Intermountain Packing, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.1

HATS Category IV: Antemortem Inspection On 9/13/25 at approximately 0640 hours I, the SPHV, was informed by the CSI performing antemortem inspection that a beef cow was found dead with her head stuck between two parallel bars of a gate leading into one of the holding pens. The beef cow arrived at the establishment approximately 8 hours prior. I immediately went out to the live animal holding area and found the animal dead with her head stuck between the bars of a pen gate. The gap between the bars is approximately 12 inches. No regulatory control action was taken as the animal was already deceased. This finding represents non-compliance with 9 CFR 313.1 (a) which states “livestock pens, driveways and ramps shall be maintained in good repair. They shall be free from sharp or protruding objects which may, in the opinion of the inspector, cause injury or pain to the animals. Loose boards, splintered or broken planking, and unnecessary openings where the head, feet, or legs of an animal may be injured shall be repaired.” I informed the live animal supervisor of the issue and forthcoming non-compliance. The Denver District Management Team was contacted through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance reports issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to livestock humane handling and slaughter.

313.1

HATS Category II – Truck Unloading HATS Category VII – Slips and Falls On August 22, 2025, at approximately 0950 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547, the CSI was observing humane handling at the establishment's unloading dock and observed one cow slip and fall to her knees as she exited the trailer onto the waffled concrete loading ramp this portion of the unloading ramp was covered in manure. The cow was able to regain its footing and continue down the ramp. An establishment team member was present to observe the slip and fall and was verbally informed that a written noncompliance report would be issued. Immediately after the Kill Floor Manager was notified and came to the unloading dock and observed where the incident took place and was verbally notified that a noncompliance report would be issued. The establishment took immediate corrective action by power washing the ramp. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted through supervisory channels. A review of the establishment noncompliance history associates this NR with NR#EKK4514085811N-1 issued on 8/11/2025 for the same root cause. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.

313.1

HATS Category II – Truck Unloading HATS category VII – Slips and Falls On August 11, 2025, at approximately 1050 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547 the CSI was observing humane handling at the establishment's unloading dock. The CSI observed one cow slip on its front legs resulting in the animal’s front legs between the hoof and the knee contacting the waffled concrete ramp. The cow was able to regain its footing and continue down the ramp. The sloped unloading dock was covered with manure. The CSI took regulatory control action and rejected the ramp with US Rejected tag No. B-46631158. An establishment team member was present to observe the slip and was verbally informed that a written noncompliance report would be issued. Immediately after the QA Manager was notified, she came to the unloading dock and observed where the incident took place and was verbally notified that a noncompliance report would be issued. An establishment team member immediately directed the semis to unload cattle at the other unloading ramp. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist and Officers were contacted through supervisory channels. A review of the establishment noncompliance history did not reveal any similar noncompliance record (NR) written in the past 90 days for same root cause. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.

313.2

HATS Category III Water and Feed Availability On Thursday July 24, 2025, at approximately 5:36 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547 While observing cattle being held in the outside holding pens, I, the CSI, observed the following non-compliance. Two semi-trucks loaded with cattle in trailers were observed at the unloading dock waiting to be unloaded by establishment personnel. I observed two more trucks along the side of the pens on official establishment premises at approximately 5:36. At approximately 5:50 AM one of the semi-truck drivers from the unloading dock exited the truck and informed me he had been waiting since 5:00 AM for his truck to be unloaded. An establishment team member was immediately verbally notified of the non-compliance for no access to water being provided to livestock while utilizing livestock trailers as holding pens, and the harvest floor manager was verbally notified that a noncompliance record would be written. No regulatory action was taken due to the observed immediate corrective action of the establishment team member notifying the other two trucks to leave the premises due to the holding pens being full. When a semi-truck loaded with cattle enters the official premises, the trailer is considered to be a part of the establishment premise and is subject to verification by FSIS with regards to humane handling requirements, including access to water as required by 9 CFR 313.2 (e). The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was notified through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. The establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to humane handling livestock.

313.2

On Friday, May 9, 2025, at approximately 605 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547. While observing humane handling at the establishment's holding pens IPP observed the following noncompliance. In the alley way, approximately 38 cows were observed without access to water. The water troughs typically used to service this area did not contain any water, thereby preventing the animals access to water. An establishment team member was immediately verbally notified of the noncompliance and the fabrication manager was verbally notified that a noncompliance record would be written. No regulatory action was taken due to the observed immediate corrective action of the establishment team member filling the water trough and providing the cows access to water. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted through supervisory channels. This NR is being associated to EKK1908044910N dated 04/10/25 for the same root cause. The establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling livestock.

313.2

HATS CATEGORY III: Water and Feed Availability On Thursday, April 10, 2025, at approximately 550 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547. While walking past the outdoor holding pens, I observed a truck load of cattle without access to water. The water troughs typically used to service this area did not contain any water, thereby preventing the animals access to water. Upon further investigation the cattle arrived at approximately 2000 hours on April 9, 2025. An establishment team member was immediately verbally notified of the noncompliance and the plant manager that a noncompliance record would be written. No regulatory action was taken due to the observed corrective action of the establishment team member filling the water trough and providing the cows access to water. I observed multiple cattle immediately going to the water trough to drink. A review was conducted and there have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. The Denver District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contracted regarding this event. The establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling livestock.

313.1

HATS Category II – Truck Unloading HATS category VII – Slips and Falls On March 24, 2025, at approximately 0920 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547 the CSI was observing humane handling at the establishment's unloading dock. During truck unloading, the CSI observed one cow slip on its front legs resulting in the animal’s front legs, between the hoof and the knee, contacting the waffled concrete ramp. The cow then fell on its back legs when contacting the waffled concrete ramp and the animal landed on its’ stomach on the waffled concrete ramp. The cow was able to regain its footing and continue down the ramp. The sloped unloading dock was not covered with manure or snow/ice. This trailer load of cattle trotted off of the livestock trailer, at faster than a normal walking speed, without coaxing. An establishment team member was present to observe the trip and fall and was verbally informed that a written noncompliance report would be issued. Immediately after the incident the Plant Manager and the Establishment Administrator both came to the unloading dock and observed the situation. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted through supervisory channels. A review of the establishment noncompliance history did not reveal a similar NR written in the past 90 days for same root cause. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock. The establishment has proffered removing any potential trip hazard. The establishment is going to adjust the plastic along the pens, so no reflection is seen by the cattle from the cattle pen's drainage tank. The establishment is working on ordering some tire mats for the ramps and removing/filing down the metal rails where the cattle are being unloaded.

313.1

. HATS Category II – Truck Unloading HATS category VII – Slips and Falls On March 20, 2025, at approximately 0658 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547 the CSI was observing humane handling at the establishment's unloading dock. The CSI observed one cow slip on its back legs resulting in the back legs contacting the waffled concrete ramp. The cow was able to regain its footing and continue down the ramp. The CSI took a regulatory control action and rejected the ramp with US Rejected tag No. B-46631071. The sloped unloading dock was mostly covered with manure and snow. Establishment team member was present to observe the conditions and was verbally informed that a written noncompliance report would be issued. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted through supervisory channels. A review of the establishment noncompliance history did not reveal a similar NR written in the past 90 days for same root cause. Upon request of management, the CSI observed the loading dock at approximately 0905 hours and found it to still be unacceptable. The establishment had spread wood chips on top of the manure. The ramp had not been thoroughly cleaned so the slip hazard had not been addressed. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.

313.1

. HATS Category II – Truck Unloading HATS category VII – Slips and Falls On October 3, 2024, at approximately 0830 hours at Intermountain Packing. Est. M47547 the CSI was observing humane handling at the establishment's unloading dock. The CSI observed one cow slip on its front legs resulting in the animal’s front legs between the hoof and the knee contacting the waffled concrete ramp. The cow was able to regain its footing and continue down the ramp. The CSI observed a second cow slip and fall at the top of ramp on all four legs and the cows stomach contacted the waffled concrete ramp. This second cow was also able to regain its own footing, did not appear injured, and continued down the ramp. After the remaining six cattle were removed from the truck, the CSI took a regulatory control action by placing US Rejected tag No. B-46520360 on the unloading dock. The unloading dock had manure present and wet areas. Establishment yards supervisor was verbally informed that a written noncompliance report would be issued. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted through supervisory channels. A review of the establishment noncompliance history did not reveal a similar NR written in the past 90 days for same root cause. At approximately 1520 the establishment contacted the CSI to re-inspect the unloading dock, the CSI observed the loading dock condition to be acceptable and removed the U.S. Reject tag. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.

313.2

HATS CATEGORY III: Water and Feed Availability On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at approximately 0635 hours at Intermountain Packing, Est. M47547. While observing humane handling at the establishment’s holding pens, IPP observed the following non-compliance. In the alley way, 33 cows were observed without access to water. The water troughs typically used to service this area did not contain any water, thereby preventing the animals access to water. An establishment team member was immediately verbally notified of the non-compliance and that a noncompliance record would be written. No regulatory control action was taken due to the observed corrective action of the establishment team member filling the water troughs and providing the cows’ access to water. At 1030 hours I verbally notified the yards supervisor of the forthcoming noncompliance, and verbally notified the Establishment Coordinator. A review was conducted and there have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. The Denver District Veterinary Medical Specialist was contacted regarding this event. This establishment does not operate under a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.