Fischer's Meat Market, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.2

HATS Category III, Water and Feed Availability, 9 CFR 313.2(e) At 1056 hours, while performing a humane handling verification task under the HATS category 'Feed and water availability,' I observed a beef steer in the holding area east of the main lanes used for holding livestock. During my observations, I observed that the steer did not have access to water in the area where it was being held. I immediately informed slaughter manager, REDACTED of my observations, intent to document a report of noncompliance. I directed Mr. REDACTED take immediate corrective actions and requested he take necessary steps to prevent recurrence. Mr. REDACTED acted with immediate action to supply water to the pen area. 9 CFR 313.2(e) states, "Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens." The establishment currently has a Robust Humane Handling program with monitoring and verification of humane handling categories conducted daily. I reviewed the records for the previous 90 days and did not see any deviations observed by the establishment. I noticed that the monitoring and verification had already been performed for September 19th, the day FSIS observed the noncompliance. Mr. REDACTED confirmed that he conducted his monitoring of humane handling prior to the animal being brought into the pen area. Ante-mortem records indicated that the animal had been in the area for at least 22 minutes without access to water.