J J Meat Co.: 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 J J Meat Co. slaughterhouse establishment in 2022.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2022.
313.15(a)(1)
On 05/06/2022 at approximately 1144 hours while both Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. REDACTED and Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) REDACTED were observing Category VIII, Stunning Effectiveness for Humane Handling at establishment JJ Meats Co. (M4969), we observed the following. While observing the stunning operations at the knocking chute both Dr. REDACTED and I observed the stunning operator, REDACTED Jr., attempt to stun 1 steer. At 1144 hours he made his first attempt to stun the steer, the captive bolt made contact with the animal’s head, leaving a visible crater in cranium with noticeable bleeding. The animal remained conscious, standing upright, with eye tracking movement, and did not fall to its belly. There was no vocalization or increased excitement of the steer, the head was moving up, down, and from side to side. The stunning operator initiated a second attempt immediately. However, the captive bolt misfired twice under Mr. REDACTED control. The stunning operator changed shell cartridges after each attempt to fire the gun. At approximately 1145 hours Floor Manager, REDACTED Jr. came in to take over. He tried to get the same initial captive bolt gun to fire. There were two misfires and changing of cartridges between each attempt. At approximately 1146 hours on the gun to fire and rendered the animal unconscious. At approximately 1203 hours Dr. REDACTED measured the indentation from the first stunning attempt on the front of the cranium, noting an approximate 1/8 of an inch indentation in skull. He also noted the final attempt that rendered the steer unconscious on the back of the cranium. Quality Control Manager (QC), REDACTED and Floor manager, Mr. REDACTED Jr. were notified of the observations leading to a noncompliance and the rejecting of the stunning chute and captive bolt. IPP attached a U.S. Reject #B41958024 to the knocking chute and #B39634525 to captive bolt stunner. The establishment is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1), because the establishment captive bolt stunner failed to render the animal immediately unconscious with a single blow.
313.2
At approximately 0945 hours while conducting HATS task V (Handling of Suspect and Disabled livestock), Dr. REDACTED observed a large steer calf that had a severely swollen front left leg. Dr. REDACTED had the animal suspected. The establishment brought him up the kill chute to perform the suspect tasks required (check for signs of fever and tag with suspect tag). The establishment employee (REDACTED Jr.) put the calf in a holding area just before the knocking box. The calf turned around repeatedly in the area. REDACTED then pushed the gate to the wall forming a V in that area the calf was still able to turn in the area and then proceeded to try to escape by climbing up the chute door at the rear of the area. It then dropped down and turned again to try to escape by going forward and dropped down on its front knees at which time REDACTED was able to take the animals temperature. He was also able to get the suspect tag applied. 313.2(a) states that driving livestock from the holding pens shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. 307.2(a) States Satisfactory pens, equipment, and assistants for conducting ante-mortem inspection and for separating, marking, and holding apart from passed livestock those marked “U.S. suspect”.
