SEABOARD TRIUMPH FOODS: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.5

At approximately 12:50am, while observing hogs being moved into the gate area immediately prior to the CO2 chamber, Dr. REDACTED observed the following noncompliance with HATS IX, Conscious on the rail. Dr. REDACTED noticed a CO2 alarm (red light) flashing on the panel for that chamber. Asking the barn supervisor nearby what the red alarm indicated, he responded that the CO2 levels were not reading correctly in the chamber. Dr. REDACTED asked how he knew if it was reading wrong, or if they were indeed low in the chamber, he said that he had called maintenance to place a secondary reading device into the chamber to check the levels. They proceeded to do this as Dr. REDACTED and he spoke. Approximately five minutes later, employees working the hanging and bleed out belt immediately below the chamber started to yell to surrounding employees to get the hand-held captive bolt (HHCB) stunning devices. Dr. REDACTED immediately descended the platform to the belt level and observed multiple hogs demonstrating signs of regaining consciousness including reflexive kicking and rhythmic breathing. Dr. REDACTED approached the belt and checked the reflexes on three of the hogs showing movement and observed the following signs of consciousness: non-spontaneous blinking and eye tracking. Multiple employees began stunning animals with captive bolts along the belt and bleed out line. One of the hogs that Dr. REDACTED had observed with signs of consciousness was missed by the employees. Dr. REDACTED drew attention to the animal by calling for employees and pointing to the hog. An employee tried to stun the animal three times, but his captive bolt did not discharge. He called a second employee over to stun the animal with a second HHCB. The animal was gasping, blinking, and tracking movement with its eyes until it was stunned. Dr. REDACTED checked all the animals to ensure they were stunned. Dr. REDACTED instructed a CSI to tag the two alleyways/chutes entering the two CO2 chambers with the U.S. Reject tag NO B36821898 and B36821896. Dr. REDACTED verbally informed Operations Manager REDACTED and barn superintendent REDACTED of her observations and the establishment's failure to meet the requirements of 9 CFR 313.5(a)(3). Dr. REDACTED notified establishment management she would be contacting the Des Moines district office through supervisory channels for further guidance regarding possible enforcement action.