Countryside Quality Meats LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.1

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at approximately 0710 hours, while performing HATS Category IV- Handling during antemortem inspection, I observed the following noncompliance: There was an 8-inch gap between the floor of holding pen #1 and the bottom metal pipe of the pen partition, which caused a market hog’s head to become trapped in this gap, leaving the hog unable to free itself. Additionally, I observed about 5 inches of bruising along the trapped hog’s neck. I notified employee REDACTED of the noncompliance. REDACTED euthanized the hog immediately and rendered it unconscious by a single shot using a pre-loaded rifle. The unconscious pig was then transported to the slaughter floor, where it was shackled, bled, and processed. The pig was in a state of complete unconsciousness and remained in this condition throughout shackling, sticking and bleeding. I took regulatory control action and attached U.S. Reject tag # 45011115 to the holding pen partition between pens 1 and 2. Nine (7) additional hogs were in the same holding pen, and they were promptly moved to another pen with a minimum of excitement. I notified the establishment manager, REDACTED, of the noncompliance and explained to her that holding pen#1&2 could not be used to hold pigs until corrective actions are implemented. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.1(a).

313.2

Category III - Water and Feed Availability: On Thursday, May 15, 2025, at approximately 0700 hours, while performing HATS Category IV – Handling During Ante-mortem Inspection, I observed noncompliance with HATS Category III – Water and Feed availability: I checked pen 2 and noted there were four cattle without access to water. The pen contains a galvanized water trough that is approximately 2 feet deep, 4 feet long, and 1 foot wide. There was less than three inches of water at the bottom of the trough. However, due to the metal being bent at the center of the trough and the size of the cattle’s heads, the four cattle were unable to access the water at the bottom of the water trough. I explained to employee REDACTED that the cattle did not have access to water and that water needed to be provided. At 0720 the employee filled the trough with water. At 0850 I spoke with establishment manager REDACTED about the noncompliance with 9CFR313.2 (e). A similar noncompliance PVG4108035618N with animals not being provided with water was issued on 03-18-2025. The establishment response was specific to a different situation and concluded with. “we will make sure all pens have water going forward”

313.2

While preforming HATS Category IV - Handling During Ante Mortem Inspection I observed a noncompliance with HATS Category III water and feed availability. At 0658 CSI REDACTED went to the livestock holding pens to begin ante-mortem inspections. I observed that there were 5 market hogs in pen 3 without access to water. I observed that the tank watering system in pen 3 was empty and not refilling itself as designed. With no water available I located employee REDACTED and requested that he provide water to pen 3. He immediately filled the basin with water at 0705. I notified establishments manager REDACTED of forthcoming noncompliance report. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours access to feed. A similar noncompliance Report #3210020920 was issued on 02-20-2025 for water inaccessibility due to water becoming frozen.

313.2

At approximately 0710 hours, while performing HATS Category III – Water and Feed Availability, I (REDACTED, CSI) observed the following non-compliance with HATS Categories I-Adequate Measures for Inclement Weather and III-Water and Feed Availability: On 02/20/2025 CSI REDACTED went to the livestock areas to observe the 7 cattle being held in pens two and three, and the 4 swine in pen one. The water tank in pen number 1 was frozen at the water basin access point. Continuing my inspection, I located employee REDACTED and let him know that the water was frozen and inaccessible to the 4 swine being held in pen one. At approximately 0720 I observed employee REDACTED make water accessible to the swine in pen one by removing the solid ice and filling the basin with water. I notified establishment manager REDACTED by phone that there was noncompliance with the water accessibility and that I would be documenting noncompliance. At 0725 REDACTED and REDACTED arrived at the establishment and evaluated the livestock holding areas. I explained that the establishment had failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9CFR 313.2(e) for allowing water to become frozen and, therefore, inaccessible. A similar noncompliance (PVG3207025806) with 9 CFR 313.2(e) was documented on 02-06-2025 for water not being available due to freezing.

313.2

HAT Category I: Measures for Inclement Weather and HAT Category III: Water and Feed Availability. At 0720 on 02/06/2025, Dr. REDACTED and CSI REDACTED went to the livestock areas to observe the animals being held for the day’s slaughter. While I was performing Ante- Mortem inspection, Dr. REDACTED observed and pointed out to me that the water in pen number three was frozen from both the top and side water access points. I observed 2 steers inside pen 3 where the water was frozen and inaccessible to the animals. At approximately 0725 I informed employee REDACTED of the failure to have water accessible to the cattle in pen 3. He immediately walked to the livestock area and moved one steer into pen two where water was available and accessible. In pen 3 he broke the ice to make water accessible to that steer as well. I notified establishment manager REDACTED by phone that there was noncompliance with the water accessibility and that I would be documenting noncompliance. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9CFR 313.2(e) for failing to have water accessible for cattle, in addition allowing water to become frozen and, therefore, inaccessible. I later explained to the establishment manager REDACTED the nature of the noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e), which requires that water be available at all times.

313.30(a)(1),313.30(a)(3)

At approximately 0840 hours, while observing HATS Category VIII – Stunning Effectiveness, I (REDACTED, DVMO) observed the following non-compliance: A stunning employee attempted to stun a market hog with a manual Y wand type electric stunner after properly restraining the animal inside the hog knock box. The employee placed the stun wand behind the hog’s ears and then activated the electric stunner. The first attempt was ineffective as the market hog remained conscious. The hog collapsed partially on its knee and vocalized immediately. The hog had tracking eye movement to sounds and nearby movement and was blinking in response to stimuli. The animal displayed muscle twitches and very mild spasms. The employee quickly tried to re-stun the hog by positioning the stun wand behind the hog’s ears and activating the eclectic stunner. However, the hog showed no reaction to the electric stunner, and this attempt was also ineffective, as the hog stood up, moved and turned away from the employee inside the knock box. The employee was heard saying that the electric stunner was not functional. The stunning employee immediately and effectively re-stunned the market hog with a pre-loaded 9 mm pistol resulting in an unconscious hog. The market hog remained unconscious throughout shackling, hoisting and bleeding. Note that the electric stunner worked effectively on the previous two hogs that were stunned. I took regulatory control action and placed U.S. Rejected tag number B45011156 on the knock box and verbally discussed my observations with Mr. REDACTED, Co-Owner. As part of the plant's corrective action, the plant sent the electric stunner for repair in Grand Rapids and is looking to purchase a new one. At approximately 1050 hours, the regulatory control action was relinquished when the plant requested to use captive bolt devices/firearms to stun the remaining animals. This noncompliance is in violation of 9 CFR 313.30 (a)(3) and 313.30(a)(1) "The electric current shall be administered so as to produce, at a minimum, surgical anesthesia, i.e., a state where the animal feels no painful sensation. The animals shall be either stunned or killed before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. They shall be exposed to the electric current in a way that will accomplish the desired result quickly and effectively, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." This is the first ineffective electric stunning incident since the beginning of 2024; however, a related humane handling noncompliance record (NR # PVG5415081708N-1) was documented on August 8, 2024, due to ineffective stunning with a firearm.