Western Valley Meat Company: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Western Valley Meat Company slaughterhouse establishment in 2024.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2024.
313.2
On Saturday March 30, 2024, at approximately 1412 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task, I CSI REDACTED observed a noncompliance with 9CFR 313.3(e). Cattle held in feedlot pen 1 and feedlot pen 2 did not have access to water; the water trough between these two pens did not have any water available for the animals. I immediately informed REDACTED (Yard Supervisor) and inform her of my observations. Yard employee arrived at 1428 hours, turned on valve and filled trough with water for cattle. Water valve was shut off but in working conditions. Yard Supervisor REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance. Twenty-seven (27) cattle in feedlot pen 1 and Twenty-two (22) cattle in Feedlot pen 2. The incident above is a noncompliance with 9CFR 313.2(e) “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens...”
313.15(a)(1)
HATS VIII: Stunning Effectiveness: On 3/5/24 at approximately 1347 hours, CSI REDACTED CSI REDACTED CSI REDACTED and I (CSI REDACTED while walking through the establishment’s side door directly leading into the stunning and shackling area, I observed the following noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). I observed a large gap in dairy cattle as we were walking through, and I looked to my left where I observed two jersey cows that had their shackles intertwined on the green conveyor belt immediately located past the knocking area. The cows were shackled but not hoisted, and the green conveyor transfer belt had been stopped. One of the jerseys was on its back with its rear end facing where I was standing and I observed the animal rhythmically breathing. CSI REDACTED immediately entered the knocking area to further verify stunning effectiveness and the potential consciousness of the animal in question. CSI REDACTED touched the eye of jersey, and closing of eye was observed. An establishment employee present and Slaughter Manager REDACTED approached the area and was notified that there were signs of potential consciousness of the jersey cow in question. The employee responsible for knocking of cattle was informed and he immediately used a handheld captive bolt, and produced an effective penetrative knock that rendered the jersey cow unconscious. US Rejected tag B-45650356 was placed in the stunning area at approximately 1350 hours and was removed on 3/6/24 at approximately 0725 hours after verification of additional facility adjustments. Corral Manager REDACTED was informed of the forthcoming non-compliance at approximately 1350 hours on March 5, 2024. The failure of the first stunning knock to produce an immediate unconsciousness is a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).
