Mountain Meat Packing Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2023 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1),313.16(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness and HATS Category IX: Conscious Animals on the Rail On September 13, 2023, at approximately 0930 hours while verifying livestock humane handling during slaughter operations, the Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) observed the following incident. Establishment personnel had driven two market hogs into the cattle knock box. The SPHV and the Consumer Safety Inspector were in a safe location when the stunning operator attempted to stun the hogs with a .17 caliber rifle while they were unrestrained within the cattle knock box. Two shots were heard (one for each pig in the box). The SPHV and the CSI re-entered the slaughter floor and noted that both hogs were recumbent on the floor and were not moving or vocalizing. The heads of the animals could not be closely observed due to their positioning. The stunning operator was not observed to check the animals for signs of consciousness. The stunning operator went to bleed the first hog while another employee bled the second hog. Upon sticking the first hog with the knife, the hog righted itself and vocalized. The hog was bleeding from the neck from the knife stick. The hog walked a few steps before becoming recumbent again. While recumbent, the hog continued to vocalize, breathe rhythmically, blink, and move its eyes. The SPHV asked the stunning operator to shoot the hog again. The stunning operator immediately retrieved the .17 caliber rifle from the knock box and rendered the animal insensible. U.S. Retain tag #B31379896 was placed on the knock box, and the establishment owner and the slaughter floor manager were informed of the observations. Upon examining the skull, the initial shot was located between the ears at the nuchal crest. The second shot was placed appropriately in the forehead at the cross section of the eyes and ears. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. A Notice of Suspension (NOS) was issued by the Denver District Management Team to the establishment owner.

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On May 2, 2023, at approximately 0950 hours while verifying livestock humane handling during slaughter operations at Est. 4979, I, the SPHV observed the following noncompliance. Establishment personnel had driven a beef into the stun box. I was in a safe location while the stun operator attempted to stun the beef with a shotgun. I heard the firearm discharge once, and when I attempted to re-enter the slaughter floor, I was notified by the stunner that they were going to stun again. The beef was vocalizing. Shortly thereafter I heard the firearm discharge a second time. When I re-entered the slaughter floor, the beef was recumbent, insensible, and no longer vocalizing. I observed the stun operator touch the cornea and receive no response. The beef remained unconscious during the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. A regulatory control action was not taken due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. The establishment owner was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Upon inspection of the dressed head, two penetrating holes were observed. There has been one noncompliance record issued for the same root cause within the past 90 days. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. The establishment has implemented a robust systematic approach to humane handling of livestock.