Blue Ridge Meats of Front Royal: 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 Blue Ridge Meats of Front Royal slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.2
On August 29, 2023 at approximately 0715 hours, CSI REDACTED observed the pen #15 where seven pigs were in had no water in the pen with them. I informed an employee that the pigs needed water. When he started running water all pigs got up from laying down and worked their way to the bucket to drink. I checked in again approximately 0915 hours and they still had water. The establishment did not meet regulatory requirement 9 CFR 313.2(e), which states "Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to food. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down."
313.16(a)(1),313.15(a)(1)
On 8/15/2023 at approximately 0745 hours I, (CSI REDACTED) and CSI REDACTED observed the following Egregious Humane Handling Noncompliance, HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness. REDACTED (Temporary Employee/Kill Floor Stunner) attempted to stun a cow that was in the held in the head catch of the knock box with a REDACTED .25 caliber Cylindrical Captive pistol. The shot was placed ineffectively at eye level on the animal's head, the animal tensed for a moment then held its head down and started to bleed from its nostrils but continued to stand and show multiple signs of consciousness including tracking with the eyes and rhythmic breathing. REDACTED then turned and retrieved the .22 Magnum caliber rifle that was ready nearby and fired at the animal again. The shot was again too low and appeared to have impacted between the animal's eyes, the animal tensed and held its head down while bleeding profusely from the nostrils and open mouth. The animal continued to stand and showed multiple signs of consciousness including rhythmic breathing and tracking with its eyes. Mr. REDACTED (Establishment Owner) walked up beside the head catch and pointed with his index finger and instructed REDACTED to "shoot here" while pointing at the center of the animal's head between the eyes and ears. REDACTED then reloaded the rifle and fired again (Third shot overall) effectively rendering the animal unconscious. I took a regulatory control action and applied US Reject tag #B41031595 to the knock box and informed Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance. Upon postmortem inspection of the head after the hide was removed, the impact of the captive bolt was about 3" in from the outside of the left eye socket as viewed from the from the front. The first .22 magnum rifle shot was another 1" in from the impact hole of the captive bolt. The second 22 magnum rifle shot (Third shot overall) was centered in the forehead between the eyes and ears. The above observations are noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1)
313.16(a)(1)
At approximately 1500 hours on 2/1/2023, REDACTED (FI) observed the following noncompliance while performing slaughter inspection duties. Mr. REDACTED observed Mr. REDACTED (Production Manager) stun a sow in the knock box with a .22 Magnum rifle. The sow went down after the shot, vocalized and stood up and attempted to back up inside the knock box. Mr. REDACTED then immediately shot the sow again with the same rifle and rendered it unconscious. Mr. REDACTED then contacted me, (CSI REDACTED), I then notified Ms. REDACTED (FLS), I then returned to the establishment. At the time of my arrival the head and offal had been taken by the rendering company that services the establishment. Mr. REDACTED informed me that both shots had been correctly placed in the center of the head between the eyes and ears. I notified Mr. REDACTED, and Mrs. REDACTED (Establishment Administrator) of the noncompliance. The above observation is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).
313.15(a)(1)
At 1130 hours on 11/23/2022 I, (CSI REDACTED) observed the following non-egregious humane handling noncompliance, HATS category VIII Stunning Effectiveness. Establishment employee Mr. REDACTED (Production Manager) was stunning a lamb in the knock box of the kill area using a REDACTED .25 caliber cylinder style captive bolt pistol. The first shot was ineffective at rendering the animal unconscious, the animal went down after the shot then immediately stood back up again and continued to show signs of consciousness including rhythmic breathing, blinking, and tracking with its eyes, but did not vocalize. Mr. REDACTED immediately recognized the failed stun attempt, he immediately reloaded the weapon and placed an effective second shot which rendered the animal unconscious. Both shots were correctly placed in the top center of the head between the eyes. I informed Mr. REDACTED of the noncompliance. The above observation is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1). A similar noncompliance with the same root cause was documented on 9/14/2022.
