Scotts Hook & Cleaver Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1445 hours, while verifying HATS Category VIII, I (SCSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: Mr. REDACTED owner, attempted to stun a heifer with a handheld captive bolt gun while it was restrained in the head catch of the knock box. The first attempt was ineffective at rendering the heifer unconscious, and the heifer remained standing, pulled its head back as much as possible while in the head restraint, and its eyes were tracking the movement of the two people standing in the area. Mr. REDACTED immediately reloaded the captive bolt gun and applied a second stun. The second stun rendered the heifer unconscious, and it fell to the ground. During the postmortem examination, two overlapping, penetrating holes were discovered on the heifer’s skull. These two holes were positioned one above the other, located at the intersection from the poll to the eyes. I informed Mr. REDACTED that a noncompliance would be issued. He stated he believed the cap was defective since the first attempt did not sound like it normally does. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) which states: "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort."

313.2

On 07/23/2024 while performing a Humane Handling HATS Category III Water and Feed Availability Task I, CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: At approximately 0850 hours while touring the barn, I observed an empty blue water bucket in pen 5 laying on its side with the opening of the bucket pushed against the wall. Approximately 9 lambs were being held in this pen and had no access to water at this time. Then in the area behind the knock box where livestock is held before entering the slaughter floor, I observed approximately 17 lambs being held. There was no water access observed in this holding area. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e), which requires that water be available to livestock in all holding pens. At approximately 0900 hours Plant Manager REDACTED was informed of these findings and that a noncompliance would be issued.

313.2

At approximately 0845 hours, while performing HATS Category III – Water and Feed availability, I (Dr. REDACTED DVMO) observed the following noncompliance: I checked the first pen and noted that there was one (1) steer without access to water. Inside the pen, there was a greyish plastic trough, but it did not contain any water. In addition, upon inspecting another pen, I observed a single sow without access to water. Inside the pen, there was a dark green plastic bucket; however, it was tipped over and did not contain water at the time of my observation. I verbally informed Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance and the absence of water in the two pens that house the single steer and the single sow, as required by regulation 313.2(e). Mr. REDACTED promptly filled the greyish trough in the pen where the steer was held with water. Additionally, he moved the sow to a different pen where the animals had access to water. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e), which requires that water be available to livestock in all holding pens.