Del Fox Custom Meats Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(3),313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On July 02, 2025, at approximately 0815 hours I, the CSI, while performing the HATS Verification Task at the stunning area of Del Fox Custom Meats, observed the following noncompliance: The stun operator attempted to stun a cow with a .22 magnum rifle. The cow collapsed and groaned but was not fully conscious. The stun operator applied multiple security stun attempts with the same firearm. The cow continued to groan but did not attempt to rise during the security stun attempts. The stun operator then retrieved the backup handheld captive bolt device (HHCB) and applied additional security stun attempts which fully rendered the animal insensible. The establishment manager then applied a security stun with a 30-30 rifle. The cow remained insensible throughout the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding process. U.S. Reject tag number B-42102386 was placed on the stun box. The establishment management was verbally notified of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Upon inspection of the dressed head, one large penetrating hole and one small hole adjacent to it was observed in the skull. The Denver District Management Team was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment maintains a Robust Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock.