Harvester Meat Co.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Harvester Meat Co. slaughterhouse establishment in 2025.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2025.
313.16(a)(1)
On Friday 3/21/2025 at 10AM, Dr. REDACTED and myself were present on the slaughter floor. I was observing stunning effectiveness (HATS category VIII) as an employee was using a 22-magnum rifle to stun a market swine. When the employee pulled the trigger, the animal moved, and the animal was not properly stunned. The animal remained standing and vocalized loudly. The employee immediately reloaded and applied a second stun which rendered the animal unconscious. Upon head inspection after hide removal, both wounds were visible with the first wound being off to the right, and the second wound being correctly placed. Owner REDACTED was informed of this noncompliance. This is non-compliant with the following regulation: 313.16(a)(1) - (a) Utilization of firearms, required effect, handling. (1) The firearms shall be employed in the delivery of a bullet or projectile into the animal in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal by a single shot before it is shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be shot in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.
313.15(a)(1)
On Thursday 10/31/24 at approximately 9:30am, Dr. REDACTED and Supervisor REDACTED were both present on the slaughter floor with Inspector-in-training REDACTED and myself. I was observing stunning effectiveness (HATS Category VIII Verification Task) as the stunning operator was using a captive bolt device to stun a beef cow that was in the knock box with its head restrained in the head catch. The cow dropped after the initial stunning attempt, with its head still in the head catch and a bleeding wound visible on the head, but it was observed that the animal remained conscious, as indicated by eye tracking and controlled movement of the head. The stunning operator immediately reloaded the captive bolt device and applied a second stun, which rendered the cow unconscious. Upon head inspection after hide removal, two penetrating wounds in the skull were visible, with the first being slightly high, and the second correctly placed. Owner REDACTED was informed of this non-compliance. This is in non-compliance with the following regulation: 313.15(a)(1) - "The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort."
