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

313.1

On 7/11/2025, at approximately 1:10pm, SPHV Dr. REDACTED observed the following non-compliance while monitoring HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls: A dairy cow lame on the front right limb was calmly walking down the trailer. She hesitated to step off the trailer and then was encouraged by the driver to step down. The right front hoof reached the ground landing toe only and slipped under her. She made a few paddle steps to try and regain traction but ended up going down completely. The establishment barn employee, REDACTED, had been observing from the side. REDACTED and the driver were able to get the cow to stand back up within 30 seconds; she appeared unharmed. The whole trailer consisted of a layer of feces at least 1 inch deep; the ramp was slick from recent rain, and the cow stepped down onto the non-slatted portion of the ramp initially but used the slatted portion to try to recover prior to falling. The condition of the trailer floor and unloading ramp conditions are in violation of CFR 313.1(b). US Reject tag B15260755 was applied to the unloading area. Dr. REDACTED informed REDACTED of the pending NR.

313.2

On 5/29/2025 at approximately 10:50am, SPHV Dr. REDACTED while observing HATS Category VII- Slips and Falls noted a noncompliance when a calf slipped and fell. Initially, two medium sized calves entered the alley, they got turned around and then returned to the holding pen. One calf was then sent up the alley alone with an employee behind her and another employee alongside her outside the alley to help prevent turning. She paused approximately halfway up the alley. The employee behind her used a rattle paddle to apply pressure via a tap to her right hind leg while the employee alongside created noise against the alley paneling. The calf sprung forward quickly and proceeded to slip and fall at the point where the alley turns and shavings are no longer used for footing (traction bars are present on the floor in this area but were non-effective). The fall was such that her right front foot went out and away, her front end went down to the ground with the left knee buckling, back legs splayed mildly and hind end lowered considerably, but then she was able to regain her footing. No vocalization or injuries were noted. Barn manager REDACTED was notified of the pending noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.1(b). An immediate corrective action of adding shavings to the slick area of the floor was applied prior to allowing the remaining two calves to enter the alley. No further slips were noted.

313.1

On 3/7/25, CSI REDACTED witnessed a downed cow on the ramp of Pen 1 outside of the barn. The cow had slipped while offloading from the trailer. The time of this observation was at 1:40PM and falls under HATS Category VII - Slips and Falls. It was observed that the trailer had excessive amounts of wet fecal matter on the floor. The establishment barn employee, REDACTED, informed CSI REDACTED that the cow had slipped off the edge of the trailer. The slip mark could be observed on the edge of the trailer, which consisted of a layer of feces about 1 inch deep. The condition of the trailer floor leading to a slip was in violation of CFR 313.1(b) which states, " (f)loors of livestock pens, ramps, and driveways shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide good footing for livestock. Slip resistant or waffled floor surfaces, cleated ramps and the use of sand, as appropriate, during winter months are examples of acceptable construction and maintenance." The cow persisted to be down with increased breathing and right legs extended. Initial attempts to get the cow to rise were unsuccessful. After informing SPHV Dr. REDACTED, the cow had rested approximately 5 minutes. CSI REDACTED and SPHV REDACTED then observed the following: Additional personnel were brought to the barn to assist with applying dying agent to the ramp as a corrective action, and then they repositioned the cow. The electric prod was applied one time for 2 seconds, and the cow got up. REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance.