Pohlmans Meat Processing Plant: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 Q2 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1)

On January 14, 2025, at approximately 8:00 AM while performing a HATS Category VIII task for stunning effectiveness at Pohlman's Meat Processing (Est.M6961+V6961), I, Dr. REDACTED, District Veterinary Medical Officer (DVMO), observed a noncompliance issue as follows: A steer was placed in the knock box without its head being restrained. The animal was constantly moving its head while Mr. REDACTED, the owner, attempted to apply the captive bolt device. When the animal briefly stopped moving, Mr. REDACTED used a penetrating handheld captive bolt device (HHCB) to stun the steer. Although the bolt made contact with the head as evidenced by a bloody wound at the spot, it proved ineffective, and the animal remained standing, conscious, and was moving its head around. Mr. REDACTED then picked up a second handheld captive bolt device, which was already loaded and ready for use, and applied a second stun. At this point, the animal dropped to the floor and was rendered unconscious. To examine the stun sites, the hide was removed from the head. Two penetrating wounds from the handheld captive bolt devices were identified: one at the center of the forehead and another adjacent to it on the right side with path towards ear/side of the face. I informed Mr. REDACTED about the noncompliance observed. Since this was the last cattle to be slaughtered for the day, no regulatory control action was taken regarding the knock box. I explained to Mr. REDACTED that this situation violated 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and requested corrective action to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This noncompliance is linked to a similar noncompliance report (NR # WMD3312125211N/1) documented on December 10, 2024.