M & G Meats: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.1

Today, August 19,2024 at approximately 9:00 am while performing anti mortem on 4 beef, I , REDACTED observed the following noncompliance: In the holding pen, on the right hand side of the pen there is a board that is loose and falling into the pen. I verbally informed REDACTED that the establishment failed to meet 9CFR 313.1.

313.15(a)(1)

On 4/15/24 at approximately 10:13AM while performing a Humane Handling Verification Task at M&G Meats, IPP observed the following humane handling noncompliance with HATS Category VIII Stunning Effectiveness. A black and white Angus cross heifer walked calmly into the knock box. The establishment employee went to take his first knock with the penetrative captive bolt. When attempting this knock, the animal knocked the employee’s arm and there was a sound of a release, but it was not apparent that it struck the animal, and it was assumed it was a misfire. The standing heifer did not vocalize or show any indication that it had been struck. The establishment employee immediately took a second knock and there was a sound of release, but the discharge did not sound normal. Again, the standing heifer did not vocalize or show any indication that it had been struck. The employee immediately grabbed the back-up captive bolt and took a third knock, and the animal was rendered unconscious, stuck, and bled out. US Rejected Tag B45028017 was applied to the knock box at approximately 10:15AM. After the head was removed and skinned, it was noticed that there were 3 holes present in the skull. One hole was in the appropriate area for an effective stun. The other 2 holes did not fully penetrate the skull and were off to the left and right of desired location. Taking more than one stunning attempt to achieve unconsciousness represents a noncompliance with regulation 9CFR 313.15(a)(1), which states: "The captive bolt shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal with a single shot before it is shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animal shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort." Mr. REDACTED was notified of the noncompliance at approximately 10:35AM and the US Rejected Tag was removed. The establishment does have a robust systematic approach to humane handling in place and they accurately followed their plan. The establishment took immediate corrective actions and cleaned both captive bolts and threw out the current cartridges before continuing with slaughter.