Marfa Meats, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

At approximately 12:50 hours on June 7, 2021 I CSI REDACTED While preforming HATS category #8, stunning effectiveness observed employee REDACTED at Marfa Meats shoot a red angus steer with a .223 rifle. The first shot was ineffective, the bullet penetrated the skin and caused the animal to begin to bleed. The steer jumped on his 2 hind legs and began to balk. The second shot was then taken and the steer again jumped on his hind legs, turned around and ran backwards to another pen. A third shot was taken by Mr. REDACTED where the animal remained cautious and ran forward and back to the original pen. Marfa Meats Manager Christy Miller then used a .38 hand pistol for a fourth attempt at rendering the steer unconscious and succeeded. After the 4th attempt the animal showed all signs of unconsciousness. A fifth and final shot was taken by Ms. Miller as a security knock. Upon inspection of the head it was noticed that all the shots taken where in the correct target location however 4 out of 5 shots did not penetrate the skull. I, CSI REDACTED tagged the knock box at Marfa Meats with U.S. Retain Tag NO. A9205775. This egregious noncompliance is in violation of 9CFR 313.16(a)(1) for failure to render an animal immediately unconscious by gunshot. Ms. Miller was verbally notified that a noncompliance record would be generated