Mountain Meat Packing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.2,313.16(a)(2)

HATS Category VI: Excessive Prod Use On Tuesday April 27, 2021 at approximately 1130 hours, CSI REDACTED observed a man, who was not an establishment employee, using a prod excessively and his closed fist to drive a large steer at Est. 4979 Mountain Meats in Fruita, CO. I observed a steer driven into the alleyway and seemed to refuse to go into the cemented area of the chute. I observed two plant employees attempting to get the animal to move up into the chute, while the plant owner’s REDACTED, REDACTED, came from the field and began pounding on the cow through the wooden slats very aggressively with his closed fist. REDACTED was yelling for the cow to move, verbally repeating over and over “move cow move’. After thumping the cow repeatedly in the side with a closed fist approximately 10 times, I observed REDACTED retrieve the handheld battery-operated electric prod from an establishment employee. I observed REDACTED ram the handheld battery-operated electric prod into the hind end of the animal. I observed REDACTED use the weight of his body to press with force to try to push the animal forward at the same time that he was discharging the handheld battery-operated electric prod. I observed the steer was vocalizing repeatedly and trying to move but could not fit into the chute. I observed REDACTED continuously discharge the handheld battery-operated electric prod on the animal approximately 15-20 times within approximately 20 to 30 seconds. In an attempt to take control of the situation, I had been raising my voice for REDACTED to please stop, but I do not believe that I could be heard over the commotion. With the animal vocalizing and REDACTED yelling loudly, I raised my voice louder to tell him that he is being extremely excessive with prodding. I observed REDACTED suddenly stop and the animal dropped to the ground. REDACTED turned around to yell at me for even being outside, exclaiming that it is not my job to be out there at all. Gary, plant owner, was called to the pens where it was determined that the animal was far too wide to go through the chute and would later be stunned in the pens area. I observed Gary walk REDACTED, who does not work at the facility, out of the area and overheard Gary inform REDACTED that he is not allowed near any of the animals or the plant. I contacted Dr. REDACTED, SPHV following the event. There have been no humane handling non-compliances issued within the past 90 days for same root cause.