New England Wagyu, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1),313.2

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness (9 CFR 313.16(a)(1)) and Category VI -- Electric Prod/Alternative Object Use (9 CFR 313.2(a)) Around 1115 on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, I observed slaughter floor employees lead a longhorn steer into the stunning box. After attaching a halter to the steer, and as employees prepared to secure the animal inside the stunning box, the steer abruptly charged through the half-open headlock, which caught it at the hip. While it was still attempting to escape the headlock, the stunner fired one shot (from a Rossi .45), which struck the animal above the right shoulder. The animal's behavior did not change after the first shot; it did not vocalize, its legs did not buckle, and it continued thrashing and attempting to wriggle its way out the headlock. The same employee fired a second time immediately after the first shot. After the second shot, the steer fell, its eyes were tested for corneal reflex in response to touch, and its tongue became limp. The animal remained unconscious while it was hoisted and stuck. I rejected the stunning area with USDA tag No. B40462726 and then informed REDACTED slaughter lead, and slaughter floor employees that slaughter operations would not continue until I had submitted a report of the incident and had received further instructions. The establishment has established a robust systematic approach to humane handling and was following the robust approach at the time. As corrective actions for an ineffective stun had been effectively implemented, I removed the USDA tag and informed establishment management that I would be documenting my observations in a noncompliance record. The Noncompliance Record was issued regarding 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) regarding the need for more than one stunning attempt, and 9 CFR 313.2(a) for not moving the animal with a minimum of excitement. No associations were found with other noncompliance records issued within the last ninety days at the establishment.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness (9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3)) At approximately 1015 on Thursday, 21 March 2024, I observed a slaughter floor employee lead a beef cow into the stunning box. After the cow was secured in the headlock, but not haltered, the employee used a captive bolt gun to stun the animal. The cow was standing after the first discharge, vocalized, and continued to move its head from side to side. The employee immediately applied the captive bolt for a second time, after which the animal fell, stopped vocalizing, its eyes were tested for corneal reflex in response to touch, and its tongue became limp. The cow remained unconscious while it was hoisted and stuck. I rejected the stunning area with USDA tag No. B40462628 and then informed REDACTED, slaughter lead, and slaughter floor employees of the noncompliance, and that slaughter operations would not continue until I had submitted a report of the incident and had received further instructions. The establishment has established a robust systematic approach to humane handling and was following the robust approach at the time. As corrective actions for an ineffective stun had been effectively implemented, I removed the USDA tag and informed establishment management that I would be documenting my observations in a noncompliance record. No associations were found with other noncompliance records issued within the last ninety days at the establishment.