CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec

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enforCement of federal laW in u.s. Plants
said, “I will just stick it.” I told him he needed to stun the animal again first
before doing that. I brushed my hand in front of the cow’s face… and it was
looking around and winking. 115
The establishment stunned a beef that returned to sensibility after it was hung.
The beef cow was bawling, attempting to right itself on the chain, the eyes were
blinking rhythmically, breathing was rhythmic and was gasping for air. The
establishment employee continued to stick the beef, attempting to bleed the animal.
The establishment did not attempt adequate measures to rectify the situation. 116
Effective stunning
Federal regulations governing each approved stunning method (mechanical captive bolt,
mechanical gunshot, electrical and chemical) require that the method be administered
in a manner that renders the animal unconscious “with a minimum of excitement and
discomfort.” 117 In the case of captive bolt use, the regulations require that the stunner
be applied “so as to produce immediate unconsciousness,” and in the case of gunshot,
the regulations require that the firearm be employed in such a manner that produces
“immediate unconsciousness in the animal by a single shot.” Following are examples
from federal NRs of failure to effectively stun animals on the first attempt:
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While the District Veterinary Medical Specialist was performing a humane
slaughter verification he observed that the stunner placement appeared correct
and the stunner discharged but failed to render the animal unconscious.
This was repeated two more times and the animal was still not completely
unconscious. Before a fourth attempt he stopped the employee and notified the
foreman who then stunned the animal with a firearm. 118
Carcass 362 had a knocking bolt mark in the side of the head near the ear …;
carcasses 441 and 482 had knocking marks that glanced off the front of the head
and penetrated the muscles of the neck. 119
I observed [plant employee] while he electrically stunned a pig prior to sticking.
Although the animal fell to the ground after the electrical current was applied, the
presence of the following clinical signs was observed prior to and immediately
after sticking and prior to shackling and hoisting: animal exhibited an arched
back righting reflex, animal attempted to raise head, vocalization (squealing) was
heard, rhythmic breathing was also noted, blinking of eyes was also noted. 120
I observed the knocking of a bull. The first captive bolt stun did not render the
animal totally unconscious and the operator proceeded to use 5 more tries
before obtaining the desired result of unconsciousness. 121
115 NR issued to plant #04625M on October 20, 2003.
116 NR issued to plant #19169M on March 17, 2003.
117 9 CFR 313.5(a), 313.15(a), 313.16(a), 313.30(a).
118 NR issued to plant #10114M on October 23, 2003.
119 NR issued to plant #00245CM on September 20, 2003.
120 NR issued to plant #09542M on November 4, 2002.
121 NR issued to plant #02439M on March 12, 2003.
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