt devices was used immediately to effectively render the animal insensible. The second backup hand-held captive bolt device was utilized to provide a security stun. The Floor Supervisor skinned the face plate back and three penetrating holes were observed. Two of the holes were in the appropriate target zone and the one hole was about 2 inches high. As a preventative measure the Floor Supervisor was verbally instructed to make sure the animal was calm, and the head is steady prior to making the first stun attempt. The Denver District Management Team was notified. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days. The establishment operates under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.