AUSTIN, Minn. — The USDA has launched an investigation into one of the nation’s largest pork plants following revelations from an undercover video showing pigs being dragged across the slaughterhouse floor, beaten by paddles and sick to the point of apparent unconsciousness.

Pigs are supposed to be rendered unconscious before being killed, according to federal law. But in the secretly recorded videos, many are shown writhing on the "kill" floor in apparent pain while bleeding out, indicating they may have not been properly stunned, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Compassion Over Killing (COK), an animal rights group responsible for the videos.

"If the USDA is around, they could shut us down," one worker is heard saying on the video, wearing a bright yellow apron and standing over the production line.

The series of videos shows scenes shot earlier this year by the animal rights group from the killing floor at an Austin, Minn., facility run by Quality Pork Processors (QPP), a supplier of Hormel’s Spam and other popular processed meats. Scenes from the plant also appear to show various conditions of sick pigs, some suffering from pus-filled abscesses as they are sent down the "kill" line, and views of the animals covered with feces.

A 97-minute graphic video, available on YouTube in an edited form, was recorded covertly by a contracted employee from the nonprofit animal rights group. "The actions depicted in the video under review are completely unacceptable, and if we can verify the video’s authenticity, we will aggressively investigate the case and take appropriate action," the USDA said in a statement.

It’s the practice of the USDA to have inspectors on all U.S. meat plant sites, a requirement in order for the plants to get a federal seal of inspection. The USDA said though federal inspectors would have been at the plant, the actions depicted in the video may have occurred in a part of the plant that was apparently out of their view.

"Had these actions been observed by the inspectors, they would have resulted in immediate regulatory actions against the plant," it stated.

The Minnesota slaughterhouse is one of five in the country operating under a USDA pilot program known as HIMP that allows for high-speed slaughter and reduced government oversight, according to COK. "This means this facility may operate faster line speeds than almost any other facility in the U.S., killing approximately 1,300 hogs each hour," the COK stated.

QPP Human Resources Vice President Nate Jansen said, "We have strict policies around the humane treatment of animals – it’s a priority."

The Associated Press reported an employee shown paddling pigs has been disqualified from working in the livestock area of the plant, and two other employees were also disciplined for horseplay for throwing what appeared to be a blood clot or blood-soaked paper towel, said Jansen. He declined to say what that discipline involved.

In addition to the YouTube video, COK said it has turned over "many hours" of raw videos to the USDA and to local authorities asking officials to investigate animal abuse charges. QPP, after viewing both the edited and unedited versions, said the edited videos makes it look as there were violations when, in fact, there were none.

On the COK website, the group claims its videos document a long series of mistreatment abuses: "Animals being beaten, shocked, dragged and improperly stunned – all out of view by a few government inspectors; sick and injured pigs unable to walk, known as ‘downers’ enduring particularly egregious abuses since they cannot walk to the kill floor; numerous instances of improper stunning and slaughter, potentially leading to some animals entering the scalding tank while still alive; and a supervisor sleeping on the job when he should have been overseeing the stunning process."

The COK rejected claims by Hormel and others that its video editing distorted the YouTube version. "Our video speaks for itself," said Erica Meier, executive director of COK. "We’ve documented excessive beating, shocking, improper stunning and dragging of animals."

The AP reported QPP said it implemented additional corrective measures that Hormel demanded in a letter Thursday, according to Jansen. They include retraining of all employees on proper animal handling and conduct, stepped-up video monitoring and surprise audits, stationing humane handling officers to observe all animal handling and a confidential hotline for employees to report any actions that violate animal care standards.

Jansen said QPP will report publicly on its progress in 30 days.