Huse's Processing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HAT Category VIII – Effective Stun 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) I, Dr. REDACTED, audibly heard an ineffective stun on a boar, the second porcine stunned, around 10:22am with a long-barreled rifle on 5/2/2025 while performing other FSIS duties in the adjacent room. After the first gun shot was heard, I could clearly hear multiple vocalizations before a second gun short was heard. The second gunshot resulted in an immediate stun and was performed stunned by a second stun with a secondary rifle, kept right next to the knocking box, becoming immediately unconscious falling onto the floor and not responding to any stimuli. The second was performed in quick secession before I could reach the knock box. The boar remained unconscious through bleeding. A 308 caliber rifle was used for both the first and second stun. Establishment M13445 has a robust humane handling program in place. During the ineffective stun their program was followed allowing for the immediate second stun and ultimate complete unconsciousness of the animal. REDACTED, the Plant manager, is not on location currently. REDACTED, the slaughter floor manager was the person who performed the stun on the boar. No Retain tag was placed due to the ineffective stun being deemed as non-egregious.

313.2

HATS CATEGORY I: INCLEMENT WEATHER and III: WATER / FEED AVAILABILITY - 9CFR 313.2(e) On January 21, 2025, at approximately 0700 hours, While, performing a Humane Handling task, at Est. 13445, Dr. REDACTED, and myself CSI, REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. There was no access to water in pen five that had three pigs due to the watering spigot being broken and no water trough. Also, pen one containing two steers had no access to water due to water being frozen, that striking it with a heavy metal object serval times did not crack the ice. Dr. REDACTED notified REDACTED, the plant manager, and REDACTED, the slaughter manager of the findings and that a NR will be written. This is associated with NR AB1008012306N on January 6, 2025, Both, being Humane Handling noncompliance due to the pigs housed in pen 5 having no water. At this time, plant employees have given water access to all animals.

313.2

HATS Category III - Water Availability (9 CFR 313.2(e)) Today, 1/6/2025, at approximately 7:50am while preforming a humane handling task for water and feed availability and inclement weather I, Dr. REDACTED, observed the following non compliance at establishment 13445, Huse's Country Meats Malone, Tx. Pen 4b's water trough was completely dry with no access to water for the 1 pig that was being housed in it. Pen 5 housed 1 pig and did not contain a water trough and the suckle water pipe was frozen solid to the point I could not break it free with my hand. REDACTED was immediately notified that these pens did not have water access and that an NR would be written and that this needed to be resolved as quickly as possible.

313.15(a)(1)

HAT Category VIII – Effective Stun 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) CSI REDACTED and I, Dr. REDACTED witnessed an ineffective stun on a heifer, the fifth bovine stunned, around 11:52am with a hand held captive bolt on 12/31/2024 while preforming a humane handling task. The heifer was still standing and breathing normally with a nose bleed after the ineffective stun. The heifer was then immediately effectively stunned by a second stun with a rifle, kept right next to the knocking box, becoming immediately unconscious falling onto the floor and not responding to any stimuli. The heifer remained unconscious through bleeding. There was evidence on the heifers skull that the ineffective stun did make contact with the skull. The knock box was tagged until proper corrective actions were received from the plant. REDACTED was immediately notified of the event and the hand stunner was placed in her office until a thorough re-evaluation of the hand stunner could be completed. REDACTED notified me at 12:45pm that the employees were retrained on proper stunning techniques and maintenance on the stunning devices. Retain/Reject tag NO. B41475044 was placed on the knocking box at 11:57 am. The Reject tag was removed at 12:50pm after the establishment notified me of the corrective actions that were taken above.