Slagel Slaughter: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1),313.15(b)(1)(iii)

Today (Thursday, 9-12-24), at 8:37 AM, while performing a routine Humane Handling Inspection Task HATS Category VIII - Stunning Effectiveness, I observed REDACTED Establishment Employee attempt to stun a beef, restrained in a chute head-catch, with a captive bolt gun. REDACTED was positioning the placement of the shot to the forehead area of the animal, when at the last moment, the beef turned its head abruptly, causing an improper placement of the bolt to the animal’s skull. The placement of the shot was off to the left (9:00 position), about 2-inches of the intended placement location. The beef remained standing, tracked our movements with its eyes, and was fully conscious. REDACTED took immediate corrective actions, by picking up a secondary, back-up captive bolt gun (which he had pre-loaded and readily available) and delivered a successful stun, on the second attempt, rendering the animal unconscious and insensible to pain. REDACTED is a seasoned employee of the establishment and is very experienced using the captive bolt gun and has been stunning beef in the establishment, for decades. These observations are noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) for ineffective stunning and 9 CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iii) for failure to limit free movement to ensure accurate placement. I took a regulatory control action, by placing US Reject Tag #B45725532 on the chute/knock box and I contacted REDACTED Circuit 3-3 Supervisor. Following a conversation with the supervisor, the regulatory control tag was removed because the immediate corrective actions had successfully restored regulatory compliance. REDACTED Owner and REDACTED Slaughter Floor Manager were present at the time of these observations and were notified of the noncompliance.