FPL Food LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15(a)(2),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

At approximately 1153, performing HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness at the knock box, a beef cow entered the knock box at a high rate of speed. Plant employees were not able to apply a knock and the cow continued through the knock box onto the slaughter floor. The animal was agitated and slipped and fell as it made its way back to the holding pens. The animal did not appear to be injured due to the excessive excitement and was subsequently put in a pen. Regulatory control action was initiated by applying a USDA Reject tag to the knock box. This is a noncompliance of 9CFR 313.15 (b)(1)(iii) that the stunning area shall be so constructed as to limit the free movements of animals sufficiently to allow the operator to locate the stunning blow as well as noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(2) requiring the driving of the animals to the stunning area to be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Harvest Manager REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance. The US Reject tag was removed after adequate preventive measures were proposed by Harvest Manager REDACTED. The movement of the animals through the restrainer was previously discussed at the weekly meeting held September 5, 2025.

313.2

At approximately 12:30 PM today, while performing AnteMortem Inspection on Lot 2524711 as the cows were coming off the trailer at the unloading bay, the raised back gate of the potbelly trailer came down as a Charlais cow was exiting the trailer and hit her in the middle of her back. The cow did not appear to be injured. The back gate’s rope was not broken – it was not tied securely. I took regulatory control placing a USDA retain/reject tag on the gate from the barn to the knockbox area. This is a noncompliance of 9CFR 313.2 (a) as driving livestock from the unloading ramp to the holding pens shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Supervisors REDACTED and REDACTED were notified of the noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED stated a sign would be put up for the drivers telling them not to unload without FPL barn staff present as a corrective action. I removed the USDA tag from the gate.

313.2

At approximately 0528, while performing antemortem inspection, I found the Fed cattle in pen 23 did not have access to water. The water trough was empty and dry, and there were 35 steers in the pen at the time of my observations. The failure to provide all animals with access to water is noncompliant with regulation 9 CFR 313.2(e). Barn Supervisor REDACTED was notified. He moved the cattle to a pen where they had access to water. Several of the steers immediately began drinking water.