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Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
U.S. Postal Service OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
U.S. Postal Service
Report Number
25-031-R25
Report Description

The U.S. Postal Service has been transporting live, day-old poultry since 1918. “Day-old poultry” is defined as day-old chickens, ducks, emus, geese, guinea birds, partridges, pheasants, quail, and turkeys. As the primary shipper for these time-sensitive shipments, or “lives,” the Postal Service provides an essential service for hatcheries, farmers, feed stores, and backyard hobbyists. Last year, the Postal Service handled over 41 million lives through its air network alone.

To ensure safe, effective, and efficient transportation, the Postal Service requires mailers of live animals to comply with established guidelines. In turn, the Postal Service prioritizes shipment of lives through its processing and logistic networks.

Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
11
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No

Open Recommendations

This report has 9 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
1 Yes $0 $0

Create job positions where the primary responsibility is to oversee regional coordination of the shipping and handling of day-old poultry between internal and external stakeholders.

10 Yes $0 $0

Revise Publication 52 to define when day-old poultry should be disposed of as an injurious item.

11 Yes $0 $0

Along with the Vice President, Delivery Operations; Vice President, Processing Operations; and Vice President, Logistics, develop and provide training to staff on the correct processes for the disposal of day-old poultry.

2 Yes $0 $0

Establish recurring meetings throughout peak shipping season of day-old poultry with the applicable internal and external stakeholders to discuss issues and implement immediate corrective action.

4 Yes $0 $0

Communicate to staff each year the acceptance procedures for day-old poultry prior to the start of peak shipment season.

5 Yes $0 $0

Revise the Handling Lives Workbook and reissue annually, before each peak shipping. At a minimum, revisions to the workbook should include: performing a primary sort by transportation mode; proper bed loading; a limit for stacking packages; following first in, first out methods; and unloading day-old poultry timely from trailers.

7 Yes $0 $0

Revise Publication 52 to require the mailer to include a "deliver by" date, which is 72-hours after hatching, on all packages of day-old poultry.

8 Yes $0 $0

Develop electronic methods to uniquely track shipments of day-old poultry, including shipments that have perished.

9 Yes $0 $0

Develop a process specifically for the processing and handling of missent shipments of day-old poultry.

U.S. Postal Service OIG

United States