RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The USDA has suspended the slaughterhouse at the University of Nevada, Reno for alleged mistreatment of animals.
UNR Communications Officer Jessica Lozada issued this statement:
The University of Nevada, Reno takes animal welfare seriously, and we sincerely apologize for the incident which occurred on March 21. Handling of animals at University facilities is done using humane practices, and we will continue to collaborate regularly with federal partners to improve processes to ensure this standard is met.
An email dated March 21 from the USDA accuses Wolf Pack Meats of failing to comply with the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and other regulatory requirements.
The USDA says that on March 21, personnel with the FSIS Inspection Program (IPP) witnessed an employee shoot a ram in the head with a captive bolt twice, failing to kill it. After the second stun, the IPP observed the ram fall to the ground while another employee opened the door to the knock box to begin shackling and hoisting the ram.
After doing this, the USDA says the ram again rose to its feet and began looking around. An employee looked at the IPP, unsure of what to do. The IPP indicated that the ram needed to be rendered unconscious. Instead, the agency alleges that another Wolf Pack Meats employee told the first employee to stun the ram a third time.
The IPP stated that he witnessed employees ultimately stun the ram a total of five times. After the fifth stun, the IPP ordered the shutting down of operations in the plant.
The USDA alleges that this action constituted a violation of Title 9, which states: “The captive bolt stunners shall be applied to the livestock in accordance with this section to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut. The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.”
You can read the letter, in full, here.
Wolf Pack meats submitted a plan for corrective action the day of the incindent and it was accepted by the USDA, UNR said.
It included training March 22 for the employees involved. Wolf Pack meats resumed harvesting on March 28.
Copyright 2024 KOLO. All rights reserved.
