Wyoming Legacy Meats, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.2

Humane Handling Task, HATS Task Category III: Water and Feed Availability On August 21, 2025, at approximately 1140 hours while waiting for slaughter to resume after lunch the following noncompliance was observed at EST 46023: A single beef was spotted in the alleyway prior to the knock box, and there had been no access to water since at least 10 am. The establishment promptly supplied two tubs of water. This finding is in violation of 9 CFR 313.2(e) which states, “Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight to lie down.” Plant Management was verbally notified of the noncompliance and again in writing with the issuance of this noncompliance record.

313.1

HATS Category IV: Ante-mortem Inspection HATS Category VII: Observe Slips and Falls On October 17, 2024, at approximately 0810 hours, while conducting antemortem inspection at EST M46023, Wyoming Legacy Meats, the following noncompliance was observed: FSIS IPP, the CSI, SPHV, and DVMS, observed two steers in Animal Holding Pen #1. When both steers were moved for ante-mortem inspection, they exhibited signs of excitement as they moved faster than a normal walking pace inside the pen and their hooves were skidding across the concrete pen floor. One steer was observed to lose its footing and slipped onto both front fetlocks while attempting to leave the pen. No injuries were observed, as the steer quickly regained its footing and returned to stand next to the other animal in the holding pen. Following this incident, FSIS IPP verbally notified the establishment Slaughter Floor Supervisor and the Plant Manager of the noncompliance and proceeded to inspect the floor of the animal holding pen. The inspection revealed that the smooth concrete surface did not provide sufficient footing to prevent slips and falls. A regulatory control action was taken and U.S. Rejected Tag #B-46102189 was applied to Animal Holding Pen #1. This finding is in violation of 9 CFR 313.1(b), which states, “Floors of livestock pens, ramps, and driveways shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide good footing for livestock. Slip resistant or waffled floor surfaces, cleated ramps and the use of sand, as appropriate, during winter months are examples of acceptable construction and maintenance.” The Denver District Veterinary Medical Specialist observed the noncompliant incident. The establishment operates under a robust humane handling program and there has not been any noncompliance records of the same root cause issued in the past 90 days.