St. Croix Abattoir: 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 St. Croix Abattoir slaughterhouse establishment in 2025.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2025.
313.2,313.30 (a)(2)
On April 25, 2025, at approximately 8:55am, while conducting HATS Category VI. Electric Prod/Alternate Object Use, CSI REDACTED observed the following: I conducted humane handling verification activities in the pen/chute area during the swine slaughter at Establishment 482M. I observed the acting pen man spray a stream of water directly into one pig’s face and into the side (eye area) of a second pig. try to move two market swine into the outside chute leading to the knocking box, The spray was not a gentle mist but a jet stream of water. I immediately informed Director REDACTED of my observations, as she was inside the kill floor with me. Director REDACTED addressed the situation, and a different pen was brought in for slaughter. I verbally informed Director REDACTED that this noncompliance would be documented. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2(a), 313.2 (b), 313.2 (c), and 313.30 (a)(2).
313.1
On December 16, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., CSI REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: Upon returning from lunch, CSI REDACTED viewed the animals in the outside holding pens to conduct the task of: "HATS Category III. Water and Feed." QC Manager REDACTED verbally notified CSI REDACTED that there were two lambs inside. The five cattle in the outside pens had water available. CSI REDACTED then viewed the two lambs in the knocking area (in the cattle chute, not the entire knocking pen,) where the lambs were being held since being brought inside at approximately 11:15 a.m. CSI REDACTED observed that the lambs did not have access to water since 11:15a.m., as there was no water supply in the cattle chute. CSI REDACTED notified QC Manager REDACTED of the noncompliance and that this NR would be documented. The establishment did not meet 9 CFR 313.2 (e), which requires animals to have access to water at all times. The availability of water is also listed in the establishment's Humane Handling program.
313.2
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, at approximately 11:00 AM, while conducting HATS Category VI. Electric Prod/Alternative Object Use, CSI REDACTED observed the following: I conducted humane handling verification activities during the swine slaughter in the pen area at establishment M482. I observed an employee spraying water on a pig's face, snout, and eyes multiple times to guide it into the stunning area. The animal appeared significantly stressed and uncomfortable during this process. I immediately approached the employee and verbally informed them to stop spraying water on the pig's face. After addressing the situation, I informed QC Manager Mr. REDACTED and Director Mrs. REDACTED, who were in the slaughter area, about the incident. I explained to them that this was a humane handling issue. Director Mr. REDACTED was verbally informed about this noncompliance (NR). The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.2 (a), 313.2 (b), and 313.2 (c).
313.30(b)(3),313.30(a)(1),313.30(a)(3)
On November 20, 2024, at approximately 11:15am, while conducting HATS Category VIII. Stunning Effectiveness, of a large boar with electric, CSI REDACTED observed the following: The stunner applied the electric stunner behind the boar’s ears. The boar stayed upright, vocalized, and was blinking and making facial movement (i.e. opening and closing its mouth.) The stunner attempted a second electrical stun behind the boar’s ears which resulted in the boar falling to its front knees, still vocalizing, blinking and making facial movement. The stunner pushed the boar over to its side and applied a third electrical stunning attempt, this time to the boar’s chest area. The boar continued to blink, vocalize, and attempted to right itself. At this point, the chief butcher stepped in with a captive bolt, stunned the boar and effectively rendered it unconscious. CSI REDACTED applied U.S. Rejected tag #B19323338 to the knock box and notified Director REDACTED and QC Manager REDACTED of the noncompliance. The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 313.30 (a)(1), 313.30 (b)(1), and 313.30 (b) (3).
