Creston Valley Meats: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Creston Valley Meats slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.2
HATS Category III - Water and Feed Availability (9 CFR 313.2) While performing a Humane Handling Verification Task of HATS Category III, Water and Feed Availability, on 7/25/2022 at approximately 0955 hours, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, and CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: IPP observed one steer in the establishment’s main holding pen leading to the knock box that did not have access to water. I informed both Slaughter Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, and Plant Manager, Mr. REDACTED, that water should be accessible to livestock in all holding pens to be in accordance with 9 CFR 313.2(e). Mr. REDACTED immediately filled the small water trough attached to the pen with water in the main holding pen. I informed Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance and verbally stated that I would be writing a noncompliance to document my findings.
313.15(a)(1)
On 6/15/2023 at approximately 1145 hours, Consumer Safety Inspector, REDACTED, observed the following while performing a Humane Handling Task and verifying HATS Category VIII, stunning for Est. 22095, Creston Valley Meats: CSI REDACTED observed Slaughter Floor Employee, Mr. REDACTED, lean over the knock box railing and proceeded to attempt to stun a heifer. As Mr. REDACTED attempted to stun the heifer, the animal quickly moved its head up and to the side causing the captive bolt trigger to release and contact the heifer above the left temporal region. The heifer remained standing without any vocalization or sporadic movement. Mr. REDACTED immediately reloaded the captive bolt and executed a secondary stun in approximately 10 seconds. The secondary stun with the captive bolt successfully rendered the heifer unconscious. Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, walked onto the slaughter floor after hearing a second stun attempt with the captive bolt from the USDA office. When Dr. REDACTED walked onto the slaughter floor at approximately 1146 hours, the heifer was unconscious and in the process of exsanguination. After CSI REDACTED and Dr. REDACTED discussed the incident, IPP immediately placed a USDA Reject tag (#B0076673) on the knock box. IPP then notified Establishment Plant Manager, Mr. REDACTED, Slaughter Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, and Mr. REDACTED of the concerns. In observation of the heifer’s skull after skinning, IPP observed that there were two holes in the skull. One hole which was noted in the upper left temporal region of the skull which had complete penetration through the skull and the second hole which was noted in the center of the skull above the eyes. After observing the skull, IPP immediately called acting FLS, Dr. REDACTED to discuss the concerns. After satisfactory corrective actions were proffered, the knock box was released at 1430 hours.
313.1
On Monday, June 5, 2023, at approximately 0800 hours while performing a routine Livestock Humane Handling verification task for HATs category II, Truck Unloading, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, observed the following noncompliance: IPP observed two metal sheets along the west side of the chute leading to the knock box were detaching from the railing. The loose metal sheets contained multiple sharp points that could lead to potential animal injury. IPP immediately notified Slaughter Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, about the concerns and explained that the holding pen, chute, and ramp should be kept in good repair. Mr. REDACTED immediately closed off the gate entrance from the holding pen to the knock box to ensure no animals contacted the affected regions. Mr. REDACTED and establishment employee, Mr. REDACTED, immediately secured the metal sheets by welding the affected regions. No USDA rejected tags were applied due to the establishment immediately taking corrective actions by repairing the affected area. IPP notified Mr. REDACTED, Establishment Owner, that the finding is noncompliant with Title 9 CFR 313.1(a) and the forthcoming noncompliance.
313.15(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII On 2/17/2023 at approximately 0746 hours, I, Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, and Consumer Safety Inspector, REDACTED observed the following while performing a Humane Handling Task and verifying HATS Category VIII, stunning. Dr. REDACTED observed Slaughter Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, lean over the knock box railing and proceeded to attempt to stun a steer. As Mr. REDACTED attempted to stun the steer, the animal quickly moved its head up and to the side causing the captive bolt trigger to release and contact the steer above the right temporal region. The steer immediately collapsed on its brisket and was observed attempting to stand, moving his head quickly from side to side, and vocalizing. The first attempt at stunning the steer did not render the animal unconscious. Mr. REDACTED reloaded the captive bolt in approximately 2 seconds but took approximately 26 seconds to execute a secondary stun due to the steer moving his head around low to the ground. The secondary stun with the captive bolt successfully rendered the steer unconscious. After the successful secondary stun, IPP immediately placed a USDA Reject tag (#B0076857) on the knock box. IPP then notified Establishment Plant Manager, Mr. REDACTED, and Mr. REDACTED, that this is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). In observation of the steer’s skull after skinning, Dr. REDACTED observed that there were two holes in the skull. One hole which was noted in the upper right temporal region of the skull which had complete penetration through the skull and the second hole which was noted in the center of the skull. After observing the skull, IPP immediately called acting FLS, Dr. REDACTED to discuss the concerns. After satisfactory corrective actions were proffered, the knock box was released at 1155 hours.
313.15(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 11/28/2022 at approximately 1415 hours, I, Consumer Safety Inspector, REDACTED observed the following while performing a Humane Handling Task and verifying HATS Category VIII, stunning. CSI REDACTED proceeded to the stun box to observe Slaughter Floor Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, stun a steer. Mr. REDACTED, leaned over the knock box railing and proceeded to stun the steer. After the first stun with the captive bolt, the animal remained conscious, standing moving around and was observed to have blood coming from the forehead. Mr. REDACTED quickly reloaded the captive bolt gun and with assists from slaughter floor employee REDACTED, executed a secondary stun which then the animal was rendered unconscious and fell on its side. IPP notified Establishment Plant Administrator, Mr. REDACTED, and Mr. REDACTED, that this is noncompliant with 9 CFR313.15(a)(1) and a noncompliance would be issued. In observation of the steers skull after skinning, IPP observed that there were two holes in the skull. One hole which was noted in the center between the eyes and the second hole between the top of the eyes and middle of the ears on the skull.
