JMF Slaughter (Mobile Unit): Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 Q2 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

On 2/19/25 at approximately 0728 I Dr. REDACTED, SPHV and CSI REDACTED witnessed the following noncompliance while performing HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness. A steer was loaded into the knock box and the stunner, Mr. REDACTED, placed a loaded handheld captive bolt gun against its forehead and fired. The steer remained standing and was swinging its head around in circles. Mr. REDACTED immediately grabbed the loaded backup handheld captive bolt gun behind him and applied a second stun which was effective in rendering the animal unconscious. After was bled, I examined the head with Mr. REDACTED. We observed two distinct holes in the hide of the forehead. After skinning the skull, we noted one hole centered in the forehead that penetrated fully into the cranium. The other hole (approximately 1 cm cranial) was shallow and merely dented the skull. I notified Mr. REDACTED, plant owner, about the incident. I told him I would be taking regulatory control action and no more stunning could occur. In accordance with 9 CFR 313.50 (c), CSI REDACTED applied U.S Reject Tag NO. B-46 022087 on the knock box. Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED noted that the cartridges for the captive bolt gun failed to discharge properly. They replaced all parts of the captive bolt gun (rod, bumpers, washers) and obtained a new box of cartridges. They fired three practice shots into a cow skull and determined that the captive bolt gun and cartridges were working appropriately. The knock box was released at 0757. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15 (a).