Green River Meats LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15(a)(1),313.15(a)(3)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning effectiveness On June 11, 2025, at approximately 1305 hours, while performing the Livestock Humane Handling task, I, Consumer Safety Inspector REDACTED, observed the following: A sheep was placed into the small knock box for stunning. Establishment personnel fired the handheld captive bolt device (HHCBD); the initial stun attempt contacted the animal but was ineffective, as the sheep remained standing, looking about, and attempting to jump out of the small knock box. Establishment personnel immediately retrieved a backup HHCBD, and subsequently both HHCB devices misfired within a matter of seconds. The stun operator then reloaded the initial HHCBD and delivered an effective corrective action stun, rendering the animal insensible, and it remained so throughout the slaughter process. U.S. Rejected tag #B37427773 was placed upon the large knock box and U.S. Rejected tag #B37427759 was placed upon the small knock box. Establishment Co-owner/Operations Manager REDACTED was notified of the observed non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.15 (a)(3) and of the forthcoming documentation. The chain of command was contacted for further guidance.

313.2

HATS Category II: Truck Unloading On March 19, 2025, at approximately 0845 hours while performing a Livestock Humane Handling task at Green River Meats (M2628), I, Consumer Safety Inspector REDACTED, observed the following: While observing the unloading process of three market swine from a trailer and into the alleyway (prior to weighing), Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) observed the livestock owner forcibly push one hog off the edge of the trailer, an approximate drop of 1 foot. The hog fell and landed on its body cavity, exhibited vocalization, and was observed with a bloody snout as a result of the fall. Shortly after, IPP observed the livestock owner pull on the hind leg of a second hog with force, and the hog exhibited vocalization. IPP immediately informed Kill Room Supervisor REDACTED of the unacceptable manner in which the swine were being removed from the trailer. While continuing inspection in the same area, IPP observed the livestock owner forcibly pulling on the ear of one hog while attempting to remove it from the trailer. IPP re-informed Mr. REDACTED of these additional observations. Co-owner/Operations Manager REDACTED was also notified of the observations and of the forthcoming documentation of non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(a).

313.15(a)(3),313.15(a)(1)

HATS category VIII: Stunning effectiveness While performing the Livestock Humane Handling task at Green River Meats (M2628) Campbellsville, KY, Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (SVMO) REDACTED, DVM made the following observation on the kill floor of the establishment at approximately 0920 hrs. EDT: A black heifer was placed in the knock box for stunning. After securing the head of the heifer in the head catch, establishment personnel fired the handheld captive bolt device (HHCBD); the initial stun attempt was observed to contact the animal but was ineffective, as the heifer remained standing (conscious righting reflex) and looking about (conscious eye tracking). Establishment personnel immediately retrieved the nearby secondary HHCBD and delivered an effective corrective action stun, rendering the heifer insensible, and it remained so throughout the slaughter process. U.S. Rejected tag #B45467438 was placed upon the knock box and establishment Co-owner/Operations Manager REDACTED was notified of the observed non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) and 9 CFR 313.15(a)(3), and of the regulatory control action. The chain of command was contacted for further guidance.

313.2

HATS category III: Water and Feed Availability While performing the Livestock Humane Handling task at Green River Meats (M2628) Campbellsville, KY, Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (SVMO) REDACTED, DVM made the following observations in the holding pens of the establishment at approximately 0830 hrs. EST: Two Holsteins, one heifer and one steer, being held in separate pens were found without access to water. In one pen, the repurposed plastic mineral tub being used as a water receptacle was observed cracked and broken laying on its side in a corner of the pen with frozen water on the ground. In the second pen, the repurposed plastic mineral tub being used as a water receptacle was observed with frozen water. Kill Floor Supervisor REDACTED was notified of the above observations and forthcoming documentation of non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e).