JJ Meats Company: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.15 (b)(1)(i)

I, CSI REDACTED, observed the following Humane Handling noncompliance while verifying HATS Category VIII- stunning effectiveness at Est 4969 JJ Meats on September 22, 2025. At approximately 1055 hours, I was observing Mr. REDACTED, establishment employee, performing stunning operation on a goat. I observed him bringing a fractious goat into the knock box and performing a stunning attempt with a handheld captive bolt. I heard the captive bolt fire, but the goat was still conscious, with its head up, eyes open and responsive to the surroundings. The goat remained standing on all four legs between Mr. REDACTED and the wall, moving its legs and trying to move away, and kneeling to attempt to get under the side panel. Mr. REDACTED restrained the goat and immediately proceeded to do a second stunning attempt, but the goat was still conscious, standing on all four legs, moving its body and head while vocalizing. Mr. REDACTED then immediately reloaded the hand-held captive bolt gun applied an effective third stun, rendering the goat unconscious. The goat was no longer standing, and no more vocalization, body or eye movements were observed. I notified Mr. REDACTED to stop stunning operation and I also notified Quality REDACTED of the noncompliance. In accordance with the Title 9 CFR 313.50(c), I took regulatory control action by applying U.S Rejected Tag # B-41904853 to the knock box. The establishment failed to conduct slaughter of livestock in accordance with regulatory requirements outlined in Title 9 CFR 313.15 (b)(1)(i).

313.2

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, at approximately 0931 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task, I CSI REDACTED, observed the following Noncompliance: One steer being held in pen five had no water, trough inside of pen was dry with dirt and weeds. Seven goats being held in pen two, did not have access to water inside of the pen. No establishment employees were present outside in the holding pen area at the time of observation. As I approached the Kill Floor to inform management of observation the Livestock handler employee arrived to the area and I informed him of the observation, as water was being filled in pen five, I proceeded to the Kill Floor to inform Quality Control Supervisor REDACTED of the noncompliance. At approximately 0935 hours SPHV Dr. REDACTED was notified of observations. Ms. REDACTED was notified of the forthcoming documentation of a noncompliance record. A noncompliance record JCO3018054228 dated May 28, 2025 was issued the previous day for no water being available in the holding pen containing seven cattle. The establishment written corrective actions have not been sufficient to prevent recurrence. For measures to prevent recurrence the establishment stated “Spoke with livestock handler about making sure to check water periodically and specifically before breaking for lunch and when returning from lunch, also checking before leaving at the end of the day and checking first thing at the beginning of day.” Noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) “(e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens...”

313.2

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at approximately 1448 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task, I CSI REDACTED, observed the following Noncompliance: Seven cattle being held in pen four, the water trough inside of the pen did not have any water available for the animals and was dry. I immediately informed Livestock handler employee of my observation. Livestock handler employee filled the trough with water at approximately 1451 hours. At approximately 1449 SPHV Dr. REDACTED was notified of observations. Quality Control Supervisor REDACTED was notified of noncompliance and the documentation of a noncompliance record at approximately 1452 hours. Noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.2(e) “(e) Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens...”

313.2

On November 12, 2024, at approximately 1529 hours, while performing a Livestock Humane Handling Task, I observed the following noncompliance with HATS Category V Handling of Suspects and Disabled in ante-mortem pen 1 at Establishment M4969, JJ Meat. I, CSI REDACTED, observed the knocking employee, REDACTED, stab a bob veal calf in the heart with a knife. The bob veal calf was conscious, and in response, the animal was observed lifting its head and blinking its eyes, but no vocalization was noted after the knife stab. The calf in question had not received a knock with a handheld captive bolt (HHCB) to render it unconscious prior to the knife stab. The calf had been mistaken with another calf next to it that had previously received a successful knock with a HHCB due to being non-ambulatory disabled. Upon immediate realization of my observations, I informed Mr. REDACTED of my findings. Mr. REDACTED immediately administered a successful knock with a HHCB, which rendered the animal unconscious. I immediately notified SPHV Dr. REDACTED of the incident for further guidance. Following input and guidance from ADO DVMO Dr. REDACTED, it was determined that the findings identified represented a noncompliance. Dr. REDACTED placed USDA Reject tag #NOB46605876 on Pen 1 at 1600 hours and informed QC Manager REDACTED of the noncompliance. The pen was released as of 1000 hours on 11/13/24 after acceptable corrective actions were proffered. The findings outlined above represent a noncompliance with regulation 9 CFR 313.2 due to the inhumane handling of livestock.

313.15(a)(2)

On October 9, 2024, I CSI REDACTED, at approximately 1126 hours, observed the following Category IV Ante-mortem Inspection noncompliance with regulations 9 CFR 313.15(a)(2): From inside of the Kill Floor, while observing the Halal cutting of goat carcasses after the goats have been knocked with a HHCB. I, CSI REDACTED, observed the dragging of a live goat by the horns. The goat had its back legs locked straight on the ground, front legs were not touching the ground as it was being held up by the horns and dragged approximately 2 yards inside of the knock box prior to knocking. No vocalization from the animal was heard and no injuries were observed because of dragging. I immediately notified Quality Control Supervisor REDACTED of the observation. I pointed out to Ms. REDACTED the puddle of blood inside of the knock box with two clearly visible tracks through the blood created by the back legs of dragged goat. While I was describing to Ms. REDACTED my observations, Plant Manger REDACTED Jr. dragged another live goat by the horns. The legs of goat were locked straight, all four legs were touching the floor as it was dragged by the horns. The goat was vocalizing as it was being dragged into the knock box, for approximately 2 yards. The goat continued to vocalize as it was held up against the wall before applying a knock with a HHBC. No injuries were observed to have occurred in relation to the dragging. Ms. REDACTED immediately called Mr. REDACTED on his cellphone and walked out of the kill floor towards the holding pens to speak with him. Tag B-46605881 was attached to knock box as the location of noncompliance at approximately 1200 hours and the tag was removed at approximately 1215 once corrective actions were proffered. Noncompliance with 9 CFR 313.15(a)(2) “The driving of the animals to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Delivery of calm animals to the stunning areas is essential since accurate placement of stunning equipment is difficult on nervous or injured animals. Among other things, this requires that, in driving animals to the stunning areas, electrical equipment be used as little as possible and with the lowest effective voltage.”