Rising Spring Meat Co.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1

Hats Category IV - Handling During Antemortem Inspection On Wednesday July 3, 2024, at approximately 7:00am while performing a Humane Handling task verification, the following noncompliance was observed. A steer in pen 1 had its head stuck between the metal fencing and the automatic water feeder into pen 2. The animal was not agitated or stressed but could not get its head back through the opening. I notified REDACTED that the animal was trapped. REDACTED notified the Humane Handler (REDACTED REDACTED and REDACTED then moved the animals out of pen 2 so they would have access to the steer’s head. They then tried to free the steers head, but to no avail. The steer was shot in pen 1 with the captive bolt and the animal instantly dropped and was unconscious. The plant then followed with a second stun with the captive bolt, a Security stun, per their protocol. I notified REDACTED that this is a noncompliance of CFR 313.1(a).

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness On June 26, 2024 at approximately 1:30pm while performing routine humane handling verification activities at Est M44910, I, CSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: The establishment moved the 8th animal for the day, an angus steer into the stunning box. The animal was in the head restraint, with a halter on its head, and the lead secured to the side post to immobilize the head by Mr. REDACTED. I heard the first stun attempt with the captive bolt discharge by Mr. REDACTED and the animal remained standing and conscious. The plant followed with a second stun with the captive bolt. I noticed brain matter present from the skull wound and the animal instantly dropped in the stunning box and was unconscious. The plant then followed with a third stun, a Security stun, per their protocol. The animal was unconscious and insensible throughout the remainder of the process. I notified Dr. REDACTED SPVH of the incident and was instructed to tag the stunning box while the incident was investigated. I notified the plant owner and placed US reject tag no B19697914 on the stun box. Dr REDACTED and myself examined the skinned skull provided by the plant. Examination of the skull revealed three full thickness entrance wounds into the upper quarter of the skull. All directions are made looking at the skull on the head rack. I confidently pointed to the hole on the farthest right of the head level slightly above eye level as the wound from the first stun attempt. The center of this hole was off midline to the right by about 2”. Following that hole with a blunt object, it appeared to stop within the frontal the sinus and was at a slight angle. The hole from the second stun attempt was off midline by about 1” to the left, and slightly higher above eye level. When it was followed with a blunt object it was straighter and penetrated twice as deep into the interior of the skull. The third and final hole was on midline and about 2” higher on the skull, in the “ideal target area” identified on images provided by the plant as part of their plan. This wound was the deepest and definitively penetrated into the brain cavity. The establishment is operating under a consent order, however, no other noncompliance records have been written in the last year regarding stunning effectiveness. Following discussion with the DVMS and District Office the plant owner Mr. REDACTED was informed they had been noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) & 313.15(a)(3). The US reject tag was removed and slaughter was allowed to resume.

313.2

"HATS" category(iii)-water and feed availability On February 16, 2024, at approximately 7:00am, the following non-compliance was observed. CSI REDACTED was performing humane handling verification tasks on this day. He arrived at the establishment to find a beef cow in the runway of the holding pens. The cow was dropped off outside of normal working hours and found to have no access to water. Plant employees arrived several minutes later and were informed of the observations by Mr. REDACTED. REDACTED, humane handling coordinator, immediately moved the animal into a pen with access to water. This is a non-compliance of 9 CFR-313.2 (e). Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens, and if held longer than 24 hours, access to food. Humane handling coordinator REDACTED and REDACTED, humane handling coordinator alternate, were both notified of the non-compliance.