American Butchery: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the American Butchery slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)
HAT Category VIII – Effective Stun 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) & Improper restraint 9 CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iii) While observing hog stunning on the morning of August 9th 2023, @ approximate time of 0900, I CSI. REDACTED witnessed establishment employees lead a hog into the stun box. The hog was not properly secured and was becoming very stressed. It was vocalizing and trying to climb out of the stun box. The employee applied the 1st stun attempt with the captive bolt, the pig was knocked buy it was off-center next to the hog's left ear. The 1st attempt was ineffective evident by that the pig dropped down and attempted to right itself by putting its legs underneath its body. A second immediate attempt with the backup captive bolt stun was effective in rendering the pig into complete unconsciousness and remained so through bleeding. CSI REDACTED informed owners REDACTED and REDACTED that a noncompliance report will be documented for failure of the 1st attempt to stun the pig and for improper restraint of the pig in violation of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) & 9 CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iii). The establishment immediately addressed the issue by administering a safety stun to all hogs for the rest of the shift. Mr. REDACTED voiced that he would address the issue in the future by only handling custom hogs until a more effective knock method was developed for hogs at this establishment or the knock box is adjusted to handle hogs.
313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)
HATS Category VIII Sunning Effectiveness 313.15(a)(1):Adequate Restraint:313.15(b)1(iii) On February 9, 2023, at approximately 1008 hours, CSI REDACTED performed a humane handling task at the knocking box of Establishment 1400M. CSI REDACTED observed an employee use a handheld captive bolt stunner to knock a steer in the knocking box. The knocking box did not firmly restrain the head of the steer with the guillotine style restrainer. CSI REDACTED observed the employee attempt to stun the animal at the same time it moved. The steer bellowed when the captive bolt projectile contacted the head. A hole and blood were visible on the face of the steer. Blood was also visible on the nostrils and mouth of the animal. The employee immediately grabbed the secondary captive bolt and effectively stunned the steer. A third knock was performed. CSI REDACTED notified Owner REDACTED and Owner REDACTED that a noncompliance report would be issued. CSI REDACTED notified Mr. REDACTED that the upper half of the restrainer was not lowered to hold the head of the steer resulting in an ineffective stun. Mr. REDACTED voiced that he would address the issue by adjusting the pulley. After the beef head was skinned 3 holes were noticed on the beef head. 2 were present on the center of the forehead. 1 was lower near the eyes of the beef head.
