Donald's Meat Processing, LLC: 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 Donald's Meat Processing, LLC slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.16(a)(1)
On Thursday September 7th, 2023, at approximately 10:21am, while observing HATS category VIII (stunning effectiveness) during a humane handling verification visit, the following noncompliance was observed by IIC REDACTED and SPHV REDACTED: A mature sheep was moved to the stunning area and restrained with a halter. REDACTED, kill floor supervisor, attempted a first shot with a .22-rifle which was ineffective. The animal remained standing with no vocalization after the first shot was taken. REDACTED repositioned himself and immediately took a second shot with the .22-rifle rendering the animal unconscious. Once the animal was unconscious, IIC REDACTED and SPHV REDACTED requested that the skull be skinned out to view shot placement. IIC REDACTED informed REDACTED, kill floor supervisor, and REDACTED, plant supervisor, that the knock box was going to be tagged with a US Rejected Tag until verifying shot placement. When verifying the shot placement, IIC REDACTED and SPHV REDACTED observed the first shot appeared to be below to correct placement, and the second shot was in the correct placement. After consulting with DVMS REDACTED, it was decided that the knock box will remain tagged until an appropriate corrective action is received from plant management. REDACTED, plant supervisor, and REDACTED, kill floor supervisor, were both notified of this decision. US Rejected tag No. B30899098 was placed on the knock box. The establishment does not have a written robust systematic approach to humane handling. REDACTED, kill floor supervisor, and REDACTED, plant supervisor, were both verbally notified of this noncompliance. A noncompliance of similar cause, incorrect shot location, was document on July 18th, 2023, (Record No. PIF5010070818N/1). The establishment’s corrective action was to provide a new halter for better restraint to aid in limited movement for shot placement. This noncompliance record serves as written notification.
313.16(a)(1)
On Wednesday August 2nd, 2023, at approximately 9:10am, while observing HATS Category VIII (stunning effectiveness), the following noncompliance was observed by IIC REDACTED and SPHV REDACTED: A very large market swine (dressed weight 340 lbs.) was moved into the stunning area. plant employees were unable to move her into the knock box, so they elected to stun her in the alleyway leading into the knock box. kill floor supervisor, REDACTED, took the first shot using a .22-magnum, the normal firearm used for all size hogs. After the first shot was taken, the animal fell on its side, then rolled to its sternum attempting to right herself. At this time, kill floor employee, REDACTED, immediately took the .22-magnum and took the second shot. The animal vocalized and then stood up, walking into the knock box, where the animal was better restrained. As the animal was walking into the knock box, kill floor supervisor, REDACTED, reloaded the .22-magnum and passed it to kill floor employee, REDACTED, to take the 3rd and final shot rendering the animal unconscious. Retained tag No. B30899091 was placed on the knock box. During this time, SPHV REDACTED consulted with DVMS REDACTED to determine course of action. After consulting, the decision was made to only document a noncompliance. During post-mortem inspection, SPHV REDACTED asked kill floor employee, REDACTED, to skin the head so they could see shot placement. All three attempts were in the correct location, and in the same spot. It appeared the animal had an abnormally thick skull. The establishment does not have a robust systematic approach to humane handling. Kill Floor Supervisor, REDACTED, was verbally notified of this noncompliance. This noncompliance record serves as written notification.
313.16(a)(1)
On Tuesday July 18th, 2023, at approximately 10:15am, during the 90-day DVMS verification assessment, and while observing HATS Category VIII (stunning effectiveness), the following noncompliance was observed by IIC REDACTED, SPHV Dr. REDACTED, and DVMS Dr. REDACTED: Plant employee REDACTED moved the third lamb of the day to the knocking area with the aid of a halter. Once the lamb was restrained, Kill Floor Supervisor REDACTED took the first shot with a semi-automatic 22-caliber rifle. Immediately after the first shot was taken, the lamb appeared to have pulled backwards, continued to stand, and then walk away from the knocking area. Plant employee, REDACTED, and Kill Floor Supervisor, REDACTED, then caught the lamb and restrained it again. REDACTED immediately took a second shot with the same rifle rendering the animal unconscious. IIC REDACTED, SPHV REDACTED, and DVMS REDACTED examined the head after skinning to observe shot placement. The first shot was placed incorrectly between the eyes of the skull, and after further examination, was noted to have exited through the bottom of the jaw. The second shot was placed correctly at the top of the skull. The establishment does not have a robust systematic approach to humane handling. Kill Floor supervisor, REDACTED, and Plant Supervisor, REDACTED, was notified verbally of this noncompliance. This noncompliance record serves as written notification.
313.16(a)(3)
At approximately 1:05pm on April 17th, 2023, IIC REDACTED contacted SPHV Dr. REDACTED and informed her of an egregious humane handling incident that occurred at Donald’s Meat Processing LLC. After discussing what had occurred, SPHV Dr. REDACTED then contacted Raleigh DVMS Dr. REDACTED to discuss an enforcement action. IIC REDACTED notified REDACTED, kill floor supervisor at Donald’s Meat Processing LLC of the decision to take regulatory control action to prevent slaughter and the possible enforcement action due to egregious humane handling noncompliance and that the District Office may follow up with a written suspension. IIC REDACTED based the decision to take regulatory control action on the following. On Monday April 17th, 2023, at approximately 1:00pm, while performing HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness of the Livestock Humane Handling Task, IIC REDACTED observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category IX, Return to Consciousness: REDACTED, kill floor supervisor, attempted to stun a heifer with a 40-caliber pistol. The shot appeared to be effective as the heifer collapsed, her head was released from the head restraint, and she rolled out of the knock box. From where IIC REDACTED was standing, the heifer did not display any signs of consciousness at this point. Plant employees, REDACTED and REDACTED, placed an S hook in the heifer’s nose and attached the hoist to assist in positioning the head for sticking and head removal. After the hook was in the heifer’s nose and the head, neck, and shoulder were hoisted, the heifer regained consciousness. IIC REDACTED made note of vocalization immediately before the heifer attempted to stand up, demonstrating coordinated movements of the front legs. Plant employee, REDACTED, immediately took a second stun attempt with a .22 magnum rifle, effectively rendering the heifer unconscious. IIC REDACTED asked plant employee, REDACTED, to skin the head so it could be inspected for where the shots were placed. After inspection, the first shot was slightly to the left of center and the second shot was low and to the right of the proper location for effective stunning. At approximately 1:30pm IIC REDACTED notified kill floor supervisor, REDACTED, of the US Reject Tag, NO. B30899081, being placed on the knock box and of the district suspension of slaughter operations. The establishment does not have a robust systematic approach to humane handling.
