Sucesion Jorge Morales Cruz dba; Macelo Guaynabo: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1

Today, May 31, 2024, at approximately 0915 am hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the pens area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Pen #6, #7, 8N and 9N had a sharp and rusted pipe in the area of the water drinker. This finding can cause injury or pain to the animals. According to 9 CFR 313.1 (a) which state “Livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may, in the opinion of the inspector, cause injury or pain to the animals. Loose boards, splintered or broken planking, and unnecessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired” this is a noncompliance. Plant personnel were notified of these noncompliance’s immediately to implement appropriate and effective corrective actions. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action.

313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(3)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at approximately 12:54 pm hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliance: Inside the knocking box, at 12:54 pm a first captive bolt was applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 681) and unconsciousness was not achieved, missed stunned. The cow was moving the head and neck while maintaining reflexes and staying standing inside the knocking box. Establishment personnel removed the used bullet and placed a new one using the same captive bolt, and approximately at 12:55 pm hours applied a second captive bolt rendering on floor, after establishment personnel check for reflexes, unconsciousness was achieved. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the captive bolt was administered at a wrong angle/ineffective. Establishment personnel used the same captive bolt and did not used the second captive bolt. This is linked to previous incident that occurred on May 1, 2024, with NR NCB4112050501N. The corrective action for previous NR’s was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at approximately 10:30 pm hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Inside the knocking box, at 10:30 pm a first captive bolt was applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 419) and unconsciousness was not achieved, missed stunned (wrong angle). The cow was moving the head and neck while maintaining reflexes and staying standing inside the knocking box. Establishment personnel immediately removed the used bullet and placed a new one and firing a shot into the air, immediately removed the bullet and placed a new one and applied a second captive bolt rendering on floor, after establishment personnel double check for reflexes, unconsciousness was achieved. Establishment personnel used the same captive bolt and did not used the second captive bolt. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first captive bolt was administered at a wrong angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incident that occurred on March 14, 2024 with NR NCB0611035014N. The corrective action for previous NR’s was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(a)(3),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 2:16 pm hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Inside the knocking box, at 2:16 pm a first captive bolt was applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 600) and unconsciousness was not achieved, missed stunned. The cow was moving the head and neck while maintaining reflexes and staying standing and moving inside the knocking box, making difficult to apply the second captive bolt. Establishment personnel applied a second captive bolt at 2:19 pm rendering on floor, after establishment personnel double check for reflexes unconsciousness was not achieved. Establishment personnel immediately applied a third captive bolt at 2:20 pm rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that was administered at a wrong angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incidents that occurred on September 28,2023 with NR NCB3910090528N; November 7,2023 with NR NCB3111111507N, December 19,2023 with NR NCB3913122919N, February 15, 2024 with NR NCB5514022415N, March 6, 2024 with NR NCB1514031106N and March 14, 2024 with NR NCB0611035014N. The corrective action for NR NCB3913122919N (12/19/23) was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Thursday, March 14, 2024, at approximately 11:02 am hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 568) and unconsciousness was not achieved, missed stunned. The cow was moving the head and neck while maintaining reflexes and staying standing. Establishment personnel immediately applied a second and effective captive bolt rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first captive bolt was administered at a wrong angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incidents that occurred on September 28,2023 with NR NCB3910090528N; November 7,2023 with NR NCB3111111507N, December 19,2023 with NR NCB3913122919N, February 15, 2024 with NR NCB5514022415N and March 6, 2024 with NR NCB1514031106N. The corrective action for NR NCB3913122919N (12/19/23) was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(3)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at approximately 14:01 pm hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 458) and unconsciousness was not achieved. The cow was moving the head and neck while standing, maintaining reflexes. Establishment personnel immediately applied a second and effective captive bolt rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first captive bolt was administered at a lower angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incidents that occurred on September 28,2023 with NR NCB3910090528N; November 7,2023 with NR NCB3111111507N, December 19,2023 with NR NCB3913122919N and February 15, 2024 with NR NCB5514022415N. The corrective action for NR NCB3913122919N (12/19/23) was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1),313.15(a)(3)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Thursday, February 15, 2024, at approximately 10:31 am hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliances: Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 061) and unconsciousness was not achieved. The cow was moving the head and neck while maintaining reflexes. Establishment personnel immediately applied a second and effective captive bolt rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first captive bolt was administered at a lower angle/ineffective. At approximately 1:48 pm hours; Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 078) and unconsciousness was not achieved. The cow remain standing inside the knocking box, establishment personnel called me to let me know the situation, I saw the situation and I told the establishment personnel to immediately applied a second captive bolt and was effective captive bolt rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first captive bolt was administered at a lower angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incidents that occurred on September 28,2023 with NR NCB3910090528N; November 7,2023 with NR NCB3111111507N and December 19,2023. The corrective action for NR NCB3913122919N was not effective, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Per regulation, “the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy”. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at approximately 0920 hours; while performing Operational Verification Task, EIAO Mrs. REDACTED observed a Humane Handling noncompliance in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. Immediately, Mrs. REDACTED informed me, FSIS CSI REDACTED of the following non-compliance: Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 267) and unconsciousness was not achieved. Establishment personnel immediately applied a second captive bolt rendering with the back-up captive bolt and after that, had to reload the captive bolt to make a third effective captive bolt rendering to complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the first and second captive bolt was administered at an upper angle/ineffective. This is linked to previous incidents that occurred on September 28,2023 with NR NCB3910090528N and November 7,2023 with NR NCB3111111507N. This previous NRs haven’t been responded by the establishment, the situation is recurring and doesn’t have an effective prevention action plan. Mrs. REDACTED (Q.C Manager) was informed of the failure to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1) and the issuance of a noncompliance report.

313.15(a)(3),313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1)

HATS category VIII Humane handling; 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1). On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at approximately 10:56 am hours; while performing Humane Handling Task in the slaughter area at establishment #M7883, Sucesion Jorge Morales, La Muda. I observed the following non-compliance: Inside the knocking box, captive bolt applied by establishment personnel to cow (# 747) and unconsciousness was not achieved. Establishment personnel immediately applied a second, after applying the second one, the head cannot be clearly seen, so the door was opened, where it was confirmed that it was not effective captive bolt, not effective captive bolt, remaining consciousness. Immediately establishment personnel applied a third and not effective captive bolt, remaining consciousness. Immediately establishment personnel applied a fourth and effective captive bolt and rendering complete unconsciousness. The head was removed, skinned for further evaluation. It was evident that the three captive bolt was administered at wrong angle/ineffective. This non-compliance is linked to a previous non-compliance where no corrective action is given until this moment. Per regulation, the stunning area shall be designed and constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow with a high degree of accuracy. The importance of a head restrainer inside the knocking box was discussed and addressed with Establishment management during the last Humane Handling Outreach and Humane Handling Inspection Verification visits by DO DVMS designee.