USA Pork Packers Inc: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.2,313.30(a)(4),313.30(a)(1)

At approximately 2:45 pm on September 10, 2024, I was standing near the stunning box and shackle/bleed line, watching the establishment employees stun a market hog. The hog was stunned using an electric stunner behind the ears (head) and also one behind the right elbow area (chest) per their usual protocol. This caused an effective stun, evidenced by the collapse of the animal. The hog was then rolled out onto a stainless-steel platform, a shackle was placed on the right rear leg, the animal was lifted onto the motorized line, switched to the gravity line, and headed toward the next employee that makes the cut for bleeding the animal. During that time, the hog showed no signs of consciousness. While on the way to the bleeding area, the hog stopped behind a lineup of several other unconscious hogs on the line. At this time, before being cut, the hog showed clonic/ tonic convulsions. The shackle came off the line and the hog fell approximately 4 1⁄2 feet to the platform below, landing on it’s back. The hog had several more convulsions while still on its back, and then quickly righted itself onto its sternum. The hog then jumped up and ran across the platform approximately 10-15 feet in total. An employee was able to reach the hog with the same electric stunner and performed an effective head stun to the hog behind the ears. After this effective stun, the hog was then bled out. I then informed the employees that this was a noncompliance with 313.30(a)(1), 313.30(a)(4), and 313.2(f) and there should be no more stunning. I also went around the corner and saw REDACTED maintenance worker, and asked him to also help explain that the slaughter was to immediately stop. USDA manila tags were placed at the stunning box, the lane going into the box, and at the employee entrance to the stunning area. The following tags were used: No. B-45 592574, NO. B-45 592575, No B-45 592573. I notified Plant Manager REDACTED Jr. of the noncompliance. This establishment did previously have a Robust Written Systematic Approach to Humane Handling. District Management was contacted to report the noncompliance, and a Notice of Suspension was issued.