Yosemite Valley Beef Packing Co., Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1317 hours while verifying HATS Category VIII, Stunning Effectiveness at the restrainer, I, CSI, REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: As I was standing near the cattle restrainer, I observed an establishment employee, Mr. REDACTED, driving a beef cow into the knock box and closing the entrance. Once inside, a different establishment employee, Mr. REDACTED, begins to utilize the head restraint and chin lift, Mr. REDACTED proceeds to stun the beef cow with the pneumatic captive bolt gun, resulting in an ineffective stun. Mr. REDACTED did not check for signs of consciousness and only looked at the ear tag number. Mr. REDACTED observed that the animal was still conscious and opened the restrainer to have better access for the second stun attempt. I observed the beef cow consciously eye tracking, vocalizing, and rhythmically breathing once dropped from the restrainer. Mr. REDACTED, another plant employee, immediately applied a second effective stun with a handheld captive bolt gun, rendering the beef cow unconscious. QC manager, Mr. REDACTED, was immediately informed of the forthcoming noncompliance and provided immediate sufficient verbal corrective actions and preventive measures. This is a regulatory noncompliance per 9 CFR 313.15 (a) as they failed to “produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.”

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1010 hours while verifying HATS Category VIII, Stunning Effectiveness at the restrainer, I, Dr. REDACTED, DVMO, and SCSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: As we were standing near the cattle restrainer, we observed Mr. REDACTED, Establishment Stunner, driving a beef cow into the cattle restrainer. Once inside and the head restraint/chin lift utilized, he proceeded to stun the beef cow with the pneumatic captive bolt gun, resulting in an ineffective stun. Mr. REDACTED checked for signs of consciousness and observed the animal was still sensible. The beef cow remained standing, eye tracking, blinking, and breathing. He immediately applied a second effective stun with the pneumatic captive bolt gun, rendering the beef cow unconscious. QC Manager Mr. REDACTED was immediately informed of the forthcoming noncompliance and provided sufficient verbal corrective actions and preventive measures. This is a regulatory noncompliance per 9 CFR 313.15 (a) as they failed to, “produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.”