Circle F Farms Meat Processing: 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 Circle F Farms Meat Processing slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.16(a)(1)
On 9.26.2023, at Approximately 0730 hours, at Circle F Farms Meat Processing (Est. M1155), IPP observed the following non-compliance while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task. IPP observed the following: Establishment personnel drove a steer into stun chute and secured the head in the head catch. The stunner attempted to stun the steer with a 9mm pistol. The first shot did not render the steer unconscious. The steer remained standing, vocalized and had blood running from its nose and mouth. The stunner attempted to stun the steer the second time with the same firearm, but the pistol malfunctioned and did not fire. The employee reloaded the pistol and subsequently shot a hole in the wall above the back of the steer. The stunner retrieved a second firearm which malfunctioned, and the magazine fell out. The stunner then retrieved a third firearm, a .45 caliber pistol, and shot the steer a second time. The steer remained standing, vocalized, and continued to bleed from the nose and mouth. A second employee then retrieved a 22. magnum rifle from the hallway and shot the steer in the back of the head rendering it unconscious. IPP tagged the stun chute with U.S. Reject tag #: B45954851. On post-mortem inspection the head was skinned and an elongated whole was observed between the eyes of the steer, where the first two shots had made contact. The head of the steer was split with a bandsaw to visualize the shot placement (between the eyes) as compared to the location of the brain. The point of entry into the skull was approximately 2.5 inches below the brain. Establishment management was notified that a Notice of Reinstatement of Suspension would be issued. This represents the establishments failure to maintain compliance with federal regulation 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1).
313.16(a)(1)
On Tuesday July 25, 2023, approximately 7:49 AM while verifying the establishment’s stunning procedures, Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) observed the following humane handling noncompliance at Circle F Farms Meat Processing, M1155. A steer was loaded into the knock box, the operator took a .22 magnum rifle, aimed it at the head of the steer and fired. The steer remained standing and bellowed. The operator immediately fired a second shot, and blood rushed from the nose, but the steer continued to stand and bellow. Then the operator fired a third shot, but the steer remained standing, continued to bleed and bellow. IPP observed the operator walk off the kill floor to the hallway, retrieve a 9mm pistol, return to the kill floor and fire a fourth shot which rendered the steer unconscious. IPP tagged the knock box with U.S Rejected Tag No. B36849155 and verbally notified the plant manager of the noncompliance. This non-compliance violates CFR 313.16 (a) (1).
313.16(a)(1)
On 7/10/2023, at approximately 0902 hours, at Circle F Farms Meat Processing (Est. M1155), IIC observed the following non-compliance while performing a Humane Handling Task, The operator unsuccessfully attempted to stun a bovine animal with a firearm; the animal vocalized and remained standing. The operator promptly applied a second stunning attempt to the bovine which was unsuccessful. The animal remained standing and vocalizing. The operator again promptly applied a third, successful stunning attempt that rendered the animal unconscious. IIC applied U.S Reject Tag No. B45658356 to the knock box. This represents the establishments failure to maintain compliance with 9 CFR 316.16(a)(1) The bovine head was skinned and three holes were observed. This NR has been linked to previous NR# OJI4618052708N-1 (Dated 5.8.2023)
313.16(a)(1),313.16(b)(1)(iii)
On 5-8-2023 at approximately 1550 hours, at Circle F Farms (Est# M1155), IIC observed the following humane handling noncompliance. During slaughter operations, an establishment employee attempted to render a pig unconscious using a firearm (.22 mag). The first attempt was ineffective, and the animal remained standing and vocalized and blood was seen coming from both nostrils. An immediate second application was performed with the same .22 mag firearm and successfully rendered the pig unconscious. IIC applied U.S. Rejected Tag # B-45658070 to the knock box to suspend slaughter operations. Plant management was notified of the non-compliance. This observation was in violation of CFR 9 313.16 (a)(1) and 313.16 (b) (1) (iii). Upon postmortem examination, two bullet holes into the skull were identified.
313.16(a)(1)
At approximately 1115 hours on April 17th, 2023, IPP observed the following humane handling non-compliance at establishment M1155 during routine slaughter of cattle. A steer was brought into the knock box. Plant personnel used a firearm to attempt to stun the steer. The animal was not rendered unconscious and vocalized. Blood was seen coming from both nostrils. The employee took immediate corrective action by delivered a second shot to the steer’s head with the firearm. The animal was not rendered unconscious and continued to vocalize. The employee took immediate corrective action by delivering a third shot to the steer’s head with the firearm and successfully rendered it unconscious. Because the employee took immediate corrective actions, a tag was not placed. This noncompliance violates CFR 313.16 (a) (1). Plant management was notified of the noncompliance verbally and in writing. On postmortem evaluation, it was confirmed that there were three points of entry into the steer’s head.
