Mesa Meats Processing: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2022 (USDA)

313.15(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

On 05/25/2022, at approximately 01028 hours, while performing a PHIS Livestock Humane handling task the following noncompliance was observed at the kill floor. The employee in charge of performing the stunning/killing task, failed to produce immediate unconsciousness to a steer by a single shot. The animal did not die from a single shot. The employee then proceeded to administered a second shot to the animal but did not die. The animal was conscious, heavily vocalizing and trying to get up after the second shot attempt. The employee asked me on how to proceed. I immediately notified the employee to shoot the animal again. To mitigate the suffering of the animal. The animal finally died after the third shot attempt. At this point regulatory control action was immediately initiated by stopping slaughter operations in the killing department and notifying the employee and Plant Manager REDACTED of the temporary suspension of slaughter operations and the forthcoming noncompliance report. I then proceeded to secure and tagged the area by placing U.S. Retained tag (NO.B41198631) to the department. I proceeded to notify SPHV in charge DR. REDACTED of the incident. Establishment M47221 SOP for Stunning sates the following: REDACTED An optional second safety blow (determination made by checking consciousness by checking eyes) by one of the four stunning methods identified in 9CFR 313 may be administered so that animal does not re-gain consciousness. At approximately 01050 hours, I was informed of the releasing of the killing/slaughter department by DR. REDACTED. The killing/slaughter department was released and back to operations .Plant Manager REDACTED notified me that he would be performing the killing/stunning task until the employee is trained or move to another work position. The establishment has not met the requirements of the Federal Meat Regulations as stated on this NR. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Training was given to all personnel that are authorized to perform stunning procedures for Mesa Meats as to the standards expected and safety protocols that are to be adhered to prior to and when discharging a firearm. further training was emphasized on the proper placement of the shot to render animals insensible to pain so the animal to be slaughtered does not suffer. REDACTED

313.2

At approximately 0700 hours on 2/2 3/22while performing the anti mortem portion of the humane handling task, the following noncompliance was observed, HATS category III - Water and Feed Availability. Water was not available to the three head of cattle in the pen1, closest to the slaughter building. The water in the only container in the pen was frozen. Water was also not available to the 4 pigs in pen 2 located next from the slaughter building. At approximately 0720 hours, Establishment employee REDACTED was notified and shown both the containers with frozen water.. REDACTED immediately retrieved a shovel and proceeded to break and remove the ice from the water containers located in the pens with the Cattle and pigs. Establishment employee and cut floor supervisor REDACTED was notified this was a noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.12(e) which states in part that Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and that an NR would be issued. REDACTED stated that he would talk with REDACTED to make sure that the water containers were checked at the beginning and end of operations going forward. These checks need to be documented and available for USDA-FSIS review daily for one week. Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements can result in further regulatory or administrative action(s) as delineated in 9 CFR 500.4. Documented by CSI REDACTED