Aurora Packing Company, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.2

At 6:45am, on 05/09/2025, I, SPHV Dr. REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance while conducting HATS Task Category III - Water and Feed Availability (9 CFR 313.2(e)). I was walking through the barns at the start of operations, and observed 16 heifers being held in the scale area with no water access. This area is not an official holding pen, and does not have an automatic waterer. I looked for the large black totes the establishment uses in emergency situations, and there was not one placed in the pen to provide water to the animals. I called barns supervisor REDACTED to the area to show him my observation, and I informed him of the forth coming noncompliance. The heifers were still in good condition, they were all standing and alert. The weather outside was not severe, and approximately 50 degrees at the time of the noncompliance observation. The immediate corrective action was to move the heifers to another pen. I had the establishment relocate the heifers to a larger pen with 2 automatic waterers to increase bunk space and water availability. Once the heifers were moved to the larger pen with water access, all 16 heifers immediately started consuming water at a fast rate. After the heifers were given appropriate water access, I confirmed with the scale documentation that the 16 heifers had arrived at 2:48 PM the day prior, 05/08/2025. The establishment has failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(e) - Handling of Livestock. Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie die. Further preventative measures will be provided in formal response to this noncompliance.

313.1

Dr. REDACTED, the district humane handling specialist was performing verification activities for humane handling at about 1100. The date of this inspection was November 19th 2024 .I, Dr. REDACTED the IIC for this Aurora Packing company accompaneed Dr. REDACTED. REDACTED found one gate for the livestock scale, one gate for the pen # 10 and one gate for the unloading metal door with holes and sharp edges. Cattle may be injured when going through these gates. This was a deficiency of the 9CFR 313.1(a), which states, " 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" No non-compliance was documented for this deficiency in the last 90 days. This document serves as a written notification that your failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action. REDACTED, the livestock yards supervisor was notified of this non-compliance.