Mills County Meat Locker: 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 Mills County Meat Locker slaughterhouse establishment in 2025.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2025.
313.2
On 17Sept 2025, at approximately 1445 hours while conducting on-line duties I CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: I observed a goat walking around the stunning area, the goat was then picked up and placed back on the knock box. Once Mr. REDACTED arrived at the USDA inspection area, I informed him of what I witnessed, and I notified of the forthcoming noncompliance report. There was a similar noncompliance on 03Sept, 2025, on NR #OHP0612095103N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. These conditions failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states: “Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.”
313.2
On 17Sept 2025, at approximately 0912 hours while conducting on-line duties I CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. I observed a lamb walking on the kill floor that also came up the stairs from the stunning floor into the USDA inspection area then went as far as the truck load out area of the plant. I requested an employee to get the plant manager, REDACTED, so he may be properly notified of the incident. While waiting on the plant manager, I observed the lamb was then picked up, carried and placed back on the knock box by two plant employees. Once Mr. REDACTED arrived at the USDA inspection area, he was able to see the lamb being placed back on the knock box and I notified Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. There was a similar noncompliance on 03Sept2025, on NR #OHP0612095103N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. These conditions failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states: “Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.”
313.2
On 03Sept2025, at approximately 1530 hours while conducting on-line duties I CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance; I observed a lamb moving around the stunning floor. I requested an employee to get the plant manager, REDACTED, so he may be properly notified of the incident. While waiting for the plant manager, I observed the lamb was then picked up and placed back on the restraining platform by a plant employee. Once Mr. REDACTED arrived at the USDA inspection area, I informed him of what I witnessed and notified Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. There was a similar noncompliance on 14Aug 2025, on NR #OHP3610082615N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. These conditions failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states: “Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.”
313.2
On 14Aug 2025, at approximately 1542 hours while conducting on-line duties I CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. I observed a lamb walking on the kill floor that almost came up the stairs from the stunning floor into the USDA inspection area. I requested an employee to get the plant manager, REDACTED, so he may be properly notified of the incident. While waiting on the plant manager, I observed the lamb was then picked up and placed back on the knock box by two plant employees. Once Mr. REDACTED arrived at the USDA inspection area, I informed him of what I witnessed and notified Mr. REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. There was a similar noncompliance on 10Jul, 2025, on NR #OHP4908073811N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. These conditions failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states: “Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals.”
313.2,313.15 (b)(1)(ii)
On 10Jul 2025, at approximately 1327 hours while observing lamb and goat slaughter I CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance. While performing my on-line duties I heard a noise come from the kill floor and when I went to observe a single lamb that had jumped from the front of the knock box. The lamb was then picked up and placed back on the knock box. I asked the QC (Quality Control) personnel to get REDACTED so he may be properly notified of the incident. Once he arrived at the USDA inspection area and I informed him of what I witnessed. At approximately 1354 while continuing my on-line duties I heard loud shuffling from the kill floor. When I went to observe I witnessed one lamb jump from the side of the knock box behind the tarp and one lamb had also come off from the front of the knock box. I asked the QC personnel to get REDACTED so he may be properly notified of the second incident while I witnessed both lambs being placed back onto the knock box. Once he arrived for the second time, he informed the knock box employee to watch the surrounding area. I informed the Supervisor Consumer Safety Inspector (SCSI) of what I observed and notified REDACTED of the forthcoming noncompliance report. There was a similar noncompliance on May 6, 2025, NR #OHP4611053506N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. These conditions failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states driving animals to the stunning area shall be done with minimum excitement and discomfort to the animal.
313.15(b)(1)(iii),313.1,313.2
HAT Category VII- 9 CFR 313.2(a) On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at approximately 1015 while observing cattle slaughter the following noncompliance occurred, after knocking the first cow and removing the head I was observing the kill floor when a heifer came up the alley to the knocking area jumped and cleared approximately 8 feet tall gate, she then came up the steps to the evisceration floor then turned the corner to the hall, I left the area immediately by running up the hall to the exit door, she followed, hit the door and turned around where the knocking employee immediately shot her with a 22 and rendered her unconscious. There was a similar noncompliance for a lamb getting loose on the kill floor on May 5, 2025, NR # OHP2610050205N/1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. The plant was in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states driving animals to the stunning area shall be done with minimum excitement and discomfort to the animal.
313.2
HAT Category VII – 9 CFR 313.2(a) Slips and Falls On May 5th, 2025, while performing postmortem inspection in the USDA inspection area I, CSI REDACTED, heard another inspector on the floor bring awareness to an observed single lamb in immediate proximity to the postmortem inspection area at approximately 0950 hours. I then observed the lamb making its way to the exit door leading to the truck loadout. I, CSI REDACTED, then tagged the Hoist and shackling pin with tag #B41448842. SCSI Mr. REDACTED then spoke with the Plant Supervisor Mr. REDACTED and then removed the tag. There was a similar noncompliance written on March 21st, 2025. The noncompliance record number for the March 21st, 2025 NR is OHP3315032421N. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. The plant was in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states driving animals to the stunning area shall be done with minimum excitement and discomfort to the animal.
313.2
HAT Category VII – 9 CFR 313.2(a) Slips and Falls On March 21st, 2025, from 0900 hours to 0910 hours while performing postmortem inspection in the USDA inspection area I, CSI REDACTED observed a lamb fall off the bleeding area platform at approximately 0900 hours. It was retrieved by the kill floor personnel and lifted onto the bleeding area platform. At approximately 0905 hours a second lamb fell off the platform and made its way to the eviscerator. The eviscerator grabbed this lamb and walked it downstairs from the USDA inspection area to the bleeding area platform where it was lifted by kill floor personnel onto the bleeding area platform. I, CSI REDACTED then informed SCSI Mr. REDACTED of the escalating noncompliant observations that had occurred in such short time. After informing the SCSI of these observations another Lamb fell off the platform and ran upstairs to the USDA inspection area from the kill floor. The eviscerator once again picked it up and brought it to the platform to be lifted by kill floor personnel. SCSI REDACTED notified plant supervisor Mr. REDACTED and the owner of the establishment Mr. REDACTED of the observations that were made and that they would be receiving an NR. There was a similar noncompliance written on March 19th, 2025. The noncompliance record number for the March 19th NR is OHP2013034819N. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. The plant was in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states driving animals to the stunning area shall be done with minimum excitement and discomfort to the animal.
313.2
HAT Category VII – 9 CFR 313.2(a) Slips and Falls On March 19th, 2025, at approximately 0935 hours while on-line I, CSI REDACTED, was performing postmortem inspection on the kill floor inspection area. I observed a goat fall off of the bleeding area platform. It was chased around on the kill floor and to the IPP inspection area. The goat then rammed empty offal trash barrels knocking them down. The gutter chased the goat until he could pick it up in the Heimlich maneuver then carried it through the inspection area, kill floor, and finally the bleeding area platform. SCSI REDACTED arrived at the line at 1000 hours to give breaks. I, CSI REDACTED then informed SCSI REDACTED that the plant was non-compliant in HAT Category VII. SCSI REDACTED then notified the establishment Supervisor, Mr. REDACTED, that they would be receiving an NR. There has been a similar noncompliance written on February 27, 2025, on NR number OHP3714021427N1. The plant’s preventative measures were either ineffective or not implemented correctly. The plant was in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a) which states driving animals to the stunning area shall be done with minimum excitement and discomfort to the animal.
313.2
HAT Categ. IV - Handling During Ante Mortem Inspection 9 CFR 313.2(a) On March 13, 2025, at approximately 0838 hours while on the inspection area kill floor performing HAT category IV task, I, CSI REDACTED observed the establishment’ shackle and hoist, within the ritual bubble, prior to the ritual slaughter cut. The animal did not reach the ritual slaughter cut. The hoisting rope like material the establishment tied to secure the animal did not secure the hanging Lamb and it proceeded to be flipped onto the floor landing on its back causing discomfort and stress. No recent similar noncompliance in the last 90 days. The plant manager was notified that I will be documenting a noncompliance for the plants failure to comply with 9 CFR 313.2(a).
313.2
HAT Categ. VII - 313.2(a) Slips and Falls On February 27, 2025, at approximately 1106 hours while performing the Zero Tolerance Verification Task I, CSI REDACTED, was informed by Food Inspector REDACTED that there was a Lamb on the loose because it fell off the platform and being chased around in the hallway of the establishment. While performing my task I saw an establishment employee walking the lamb off the hallway floor, then walked to the inspection area kill floor at 1106 hours and then to the bleeding area where it was picked up and placed into the shackling pen to be hoist. There was no tag placed, and production was not stopped. The incident lasted less than 15 seconds after FI REDACTED alerted me to the situation. I notified the Plant Supervisor Mr. REDACTED at 1107 that the establishment would be receiving the non-compliance report for failure to keep livestock on the platform. This was brought up by Dallas DVMO Dr. REDACTED, on February 5th, 2025, during his visit to the establishment to discuss the Verification Plan that an NR would be written if not addressed. This was also brought up in an MOI/Weekly meeting with SCSI Mr. REDACTED on February 6th, 2025. The plant was in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(a).
313.16(a)(1),313.15(a)(1)
HATs Category VIII: Effective Stun 9 CFR 313.15(a)1) & 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) While conducting an Operational Review and Observation SSOP task on the kill floor at approximately 1000 hours, I observed an egregious act committed by the establishment. A cow was struck with a captive bolt once and vocalized while standing. The second attempt with the captive bolt left the animal standing and in pain. They then moved onto the designated firearm to make its 3rd attempt at rendering the animal unconscious. The establishment then retrieved its 22-caliber firearm to attempt what would be the third try. This designated firearm is intended to properly euthanize the animal after two failed attempts with the captive bolt. The gun was fired into the animal's head for the 3rd attempt, but it did not result in immediate unconsciousness, and it was still standing. The animal was shot a second time with the establishment's 22-caliber firearm, and it was euthanized at approximately 1013 hours. The second gunshot that took the animal down makes it an egregious act. The cattle head was subsequently skinned and washed. The 2 bullet holes and 2 captive bolt wounds merged into two holes in the skull after the cattle head was washed and processed by establishment employees. The knock box was not tagged in a timely manner following this incident. The establishment does not have a robust systematic approach program. The establishment failed to comply with regulations 9 CFR 313. 15 a (1) & 313.16 a (1) The plant supervisor REDACTED was notified at approximately 1015 hours that a noncompliance would be written.
313.2
On 10/18/2024 at approximately 1107hours while performing a humane handling task SPHV REDACTED observed the following non compliance: The plant employee was trying to move a heifer up the alley into the knocking area. The heifer was unwilling to enter the knocking area and the employee was repeadely using a hot shot on the animal. The animal was vocalizing constantly while she was moving in and out of the alley. This process and the overuse of the hotshot continued for several minutes. Inspection took charge and informed the plant personel that the use of the hot shot must cease immediately. The Manager REDACTED was present and was informed that this was a noncompliance as per 9CFR313.2.
