Star Packing Co., Inc.: 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 Star Packing Co., Inc. slaughterhouse establishment in 2023.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2023.
313.15(a)(3)
The establishment is a ritual slaughter establishment. Their slaughter procedures are usually to drive cattle to the knock box, lift their head in a head catch, apply a ritual cut to the neck, then use a non-penetrating captive bolt to stun the cattle as it is hoisted. This morning, at 858 hours, I observed during the slaughter process the establishment leading a veal to the knock box. The cattle's head was too small to fit in the head catch so the establishment applied the non-penetrating captive bolt to stun the cattle while they made their ritual cut. After using the captive bolt, the establishment attempted to make the ritual cut, but the cattle raised up rendering the captive bolt ineffective. Immediately after the cattle raised the establishment applied the ritual cut. I notified the establishment owner, REDACTED, of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Mr. REDACTED did maintenance on the captive bolt after this occurance to ensure it is effective. I observed no other issues during the remainder of slaughter process with the captive bold device. For this reason, I did not apply a US Retain/Reject tag to the captive bolt device. This constitutes a failure of 313.15(a)(3). After reviewing records for the past 90 days, I determined that there is no repeated root cause to this issue.
313.1
On 10/26/22 at approximately 0830 hours, while performing antemortem inspection of livestock presented for slaughter, I observed that the animal walkways and holding pens flooring were covered in feces, mud, and water. In some places it was built up several inches high. This is considered insanitary and allows for animals to slip in fall in the pens and while being driven into the slaughter facility. I notified the establishment owner, REDACTED, of my observations and the forthcoming non-compliance record. Mr. REDACTED instructed his employees to clean the animal pens and walkways. This constitutes a failure of 9 CFR 313.1.
