Iowa Premium in Tama on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. News-Herald/John Speer

Alleged “botched stunning incidents” in the killing of five steers at Iowa Premium in Tama have resulted in a call from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for Tama Police Chief Jason Bina to investigate.

Colin Henstock, identified as a PETA investigations specialist, claims in a letter to Bina sent on Tuesday, Sept. 11, the supervisory public health veterinarian observed the process.

Incidents were reported by PETA on May 10, and August 1, 7 and 8 in which Henstock says “an ineffective stun of a steer using the hand-held captive bolt gun” occurred.

“These disturbing revelations show that this steer-if not four others-suffered a prolonged, agonizing death at Iowa Premium,” PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch said in a news release. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of all cows who suffered at this facility and the members of the public who care about them.”

The PETA release calls upon Police Chief Bina “to investigate the slaughterhouse and, as appropriate, file criminal cruelty-to-animal charges against the facility and the workers responsible for the botched stunning incidents…”

Bina confirmed to The News-Herald he had received an email on Tuesday from PETA making the investigation request. He said he forwarded it to the office of Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren for possible direction on the matter.

Iowa Premium did not return a request for comment before News-Herald deadline on Wednesday.

Iowa Premium employs more than 850 at the Tama been plant and has been in operation here since October, 2014.

The plant first opened in 1972 and operated under various ownership until then-owner IBP closed it at the end of 1999. The plant was shut down for a time then reopened again in 2001 under Valley Pride, a Wisconsin-based company which closed operations in about a year. Iowa Cattlemen also opened and then closed the plant after baout one and one-half years. It then sat idle from about 2004-14.