Royal Pack LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category V: Suspect and Disabled On April 4, 2024, at approximately 0820, CSI REDACTED was informed by an establishment employee that a steer had become non-ambulatory in the alleyway leading to the knock box. CSI REDACTED went to investigate and observed a laterally recumbent unconscious Angus steer. A second beef was standing on top of the recumbent animal. The standing beef had both front hooves compressing the down steer's body between the abdomen and thorax. Establishment employees backed two other cattle out of the alleyway and then backed the standing animal off the recumbent steer. Within seconds the down steer resumed rhythmic breathing and attempted to right itself. The construction of the alleyway did not allow for the animal to stand, so the non-ambulatory steer was humanely euthanized. CSI REDACTED notified establishment management, took a regulatory control action by placing reject tag B37133038 on the knock box, and contacted SPHV Dr. REDACTED. Dr. REDACTED met with Establishment Management and Quality Control to discuss FSIS expectations regarding non-ambulatory animals and expressed concerns regarding both observation of animals in the alleyway and construction of the alleyway. Establishment management stated they would investigate the cause of the animal becoming non-ambulatory and conduct corrective actions. The reject tag was removed from the knock box. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. According to 9 CFR 313.2(d)(1) Disabled animals and other animals unable to move shall be separated from normal ambulatory animals and placed in the covered pen provided for in 313.1(c). No other noncompliance reports have been issued for a similar root cause. This establishment has not implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling of livestock.