White Oak Pastures: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 0820 on September 14, 2023, IIC observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the cow into the knock box. The cow was secured in a head catch. A captive bolt was used. The employee at the knock box proceeded to knock the cow with the captive bolt. The cow was not rendered unconscious. The cow kept standing and started to vocalize. Blood was observed coming out of the nose. The employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a second shot to the cow’s head with same captive bolt. The cow dropped but started to vocalize and try to move. The employee took immediate corrective action by grabbing the secondary, a .22 mag rifle, and delivered a shot to the cow’s head rendering it unconscious. A tag was placed on knock box. The tag number is B43383449. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were three points of entry in the cow’s head.

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1:40pm on February 21, 2023, IIC observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the cow into the knock box. The cow was secured in a head catch. The employee attempted to stun the cow with a captive bolt and the cow remained standing, not vocalizing and no blood was observed to be coming out of the head. There was a second captive bolt already ready to use, within arm’s reach, the knocker immediately grabs the second captive bolt and knocks the animal unconscious. There was a third shot when the animal was hoisted up for a security shot. There were 3 holes observed in the head when it was skinned for postmortem inspection . Tag was placed on knock box, but area was released afterwards. Tag number is B43383492. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1).

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1135 on February 2, 2023, IPP observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the cow into the knock box. The cow was secured in a head catch. A captive bolt was used. The employee at the knock box proceeded to knock the cow with the captive bolt. The cow was not rendered unconscious. The cow kept standing and started to vocalize. The employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a second shot to the cow’s head with a .22 mag rifle rendering it unconscious. Tag was placed on knock box, but area was released afterwards. Tag number is B43383489. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were two points of entry in the cow’s head.

313.15(a)(1)

At approximately 1355 on January 18, 2023, IPP observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the cow into the knock box. The cow was secured in a head catch. A captive bolt was used. The employee at the knock box proceeded to knock the cow with the captive bolt. The cow was not rendered unconscious and started to bleed from the nose. The cow slumped over but started to vocalize. The employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a second shot to the cow’s head with a .22 mag rifle rendering it unconscious. Tag was placed on knock box, but area was released afterwards. Tag number is B43383488. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were two points of entry in the cow’s head.

313.16(a)(1)

At approximately 8:00am on December 5, 2022, IIC observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the lamb into the knock box by itself. One employee was holding the lamb against the wall from behind while holding the head as still as possible. A .22 magnum rifle was used. The second employee had the gun, and shot the lamb behind the poll, and between the horns. The lamb was not rendered unconscious and started to bleed from the nose. The lamb was standing but did not vocalize. The first employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a second shot to the lamb’s head rendering it unconscious. Tag was placed on knock box, but area was released afterwards. Tag number is B43383493. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were two points of entry in the lamb’s head. At approximately 9:20am on the same day mentioned above, IIC observed the following humane handling noncompliance. Plant personnel brought the goat into the knock box by itself. First employee attached a rope to the goat’s horn and used the rope to hold the goat in place. A .22 magnum rifle was used. The second employee had the gun, and the goat was shot behind the poll and between the horns. The goat was not rendered unconscious and started to bleed from the nose. The goat was standing and proceeded to vocalize. The second employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a second shot to the goat’s head rendering it unconscious. Tag was placed on knock box, but area was released afterwards. Tag number is B43383493. This noncompliance violates 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were two points of entry in the goat’s head.

313.2

Today, at the time of 7:25am, on 11/28/2022, IPP observed livestock pens and found the following noncompliance. Upon arriving at pen #4, IPP observed 6 cows in the pen with an empty water barrel. This noncompliance falls under regulation 313.2(e) Handling of livestock and states, animals shall have access to water in all holding pens at all times, and if held longer than 24 hours the animals must be provided feed. IPP notified Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED took immediate corrective action by moving cattle to a pen with water and filling barrel up. Mr. REDACTED was notified of the importance of water availability 24/7. Mr. REDACTED designated an employee to check water barrels regularly. No tag was applied as immediate corrective action was taken.

313.15(a)(1)

On Wednesday October 19, 2022, at approximately 1420 hours at White Oak Pastures Establishment 34729, IPP observed a humane handling non-compliance during routine slaughter of cattle. 1 cow, which just happened to be the last cow for the day, was moved into the stunning area. The cow’s head was restrained by the head catch. The employee used a captive bolt to attempt to render the cow unconscious. The first blow to the head did not knock the cow down or render it unconscious. Blood was seen dripping out of the cow’s nose. The cow did not vocalize. A second employee who was viewing took immediate corrective action by delivering a second blow with the captive bolt to the cow’s head and rendered it unconscious. Due to immediate corrective actions, no reject tag was placed on the stunning area and slaughter continued. This non-compliance violates CFR 313.15 (a) (1). On postmortem examination it was confirmed that there were two points of entry into the cow’s skull.