Blue Mountain Meats, Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On 2/21/25 at approximately 11:00 am, the establishment informed the IIC that the establishment was ready to stun the cow that had been driven into the stun box. The IIC stepped off the slaughter floor for safety and re-entered after hearing the firearm discharge. The IIC proceeded to finish mutton final rail post-mortem inspection, and shortly thereafter the establishment informed the IIC that the establishment needed to stun the cow again. The IIC once again stepped off the slaughter floor and re-entered the slaughter floor after hearing the firearm discharge. The IIC then approached the stunning area and observed the employee had the cow shackled by one front leg and the employee was trying to pull/drop the animal from the stun box down into the shackling/hoisting area. The employee stated the cow had collapsed into the stun box and become wedged to where the employee wasn’t able to get a stun application. Every time the employee squeezed the animal with the revolving metal door of the stun box or pulled the chain (2-3 times) on the front leg, the IIC observed the cow vocalize. The IIC observed the cow drop down into the shackling area onto its left side and observed the animal lift its head and blink its left eye. Simultaneously, the employee and the IIC declared another stun application was needed. The IIC vacated the slaughter floor, and a third stun was then applied, and the cow was rendered insensible and unconscious. This was the final animal scheduled for the day. The IIC placed US Rejected Tag B28100728 on the stun box. Upon inspection of the dressed head on post-mortem, three penetrating holes were observed all within about half an inch of each other within the target zone on the skull. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued within the past 90 days for the same root cause. This establishment operates under a robust systematic approach to livestock humane handling. A non-compliance will be issued for failure to comply with 9CFR 313.16(a)(1). Establishment owner REDACTED was verbally notified of the issuance.