Washington Beef, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

HATS CATEGORY VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at approximately 1045 hours, while at the restrainer performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task, I, the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. The employee operating a handheld captive hold (HHCB) device applied a stun to a black bovine in the restrainer. The captive bolt device discharged, but the bovine remained conscious and calmly looked around with eyes tracking but no vocalization. The stun operator immediately reloaded the HHCB, placed the device in the center of the forehead and applied a second stun which effectively rendered the bovine insensible. A regulatory control action was not taken due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. While following the carcass down the line, I observed a security stun applied at the bleed rail with another HHCB placed in the center of the forehead. Upon inspection of the head at the bleed rail, a penetrating hole in the hide at top of the poll was palpated. At the down puller after the hide was removed, a large penetrating hole in the center of the forehead and a mark on the skull at the pole were observed. The Denver District Management Team were notified through supervisor channels. Establishment management were verbally notified of the forthcoming Noncompliance Record (NR). There are no NRs with same root cause issued within the last 90 days. This establishment operates under a robust systemic approach to humane handling of livestock.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS CATEGORY VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On Monday, December 16, 2024, at approximately 1045 hours, while at the restrainer performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task, I, the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. The employee operating a handheld captive hold (HHCB) device applied a stun to a black bovine in the restrainer. The captive bolt device discharged, a vocalization was heard and the animal looked around and shook its head. The stun operator immediately reloaded the HHCB and applied a second stun which effectively rendered the bovine insensible. A verbal regulatory control action was taken, and the head inspected in the restrainer. One penetrating hole was observed in the forehead. The dressed head was pulled off the line at the head inspection station. Upon further inspection, two holes were visible in the center of the forehead. One did not fully penetrate the cranial cavity. The Denver District Management Team were notified through supervisor channels. Establishment management were verbally notified of the forthcoming Noncompliance Record (NR). This NR is being associated with NR#TQK1817100118N, dated October 18, 2024, for same root cause. The establishment operates under a robust systemic approach to humane handling of livestock.

313.15(a)(1)

HATS CATEGORY VIII – Stunning Effectiveness On Friday, October 18, 2024, at approximately 0920 hours, while at the restrainer performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling task, I, the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. The employee operating a handheld captive hold (HHCB) device applied a stun to a black bovine in the restrainer. The captive bolt device discharged, but the animal remained conscious, vocalizing and shaking its head. The stun operator immediately applied a second stun using a HHCB device which effectively rendered the bovine insensible. A verbal regulatory control action was taken, and the head inspected in the restrainer. Two penetrating holes were observed in the forehead. The dressed head was pulled off the line at the head inspection station. Upon further inspection, one hole sharply angled towards the right eye, entering the sinus, and a second centered hole contacted the brain. The Denver District Management Team were notified through supervisor channels. Establishment management were verbally notified of the forthcoming Noncompliance Record (NR). This NR is being associated with NR#TQK3418093919N1, dated September 19, 2024, for same root cause. The establishment operates under a robust systemic approach to humane handling of livestock.