TN Premium Beef/Mason Processing: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 Q4 (USDA)

Updated on January 15, 2026.

See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the TN Premium Beef/Mason Processing slaughterhouse establishment in 2025 Q4.

You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2025 Q4.

Data Source: USDA.
See this for other quarters:
Inspection Date: 2025-07-16
Inspection Category: Directed
NR Number: QOT5209074616N-1
Non-Compliance Regulations:

313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

Non-Compliance Description:

HATS CATEGORY VIII: Stunning Effectiveness At approximately 0845 at TN Premium Beef Establishment M47977, I, REDACTED, SPHV, observed establishment personnel move a large, excitable heifer into the knock box and restrained it with the head gate. The initial stun attempt with a .45 caliber handgun semi-automatic was observed to contact the animal but was ineffective, as the animal remained standing and alert. The animal was observed to move its head as the shot was administered. The handgun then jammed, so the stun operator gathered the backup Glock 40 Premium and delivered an immediate and effective corrective action stun, rendering the animal insensible, and it remained so thereafter. The stun operator delivered a security knock to the insensible animal. I notified Mr. REDACTED, establishment owner, of this non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.16(a)(3), and the knock-box was tagged with USDA Rejected tag NO. B-45684241. The knock-box was released at 1030.