Producers Partnership: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On 12/29/23, at approximately 1315 hours, while performing slaughter activities, I observed the following HATS Stunning Effectiveness noncompliance: While the plant was performing the stunning of a miniature Herford bull, the plant’s designated stunner, at the outside corral stunning area, attempted the first stun on the beef with a 223 rife, which was ineffective. The beef remained standing but had no vocalization. The plant’s stunner made an immediate second stun, which rendered the beef unconscious. The animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. I did not take a regulatory control action due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed two holes in the front of the skull. The second penetrating hole was approximately 1/8 of an inch next to the first penetrating hole. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There was a previous noncompliance record issued on 12/12/23, for incorrect placement. This establishment has implemented a Robust Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock. The plant manager was verbally notified of the noncompliance. I notified the plant owner and the plant manager in writing with the issuance of this Noncompliance Record.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On 12/12/23, at approximately 0848 hours, while performing slaughter activities, I observed the following HATS Stunning Effectiveness noncompliance: While the plant was performing the stunning of a lamb, the plant’s designated stunner at the stun box attempted the first stun on a lamb being manually restrained by the plant’s livestock handler with a hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) device, which was ineffective. The lamb remained standing, had no vocalization, but the eye did blink. The plant’s livestock handler readily retrieved the backup HHCB device and applied an immediate second stun to the poll, which rendered the lamb unconscious. The animal remained unconscious throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. I did not take a regulatory control action due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I observed a penetrating hole to the front of the skull and a penetrating hole to the poll. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment has implemented a Robust Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock. The plant manager, which was handling the animal was verbally notified of the noncompliance. I notified the plant owner and the plant manager in writing with the issuance of this Noncompliance Record.