JBS Tolleson Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category III Ante-Mortem Inspection On 08/25/2025 at approximately 0510 hours while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection on cattle from pen 41 (south side) I noted the following regulatory non-compliance: While the animals were being presented from pen 41 for my inspection, I observed that the water trough was empty. The trough was completely dry and there was a total of 37 animals being housed in the pen. I immediately took regulatory control action and requested that the employee remove the cattle and place them in a pen where water was available. In addition, I requested the documentation that notated the arrival time of the cattle. The documentation stated that the cattle had arrived at 0050 hours. I placed U.S. Reject Tag B45590004 on the pen. I showed REDACTED (Cattle Pen Supervisor) my findings and informed him that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The establishment failed to meet the requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(e) that requires that water is available to livestock in all holding pens.

313.2

HATS Category III Ante-Mortem Inspection On 5/08/2025 on two separate occasions while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection, I noted the following regulatory non-compliance: At approximately 1257 hours while cattle (32 steers) from pen #40 were presented for my inspection, I observed that the water trough was completely empty and dry. The water trough supplies drinking water to the adjacent Pen #39 which contained 32 steers. I informed REDACTED (Cattle Pen Animal Handler), REDACTED (Yards Supervisor), and REDACTED (Harvest Superintendent) of my findings and the cattle were moved to a pen with accessible water. At approximately 1312 hours the water level in the water troughs that supply drinking water to pens #21 and Pen #10 was approximately 1⁄2 inch from the bottom of the trough. There were 30 animals in Pen #21 and 31 animals in Pen #10 animals observed licking, slurping, and struggling to obtain a drink of water from the bottom of the trough. I again informed REDACTED (Harvest Superintendent) and REDACTED (Yards Supervisor) of my findings that there was no drinking water readily available for the animals and the cattle were moved to a pen with accessible water. Both Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED were notified that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The establishment failed to meet the requirement of 9 CFR 313.2(e) that requires that drinking water be made available to livestock in all holding pens.

313.15(a)(1)

HATs Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness At 1350 hrs on 1/29/25 while observing for stunning effectiveness from a vantage point of standing on the mezzanine level above the knock box and knock box operator I observed the following non-compliance: I noted as the front end of an adult jersey cow (House Number 1588) entered the restrainer. The animal repeatedly kept moving its head from one side to the other. The operator delivered a captive bolt knock as the animal was still moving its head. The knock was delivered to an area on the midline of the frontal bone but out of the target zone as it was too close to the tip of the nose (at the level of the medial canthus of the eyes). From my vantage point I could see that the knock was out of the target zone, that it had created a wound (blood was oozing from the knock hole) and that the animal had not been rendered unconscious. as the animal was still alert, tracking its surroundings with its eyes and still moving its head. The operator (REDACTED) waited for the animal’s head to stop moving and after a few seconds passed delivered a second stun to the middle of the target zone on the forehead. In response to the second stun the animal was rendered unconscious as it was no longer alert, tracking with its eyes, nor moving its head. I immediately informed REDACTED (Harvest Superintendent) and REDACTED (Harvest Floor Manager) of the finding and that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. Subsequently the head was examined and the presence of two knock holes were confirmed; one into the frontal bone at the level of the medial canthus of the eyes which would not be expected to yield an effective stun and the other in the center of the top of the forehead within the desired target zone. That the establishment failed to render the animal unconscious with a single captive bolt stun and with a minimum of excitement and discomfort represents non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).

313.1

HATS Category IV Ante-Mortem Inspection On 11/27/2024 at approximately 0755 hrs while performing Ante Mortem Livestock Inspection on cattle on the north side of the holding pens, I observed the following regulatory non-compliance: I noted two holes representing deterioration/corrosion of the metal piping that supports the feed trough in pen #5. Each of holes was around 4-5 inches in diameter and was surrounded by rusty edges. The margins of deteriorated piping on one of the holes had sharp edges which could cause injury/pain to an animal if they brushed up against the edges. The metal feeding trough also had an area of corrosion which created a gap in the trough approximately 5 inches in length. I placed U.S. Reject Tag B-46618825 on the gate of holding pen #5 so that it would not be used to hold animals until the sharp metal edges within the piping were repaired. I showed the above findings to REDACTED (Cattle Pen Supervisor) and informed him that a non-compliance record (NR) would be issued. The establishment failed to meet the requirements of 9 CFR 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 cause injury or pain to the animals.”