JMF Slaughter (Mobile Unit): Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

On August 08, 2025, at approximately 0905 hours, while I was performing the Humane Handling HATS category VIII “Stunning Effectiveness”, I observed that Pen Manager REDACTED, was mechanically stunning a standing heifer with a rifle inside a pen. The stunning failed to render unconsciousness on the first attempt. When he realized that the first stunning attempt was not effective, (at approximately 0907 hours), he fired the second shot, which rendered the animal unconscious. The establishment failed to immediately render the animal unconscious with a single shot, with minimal excitement and discomfort to the animal. I immediately notified Establishment Owner REDACTED and Pen Manager REDACTED that I am taking a regulatory control action under 9 CFR 313.50 © and I tagged the stunning box with a U.S. Reject tag #B45136927. Mr. REDACTED provided me with corrective action, which was immediately retrain Mr. REDACTED on rifle knocking when the box is not in use, focusing on where to place the rifle shot on the cattle head to produce an immediate unconsciousness with a single shot. I considered this corrective action acceptable and then released the regulatory control action by removing the U.S. Reject tag #B45136927 from the knock box. I informed Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance due to the establishment’s failure to comply with the 9 CFR 313.16 (a) (1).

313.15(a)(1)

Approximately 0640 hours, we Dr. REDACTED, SPHV, and CSI REDACTED performed a Humane Handling Task verifying HATS category 8 , stunning effectiveness. We observed a sow in the knock box that was approximately 560lbs, vocalizing, and was constantly trying to get out by aggressively pushing her body against the walls. REDACTED, Stunner, along with REDACTED, Sanitation Personnel, applied electric shock behind the ears using an electric stun wand, Best and Donavan with approximately 560 volts. The Sow went down immediately and did not display eye tracking, righting reflex or vocalization. REDACTED opened the door of the knock box and REDACTED tried to push her on her side so they could apply another shock near the heart. After two pushes she did not go down on her side and regained consciousness by standing up and walking out of the knock box. This fails to meet regulatory requirement of 313.30(a)(1). REDACTED ran after her and guided her into an alley between the holding pens and knock box. He immediately grabbed the handheld captive bolt and knocked her at 0643 hours. The captive bolt was ineffective as she remained standing and moving, walking side to side. This fails to meet regulatory requirement of 313.15(a)(1). We were unable to get close to the sow since the area was too small, but from where we were standing, we did not see blood in the area, only a black mark from the captive bolt. REDACTED then proceeded to get a rifle. At 0649 hours, approximately nine minutes after the first stun, he shot the sow with the rifle and she immediately went down. The sow was rendered unconscious. There was no vocalization and no eye movement. The establishment then proceeded to bleed the animal. We examined the head with REDACTED. We observed one hole which penetrated fully into the cranium. There was another mark 2 cm below the penetrated hole which was black and merely dented the skull. I notified REDACTED, plant owner of the incident. I told him I would be taking regulatory control action and no more stunning could occur. In accordance with 9CFR 313.50(c) CSI REDACTED applied the U.S Reject Tag on the knock box with Reject tag No. B-45136926. The plant is currently operating under a Robust systematic approach, (RSA) and the District office issued and Notice of intended enforcement (NOIE)

313.15(a)(1)

On 2/19/25 at approximately 0728 I Dr. REDACTED, SPHV and CSI REDACTED witnessed the following noncompliance while performing HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness. A steer was loaded into the knock box and the stunner, Mr. REDACTED, placed a loaded handheld captive bolt gun against its forehead and fired. The steer remained standing and was swinging its head around in circles. Mr. REDACTED immediately grabbed the loaded backup handheld captive bolt gun behind him and applied a second stun which was effective in rendering the animal unconscious. After was bled, I examined the head with Mr. REDACTED. We observed two distinct holes in the hide of the forehead. After skinning the skull, we noted one hole centered in the forehead that penetrated fully into the cranium. The other hole (approximately 1 cm cranial) was shallow and merely dented the skull. I notified Mr. REDACTED, plant owner, about the incident. I told him I would be taking regulatory control action and no more stunning could occur. In accordance with 9 CFR 313.50 (c), CSI REDACTED applied U.S Reject Tag NO. B-46 022087 on the knock box. Mr. REDACTED and Mr. REDACTED noted that the cartridges for the captive bolt gun failed to discharge properly. They replaced all parts of the captive bolt gun (rod, bumpers, washers) and obtained a new box of cartridges. They fired three practice shots into a cow skull and determined that the captive bolt gun and cartridges were working appropriately. The knock box was released at 0757. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.15 (a).