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

313.2

HAT Category IV: Ante-mortem Stress & Discomfort; 9 CFR 313.2(a) & 9 CFR 313.12(d)(2) On Wednesday, August 6th, 2025, at approximately 8:40 AM, while performing a routine humane handling verification at the knock box area, I CSI REDACTED, observed establishment personnel attempting to move a beef animal with large intact horns into the knock box. The animal appeared hesitant to place its head into the restraint device and used its horns to hold back. In response, employees placed a harness around the animal’s horns and began pulling it forward, attempting to drag the animal into it and forcing the animal’s head into the restraint. The animal vocalized and began kicking the rear knock box door, demonstrating clear signs of distress. Pulling or dragging animals by the horns is an inhumane method of handling and is not consistent with the requirements outlined in 9 CFR 313.2(a) and 9 CFR 313.2(d)(2). As a result of this incident, I placed U.S. Reject tag NO. B-45 882482 on the knock box to reject the area. Plant manager, REDACTED, was informed of this action and that no further slaughter operations may occur until corrective actions have been implemented and verified by FSIS. I also informed him that I would be documenting a noncompliance. The plant does not have an active robust program in place. There has been no similar noncompliance in the past 90 days.

313.2

HAT Category III: Water and Feed Availability 9 CFR 313.2(e) On Friday, May 30, 2025, at approximately 5:21 AM, while performing ante-mortem inspections, I, CSI REDACTED, observed multiple livestock pens contained empty water receptacles. Pens 4, 8, 2 and 3 had 3 empty bins and held a total of 10 bovine. This is consistent with similar findings from the prior day’s ante-mortem inspection and had already been discussed. According to establishment personnel, water is provided to animals at the end of the previous production day, and no personnel are present overnight to monitor or refill water. As a result, livestock held overnight are not ensured continuous access to water, as required by 9 CFR 313.2(e). This failure to maintain accessible water constitutes a noncompliance with humane handling regulations. I notified plant manager, REDACTED, of the noncompliance. There have been no similar NRs to this incident recently. The establishment does not currently have an active RSA program.

313.2

HAT Category IV: Ante-mortem Inspection-Handling of Livestock 9 CFR 313.2(a) On May 16, 2025, at approximately 5:29 AM, the establishment requested ante-mortem inspection for a group of cattle. Upon arriving at the pens to perform inspection, I CSI. REDACTED observed blood pooling on the ground around the alley leading to the knock box. I questioned the establishment regarding the source of the blood. The plant lead, REDACTED, disclosed that they had manually removed the horns from multiple live cattle. This action was performed prior to ante-mortem inspection by FSIS. The dehorning of live animals- without anesthetic or veterinary supervision- is a serious inhumane act that causes unnecessary pain and distress to animals in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a). I applied a USDA retain/reject tag NO. B-45 882092 to the knock box to prevent further slaughter operations until corrective measures could be verified and approved. The establishment was informed of the noncompliance and regulatory control action. Mr. REDACTED, Plant manager, contacted Dr. REDACTED, my immediate supervisor, via email with the proposed corrective actions. Dr. REDACTED reviewed and accepted the corrective measures. Following further instruction and authorization from my supervisor, I removed the tag from the knock box and allowed slaughter operations to resume as of 6:45 AM. There are no recent similar NRs currently and the establishment does not have an RSA program.

313.2

HATS Category III: Water/Feed Availability; 9 CFR 313.2(e) On November 27, 2024, at approximately 1113 hours, while performing antemortem inspection at establishment #M47867, Divine Meats, Inc., I, CSI REDACTED, observed the following noncompliance: The water trough placed between pen 3 and pen 2 had been moved over to pen 2, preventing access to water for the sheep and goat animals in pen 3. Additionally, the remaining water accessible to pen 3 consisted of very little muddy water. I immediately contacted Plant Manager, REDACTED, via cellphone and informed him of my findings and that a noncompliance record would be issued. Mr. REDACTED sent over Supervisor REDACTED, who emptied the trough, refilled it with clean water, and then repositioned it back between pen 2 and pen 3, restoring access to clean water for the sheep and goat animals in both pens. No U.S. Reject Tag was applied, as corrective actions were completed in my presence. The establishment failed to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(e).

313.15(b)(1)(iii)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness - 9 CFR 313.15(b)(1)(iii) At establishment #M47867, Divine Meats, Inc., on October 26, 2024, at approximately 0611 hours, I, CSI REDACTED, was returning to the slaughter floor from the northeast breakroom hallway. As I entered the slaughter area, I observed a bull standing directly in front of the knock box. I immediately retreated back into the hallway and proceeded to the establishment’s breakroom, where I closed the door behind me but left it slightly ajar. At that point, I could no longer see the bull, but I could hear establishment personnel shouting, attempting to gain the bull’s attention to guide it off the slaughter floor. Through the partly open door, I saw the bull walk towards the hallway entrance. This was the second time I had observed the bull. It appeared stressed and agitated. I was only able to observe it for a few seconds before it turned and walked back onto the slaughter floor. A few minutes later, I observed Plant Manager REDACTED walk past the breakroom carrying a rifle. Mr. REDACTED proceeded towards the slaughter entrance and stood nearby. At approximately 0615 hours, Mr. REDACTED informed me that the bull had exited through the northwest processing exit door. At 0618 hours, I took regulatory control action by rejecting the knock box with U.S. reject tag number B45882073. While applying the tag, I observed that the front panel of the knock box appeared to have been reinforced or repaired using plywood. The plywood was broken due to the animal’s escape. Mr. REDACTED was verbally notified that a noncompliance record would be documented. By 0625 hours, Mr. REDACTED informed me that the bull had been chased away from the front entrance gate and directed towards the horse field. On October 28, 2024, at 1044 hours, I requested documentation to demonstrate that the establishment is properly implementing a systematic animal welfare system. According to the plan, “Management will review all elements of this humane handling plan a minimum of two times per year.” However, Plant Manager REDACTED was unable to provide the requested records.