Northern MN 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 Northern MN Meat Co. slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(1)
On July 25, 2023 at approximately 1040 hours, while conducting the humane handling verification task Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness, I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: an ovine in the stunning area was not immediately rendered unconscious with the first stun application. After the first stun application with a handheld captive bolt device (HHCB), the conscious animal went down into sternal recumbency but was observed to have its head lifted with coordinated eye tracking movement. The animal rolled out of the stunning pen and then attempted to stand on its hind legs. The animal did not vocalize. A second stun was immediately applied with the backup HHCB which rendered the animal unconscious. Verbal regulatory control action was applied to the stunning area. Post-mortem inspection of the head revealed two wounds directly in the center of the forehead at the intersection of two lines drawn from each ear to the opposite eye. US Reject tag B37606509 was applied to the stunning area. Plant owner REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance. This represented noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) immediate unconsciousness via captive bolt. This NR is the fourth noncompliance related to stunning effectiveness since March 7, 2023, as summarized below: ONK3313034007N Livestock Humane Handling on March 7, 2023 for a bovine not immediately rendered unconscious on the first stun application with a firearm. This represented a non-egregious humane handling noncompliance. ONK3411033507N Livestock Humane Handling on March 7, 2023 for a hog not immediately rendered unconscious on the first stun application with a firearm. This represented a non-egregious humane handling noncompliance. ONK1511075914N Livestock Humane Handling on July 14, 2023 for a hog not immediately rendered unconscious on the first stun application (electrical). The hog was rendered unconscious on the fourth stun application. This represented an egregious humane handling noncompliance.
313.30(b)(2),313.30(a)(3)
On July 14, 2023 at approximately 1000 hours, while conducting the humane handling verification task Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness, I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: a hog in the stunning pen was not immediately rendered unconscious with the first stun application. After the first stun application with the electrical hog stunner, the conscious hog remained standing with rhythmic breathing and continuous, high pitched, loud vocalization. The prongs of the stunner were fully seated on the hog’s neck prior to electrical discharge, however the hog moved suddenly and contact was lost. A second stun attempt was immediately applied by contacting the prongs with the animal's neck and then discharging the wand. The hog went down to lateral recumbency in the pen but continued to show signs of consciousness including rhythmic breathing and continuous, high pitched, loud vocalization. A third stun attempt was applied by contacting the prongs to the animal and then discharging the wand, however the animal continued to emit conscious vocalizations. The fourth stun attempt rendered the hog unconscious. I took verbal regulatory control action. Plant Manager REDACTED informed me that the suspected cause of the ineffective stuns was that the settings on the hog stunner were not properly set before use, and so the electrical current delivered to the animal was insufficient for the size of the hog. Verbal corrective actions were provided the settings on the stunner would be modified to be appropriate for the size of the animals. I informed Plant Manager REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance. A U.S, Reject tag number B37606514 was placed on the restrainer and I informed Mr. REDACTED that I would be contacting the District Office through supervisory channels for further guidance. This represents noncompliance with regulation 313.30(a)(3): “the quality and location of the electrical shock shall be such as to product immediate insensibility to pain in the exposed animal.”
313.16(a)(1)
On March 7, at approximately 1130 hours, while conducting the humane handling verification task Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness, I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: a hog in the stunning pen was not immediately rendered unconscious with the first stun application. After the first stun application with a .22 Mag caliber rifle, the conscious hog remained standing with rhythmic breathing. The hog did not vocalize. A second stun was immediately applied with the same firearm, which rendered the animal unconscious. Post-mortem inspection of the head revealed two small round wounds in the forehead, one positioned directly in the center of the forehead and the other approximately 2 inches higher on the head. Establishment employees reported that the higher bullet hole was from the first (ineffective) stun, while the lower bullet hole was from the second (effective) stun. I took verbal regulatory control action. Verbal corrective actions were provided that the stunning employee would wait until the hog looks directly at the gun before he shoots. I informed Plant Manager REDACTED and Owner REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance. This represents noncompliance with regulations 313.16(a)(1): Immediate unconsciousness (gunshot).
313.16(a)(1)
On March 7, 2023 at approximately 1250 hours, while conducting the humane handling verification task Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness, I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: a bovine in the stunning area was not immediately rendered unconscious with the first stun application. After the first stun application with a .22 Mag caliber rifle, the conscious animal remained standing with coordinated movement of the head, tracking movement of the eyes, and rhythmic breathing. The animal did not vocalize. A second stun was immediately applied with the same firearm which rendered the animal unconscious. Post-mortem inspection of the head revealed two wounds. One wound was positioned directly in the center of the forehead 1 inch above a line between the eyes. The other wound was positioned approximately 1 inch higher than the first and 1⁄2 inch to the animal’s right. Establishment employees reported that the higher wound was from the first (ineffective) stun, while the lower wound was from the second (effective) stun. I took regulatory control action. US Reject tag B37606523 was applied to the stunning area. I informed Plant Manager REDACTED of my observations and of the forthcoming noncompliance. This represents noncompliance with regulations 313.16(a)(1): Immediate unconsciousness (gunshot). This NR is being associated to NR ONK3411033507N Livestock Humane Handling on March 7, 2023.
313.2
At approximately 1000 hours while verifying HATS category III Water and Feed availability I, SPHV REDACTED, observed the following non compliance: water was not available for the 3 bovines held in the holding pen. Plant manager REDACTED was notified, and timely corrective actions were performed by providing a bucket of water to the cattle. Plant manager REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming noncompliance. This represents noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states "Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens..."
