Agri Star Meat and Poultry, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Agri Star Meat and Poultry, LLC slaughterhouse establishment in 2022.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2022.
313.15(a)(1),313.16(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII- Stunning Effectiveness While monitoring stunning effectiveness I observed the following noncompliance (due to space and safety constraints I was unable to make all observations directly): A suspect heifer had been moved to slaughter first for the day and had laid down in the compartment just prior to the restrainer while employees were preparing for slaughter. Management opted to euthanize the animal rather than trying to get it to stand up and walk into the restrainer. At 0610 an establishment employee attempted to stun the animal using a firearm but the gun did not discharge when the trigger was pulled. He then pointed it at the ceiling and when he touched the bolt to open the chamber the gun discharged into the ceiling. The hand-held captive bolt device (HHCB) was retrieved and a second stun attempt was made. The HHCB was discharged while in contact with the animal's head (I heard the discharge), but the bolt apparently did not extend, per the stunning operator. After assessing the HHCB device a second stun attempt was made using the same HHCB device. I again heard the discharge but did not hear any vocalization from the animal. The employees present determined the attempt was not successful and opted to use the original firearm again, however additional ammunition could not immediately be located. During this time I was able to look in through the front of the restrainer and observed that the animal was still sternal, with its head lifted off the ground and weaving back and forth in a controlled manner. After retrieving additional ammunition for the firearm a final, successful stunning attempt was made, rendering the animal unconscious. I then asked management to skin back the forehead on the animal and observed two entry wounds. One in line with the top edge of the orbital bones of the eyes, approximately half an inch from the centerline toward the right eye, with the boney right edge of the wound fragmented. The second wound was approximately half an inch caudal and on the centerline. I informed Assistant Director of Operations Mr. REDACTED that I needed to contact the district office for further guidance and that no animals should be moved into the restrainer or slaughtered until I released it. I informed Mr. REDACTED and Director of Operations Mr. REDACTED that an NR would be issued for the ineffective stunning incident. Verbal corrective actions and preventive measures were provided and I released the restrainer and slaughter operations resumed.
