Mitchell's Meat Processing, LLC.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Mitchell's Meat Processing, LLC. slaughterhouse establishment in 2021.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2021.
313.16(a)(1)
On 8/16/2021, at approximately 10:40 am, while verifying compliance with HATS Category VII: Stunning effectiveness, the following noncompliance was observed on the establishments slaughter floor: IIC observed the establishment miss-stun a goat. Establishment employees loaded a goat into the knock box. Then the establishment employee executing the stunning called “Fire-In-The-Hole” and commenced with aiming the .22mag rifle loaded with a FMJ.22mag round at the goat. The establishment employee took the first shot at the goat. Upon the rifle being discharged the goat did not fall unconscious and remained standing repeatedly letting out a loud yell/yelp. Establishment employees immediately recognized the miss-stun from the first shot and passed the rifle along to another establishment employee to take a shot as he had a better angle at this time. The other establishment employee immediately took the second shot. The second shot resulted in the same outcome as the first. The establishment employee who fired the first shot, immediately recognized the second miss-stun and proceeded to enter the knock box. The employee then slit the throat of the goat to dispatch it. Establishment management stopped the kill and immediately began following their Robust Systematic Approach to humane handling to assess the situation and conduct appropriate corrective actions. IIC observed the head after the goat bled out and observed two bullet holes in the top of the skull. The hole from the first shot was pinpoint in the optimal location and the second was 3/4th inch to the left of the optimal location. IIC then observed establishment management saw off the top of the head to assess the bullet trajectory and penetration. IIC and establishment management both observed an intact brain and a heavily damaged/destroyed upper sinus cavity. Both shots with the establishments rifle failed to penetrate the cranium. To note: One of the bullets were found just under the skin of the shoulder after having passed through the bottom of the head, bearing slight angled deformation. IIC took regulatory control action on the knock box with U.S. Rejected tag B34398021. This noncompliance is being linked to previous noncompliance record VCN3209085802N/1 dated 8/2/21 for the failure to prevent the reoccurrence of the same or similar noncompliance. Kristi Mitchell, establishment owner, was notified that the establishment was not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).
313.16(a)(1)
On 8/2/2021, at approximately 8:30 am, while verifying compliance with HATS Category VII: Stunning effectiveness, the following noncompliance was observed on the establishments slaughter floor: IIC observed the establishment miss-stun a cow. Establishment employees loaded a cow into the knock box and secured the animal inside the head restraint. The establishment employees called “fire-in-the-whole” as they were getting ready to render the animal unconscious, IIC then stepped around the corner of the slaughter floor towards the knife sharpening area. IIC heard the first shot but no “all clear” signal from the employees. IIC peaked around the corner and observed the cow in the knock box still standing and looking around in a calm manner. Establishment employees immediately recognized the miss-stun from the first shot with the .22mag revolver (The establishment was utilizing FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) .22mag rounds instead of hollow-point .22mag rounds in response to a recent Humane Handling noncompliance involving a miss-stun with the hollow-point .22mag rounds) and immediately proceeded to grab the .223 rifle for the follow-up shot (the rifle was located by the slaughter floor door going towards the establishments holding-pens in the immediate vicinity of the knock box). IIC observed the second shot (done with the .223 rifle) render the animal immediately unconscious as the cow dropped to the ground, presented with a loose floppy tongue and no corneal reflex. Establishment management stopped the kill and immediately began following their Robust Systematic Approach to humane handling to assess the situation and conduct appropriate corrective actions. IIC observed the head and saw 2 bullet holes approximately 1/4th inch apart both within an approximate 1/2-inch radius of a perfect center shot (one of the holes was directly on the mark for an optimal shot). IIC observed the trajectory of the bullet by inserting a stick into the bullet holes. The first shot (from the FMJ .22mag round) was in the optimal location but did not penetrate the brain cavity, and the hole from the second shot (from the .223 round) went straight through into the brain cavity with identifiable brain matter observed to be present on the stick after removal from the hole. This noncompliance is being linked to previous noncompliance record VCN0809070228N/1 dated 7/28/21 for the failure to prevent the reoccurrence of the same or similar noncompliance. Kristi Mitchell, establishment owner, was notified that the establishment was not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).
313.16(a)(1)
On 7/28/2021, at approximately 8:00 am, while verifying compliance with HATS Category VII: Stunning effectiveness, the following noncompliance was observed on the establishments slaughter floor: IIC observed the establishment miss-stun a cow. Establishment employees loaded a cow into the knock box and secure the animal inside the head restraint. The establishment employees called “fire-in-the-whole” as they were getting ready to render the animal unconscious, IIC then stepped around the corner of the slaughter floor towards the knife sharpening area. IIC heard the first shot followed by loud bellowing coming from the cow. IIC looked around the corner onto the slaughter floor and observed the cow in the knock box still standing. Establishment employees immediately recognized the miss-stun from the first shot with the .22mag revolver they were using. The establishment employee conducting the stunning immediately recocked the same .22mag revolver, and proceeded to follow up with a second shot. IIC observed the second shot render the animal immediately unconscious as the cow dropped to the ground, presented with a loose floppy tongue and no corneal reflex. Establishment management stopped the kill and immediately began following their Robust Systematic Approach to humane handling to assess the situation and conduct appropriate corrective actions. IIC observed the head and saw 2 bullet holes approximately 1/4th inch apart both within an approximate inch radius of a perfect center shot (one of the holes was directly on the mark for an optimal shot). IIC observed the trajectory of the bullet by inserting a stick into the bullet holes. The first shot that was in the optimal location did not penetrate the brain cavity and the hole from the second shot went straight through into the brain cavity with identifiable brain matter observed to be present on the stick after insertion. Kristi Mitchell, establishment owner, was notified that the establishment was not in compliance with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).
