Divine Meats, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.2

On December 28, 2023 at approximately 0625 hours, while performing a humane handling task I, REDACTED, CSI, observed a disabled mature goat outside of the holding pens. The disabled goat had been placed outside the holding pens without shelter by one of the establishment employees. I informed REDACTED of the forth coming non compliance report for the establishments failure to meet 9CFR 313.1( c ). Mr. REDACTED stated at that time that he had instructed his employees to shoot the animal but that they did not follow his instructions.

313.2

On December 27,2023 at approximately 1030 hours After returning from lunch I, REDACTED CSI, performed a humane handling task of the holding pens. I observed 18 mature sheep that had been held in the alley way of the slaughter holding pen that did not have access to water. I also observed that in addition to these sheep there were also 10 young goats also being held in the smaller slaughter holding pen. These 28 animals were not given water nor released back into the larger holding pens that had access to water. I notified REDACTED of the forth coming noncompliance and provided him with the notes of Dr. REDACTED, which covered the requirements for ritual slaughter and a hard copy of regulation 9 CFR 313.2 (e) Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements may result in further enforcement action.

313.16(b)(1)(iii),313.2

November 14, 2023, at approximately 0601 hours, after performing antemortem on 19 young goats they were moved into the slaughter corral on the inside of the kill floor. As the slaughter process began for the day, I, REDACTED CSI /IIC observed, 6 of these goats escaped by squeezing through the iron bar slots of the slaughter floor corral. As the employees collected the animals to be put back into the small holding corral, one goat was handed to another employee who threw the animal to the ground. The goat landed on it’s right rib cage on the floor, rather than on its feet inside the small corral. I notified REDACTED of the actions of the employee and the forth coming noncompliance to CFR 313.2 and 313.16. Continued failure to comply with 9CFR regulatory requirements may result in further enforcement action.

313.1

On October 11,2023 at approximately 1300 hours I ,REDACTED CSI/IIC called for a disposition on 23 adult sheep, After her disposition Dr. REDACTED diagnosed the sheep to have Orf. While speaking with the general Manager REDACTED Dr. REDACTED requested that the holding pen #7 to be washed and sanitized. On October 12, 2023 , at 0523 hours, while performing anti mortem on the animals scheduled for slaughter, I observed that holding pen #7 had not been cleaned as per Dr. REDACTED requested. During the Establishments weekly meeting with the, General Manager, REDACTED, I again made the request that the holding pen #7 been cleaned and sanitized. Mr. REDACTED agreed that the pen would be washed and sanitized after the slaughter ended that day. At 2338 hours after slaughter was completed for the day, I went to check on holding pen #7 to verify that the pen had been cleaned and sanitized. I found that it had not, evident of feces and feed that was present on the floor of the pen. Mr. REDACTED and I walked to the holding pen area so that he could verify the condition of the holding pen. Mr. REDACTED then made a request of his employee to clean the holding pen with soap and water and then sanitize it with bleach. At approximately 1300 hours I again went to verify the holding pen had been cleaned and found that the pen had been scraped and the feces removed but it had not been washed or sanitized. At approximately 1315 hours as I was leaving for the day I spoke to Mr. REDACTED and stated that the holding pen had been scraped but not washed nor sanitized. On 10-13-23 I informed Mr. REDACTED that I would be issuing a noncompliance for failure to meet 9CFR 313.1 Continued failure to meet regulatory requirements may result in further enforcement action.