Malco's Buxton Meat Co: 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 Malco's Buxton Meat Co slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.15(a)(1)
HATS Category VIII Stunning effectiveness. On March 15th, 2023 at approximately 0900hrs, at Malco's Buxton Meat Co., establishment # M9264, I, the CSI was observing beef cattle being stunned as part of a routine humane handling verification task. While observing the Slaughter Supervisor stun the first beef of the morning, the CSI observed the first stun to be ineffective. The Slaughter Supervisor applied an initial stun to an unpolled heifer with a handheld captive bolt (HHCB) device. The heifer was not restrained by the head, and moved slightly just as the stun was applied. The animal fell to its knees in the stun box, but immediately rose to a standing position and began vocalizing and attempted to climb the front wall of the stun box. There was blood visible on the top of the heifer’s head. The Slaughter Supervisor retrieved a backup stunning device (.270 rifle), which was readily available to him at the stun box, and delivered a second stun that effectively rendered the heifer insensible. The animal was rolled onto the slaughter floor. The Slaughter Supervisor checked the eyes for signs of reflex, then the animal was shackled, hoisted, and stuck for bleeding while remaining unconscious. Upon inspection of the dressed head, two penetrating stun holes were observed. Per supervisory instruction slaughter was suspended as U.S. Reject tag #A7640356 was placed on the stun box at approximately 0930hrs. The Denver District Office was contacted through supervisory channels. The Slaughter Supervisor was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record. There have been no noncompliance records issued for same root cause within the past 90 days.
313.1
On December 21st, 2002 at approx. 1350hr I, CSI REDACTED, performed a scheduled Livestock Humane Handling task as directed by the Public Health Information System (PHIS) and made the following observation. In the Northern-most corral of small livestock pens, the center pen on the North-side of the center livestock driveway was housing six (6) lambs and two (2) young goats. A board, approx. 1”x1”3x3’ with 8 exposed nails and one exposed screw, all with approx. 2-3” protrusions, was on the floor of the pen, extending out no more than 12” into the center livestock driveway. All sharp ends of the nails and screw were facing upwards, creating an injury hazard for the livestock. As there were no slaughter staff or barn workers present, I verbally notified REDACTED, plant manager, of the issue, who came and removed the board to eliminate the injury hazard. REDACTED agreed with me that the nails could cause significant harm to a lamb or goat were they to be stepped on. 9 CFR 313.1(a) requires that establishments maintain livestock pens in good condition and free from sharp or protruding objects which may cause injury to livestock. As the issue was immediately addressed, no regulatory control action was taken. A review of non-compliance history in PHIS indicates no similar NRs issued in the last 90 days.
