University of Arizona Food Products & Safety Lab: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.2

CSI REDACTED observed a Humane Handling noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at approximately 1245 hours while performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task. At approximately 1245, I observed two swine be unloaded from a trailer and placed into a pen. After the swine were secured in the pen, I reached into the adjacent swine pen to make sure the hog nipple waterer was working. The water coming from the nipple waterer was considerably hot to the touch, so that I could not consistently hold the valve due to the water's heat. I entered the establishment and spoke with Plant Manager REDACTED about my concerns with the water temperature in the swine pen. I was informed that the establishment typically runs the water until it is cool whenever swine arrive. However, today the swine arrived without the establishment's knowledge, which was why the procedure did not occur. I asked Mr. REDACTED how often the water is checked to verify that it is not too hot for the swine to drink. Mr. REDACTED stated that he would check it before he leaves for the day. At approximately 1420 I returned to the swine pen, reached into the pen containing two pigs, and pushed on the hog nipple waterer. Again, the water coming from the nipple waterer was considerably hot to the touch, so that I could not consistently hold the valve due to the water's heat. I asked Mr. REDACTED if we could use a thermometer to check the temperature of the water coming from the nipple waterer. The thermometer showed the water temperature at approximately 120°F. The outside temperature was approximately 103°F. The hog nipple waterers were in direct sunlight. I rejected three hog pens with U.S. tags B45962172, B45644816, and B45644815 and notified Plant Manager REDACTED of the Humane Handling noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e). Mr. REDACTED moved the pigs to a different pen (typically used to hold lambs) and he provided the pigs with a bucket of water.