Prairie Meats, Inc.: 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 Prairie Meats, Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2022.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2022.
313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)
At approximately 1000 hours, while verifying HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness, I/CSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: A beef steer walked to the restrainer but would not place its head through the head restrainer. Mr. REDACTED Jr., Slaughter Floor Manager, performed the first stunning attempt using a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCB) while the animals head was out of the restrainer, looking up to the ceiling. The first stun attempt failed to render the animal unconscious, it was standing and bleeding was observed from the nose and skull area where the stun device was discharged. The establishment employee then used a second pre-loaded HHCB device to attempt a second stun, with the head of the animal inside the head restrainer. The second stun attempt also failed to render the animal unconscious, the animal was observed tracking the people around the restrainer with its eyes, the animal was still standing, and more bleeding was observed from the nose and skull area. The establishment employee then reloaded the hand-held captive bolt device and performed a third stun, the animal fully dropped to the floor, at which point it was verified insensible. Mr. REDACTED then performed the sticking procedure to initiate bleed out. On post-mortem examination, three head wounds were observed. One hole was observed in the middle of the head right between the eyes. The second and third holes were in approximately the same location on the skull, one being 4 inches below the top of the poll and half an inch higher than the other one. I placed U.S. Reject tag number B40213046 on the restrainer and temporarily stopped slaughter operation. Also Mr. REDACTED was verbally informed of my observations regarding the establishment’s inability to render the animal unconscious with the first and second stunning attempt. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3). I notified establishment management that I would be contacting the Des Moines District Office through supervisory channels for further guidance regarding possible enforcement action.
313.15(a)(1)
At approximately 1100 hours, while verifying HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness, I/CSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: A large lamb walked into the knock box that is usually used to kill cattle, standing freely with no manual head restrainer in used, the plant employee was holding the head of the animal with his left hand and the stunning equipment with his right hand. Mr. REDACTED, Slaughter Floor Assistant Manager, stunned the lamb using a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCB), on the left lateral side of the head, caudal to the eye. Following the stun, the animal was still conscious. The lamb was still standing, breathing rhythmically, and exhibiting controlled head and eye movement. Bleeding was observed from the left lateral area of the skull where the stun device was discharged. The establishment employee then re-loaded the same HHCB device to attempt a second stun on the top of the skull. After the second stun the animal immediately dropped to the floor, and at about the same time an establishment employee walked to the knock box looking for signs of consciousness in the animal, and at which point I verified the animal was insensible. I placed U.S. Reject tag number B40213044 on the knock box and verbally notified Mr. REDACTED, Slaughter Floor Manager, of my observations regarding the establishment’s inability to render the animal insensible with the first stunning attempt. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). I notified establishment management that I would be contacting the Des Moines District Office through supervisory channels for further guidance regarding possible enforcement action. After the establishment provided preventive measures, I removed my tag from restrainer.
313.15(a)(1),313.15(a)(3)
At approximately 0800 hours, while verifying HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness, I/CSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: After the first stunning attempt by Mr. REDACTED Jr., Slaughter Floor Manager, using a hand-held captive bolt device (HHCB) on a beef cow in the head restrainer, the animal was still conscious. The beef cow was still standing and vocalizing, bleeding was observed from the skull area where the stun device was discharged. The establishment employee then used a second pre-loaded HHCB device to attempt a second stun. After the second stun bleeding could still be observed from the wound, the animal’s body didn’t fully drop and no vocalizing was observed. At about the same time, an establishment employee walked to the left side of the animal and was looking for signs of consciousness. They proceeded to touch the eyes and noticed the eyes twitched with hand contact. The establishment employee decided to reload the HHCB and performed a third stun, at which point I verified the animal was insensible. It was the only animal that was scheduled for slaughter today. I placed U.S. Reject tag number B40213044 on the restrainer and verbally notified Mr. REDACTED of my observations regarding the establishment’s inability to render the animal unconscious with the first stunning attempt. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 313.15(a)(3). I notified establishment management that I would be contacting the Des Moines District Office through supervisory channels for further guidance regarding possible enforcement action. After the establishment provided preventive measures, I removed my tag from restrainer.
313.15(a)(1)
On November 23, 2021, approximately 0845 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling task, Stunning Effectiveness (HATS Category VIII), the following regulatory noncompliance was observed: I observed Mr. REDACTED (Slaughter Manager) use a hand-held captive bolt to stun a steer in the head restrainer and the steer was moving his head. Following the shot, the steer was still conscious, as it was standing and vocalizing. Bleeding was observed from the skull area where the stun device was discharged and could be seen from the nose, and mouth. REDACTED immediately took the back up captive bolt and performed a second knock and the steer fell and stopped vocalizing. I verified that the steer was insensible. I then took regulatory control and stop the knocking process. I informed REDACTED and Ms. REDACTED (HACCP Coordinator) and verbally informed them of the forthcoming noncompliance record. The establishment is not in compliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). Continued failure to meet regulatory requirement can lead to enforcement actions as described in 9 CFR 500.4
