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United States Department of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Atlanta District Office 

100 Alabama St., SW. 

Suite 3R90 

Atlanta, GA. 30303 

Phone: 404-562-5900 

Fax: 404-562-5877 

Toll Free: 

800-282-7005 

CERTIFIED MAIL 

October 6, 2023 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC 

M1844 

6310 Murphy Highway 

Blairsville, GA 30512 

david@ivylogmeatprocessing.com 

(706) 897-0619 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Dear Mr. David Christensen: 

On September 26, 2023, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) 

issued a Notice of Suspension (NOS) withholding the marks of inspection 

and suspending the assignment of slaughter inspection program personnel for 

livestock slaughter at Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, Est. M1844, 

located at 6310 Murphy Highway, Blairsville, GA 30512. This 

action was based on your establishment’s failure to handle livestock 

humanely according to 9 CFR Part 313. 

On September 27, 2023, you submitted written corrective actions and 

preventive measures to meet the requirements of the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. Your corrective actions and preventive measures included: 

retraining all slaughter on your Humane Handling Procedures which include 

documents demonstrating the exact location for bullets to penetrate the brain 

to ensure the animal being stunned is insensible; conduct a review to ensure 

the proper stunning equipment is readily available during slaughter 

operations; construct a squeeze chute to ensure smaller livestock, such as 

hogs, are held and unable to move during the knocking process; you ordered 

a captive bolt to deliver consistent, accurate stuns and it will be delivered on 

October 4, 2023; you will implement a program to check your stunning 

equipment to ensure proper function for each slaughter. 

On September 28, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions 

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Mr. David Christensen, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, M1844 October 6, 2023 

and preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the inhumane 

handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS requested: a copy of 

your Humane Handling Procedures used to retrain your On September 29, 2023, FSIS 

determined that the employees including documents demonstrating proper shot placement 

for stunning livestock and a copy of the record used to document that your employees 

were retrained; provide information pertaining to what you determined based your review 

to ensure that the proper equipment is readily available during slaughter operations; 

provide a date regarding when the squeeze shoot will be installed and explain how 

smaller livestock such as hogs will be restrained prior to the squeeze shoot being 

installed; clarify what specific stunning activities will be monitored by plant 

management; provide a copy of the record that will be used to document monitoring of 

stunning activities; the frequency of monitoring these activities for two weeks is not 

adequate; what device(s) will be used to stun livestock until the captive bolt device is 

received?; provide a copy of the material that will be used to train your employees in the 

proper use of a captive bolt; provide a copy of the record documenting your employees 

have been properly trained in the use of a captive bolt; and provide a copy of the record 

that will be used to document monitoring of your stunning equipment for proper function 

for each slaughter day. 

On September 28, 2023, you submitted your second response to provide clarification to 

your proffered corrective actions. Your response included: use of a .357 magnum pistol 

to stun a large sow until the captive bolt is received; the sow will be restrained in the 

cattle chute; all inspected hog slaughter will be suspended until a you determine your 

stunning procedures will effectively stun all animals; the suspension will continue until a 

restraining device is installed for hogs and small livestock; you will examine the hogs 

skull by splitting it open to determine what went wrong during the stunning process; and 

you will monitor each and every stun during the next 4 months to ensure documented 

training was effective. 

On September 28, 2023, you submitted your third response to provide clarification to 

your proffered corrective action. As part of your reassessment, you determined; the use of 

.22 log rifle pistol resulted in inaccurate shots causing unnecessary pain and suffering to 

the hog being stunned; and the hog was shot with a .357 magnum pistol as soon as 

possible rendering it unconscious. To eliminate the cause you will: start with 

documented retraining of all slaughter employees to follow you’re your Humane 

Handling Program with specific documents showing the exact locations for livestock to 

receive an effective stun; a copy of the employees and the retraining material used will be 

provided to FSIS; the captive bolt device has been ordered and is expected to arrive on 

October 6, 2023; the captive bolt will be used to stun most livestock slaughtered; larger 

animals such as bulls or large sows will be stunned using a .357 magnum pistol; a 

restraining device for hogs is being constructed and will be installed by October 6, 2023; 

all stunning will be monitored for each animal slaughtered for the next four (4) months; 

stunning equipment will be maintained and checked prior to each slaughter day; records 

will be documented on the humane handling forms; your humane handling program will 

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Mr. David Christensen, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, M1844 October 6, 2023 

be updated and forwarded to FSIS via electronic mail to include scanned copies of the 

retraining material and documents indicating employees understand and have signed 

accepting the retraining documents. 

On September 28, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the inhumane 

handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS requested; a copy of 

your updated Humane Handling Program; a copy of the material used to retrain your 

employees in proper shot placement; copies of records that will be used as part of your 

humane handling program; a copy of record used to document the retraining of 

establishment employees regarding proper shot placement; a copy of the material used to 

train you employees in proper use of the captive bolt; and a copy of the record used to 

document employee training in the proper use of the captive bolt. 

On September 29, 2023, you submitted your fourth response to provide clarification to 

your proffered corrective action. As part of your reassessment: your split the head of the 

hog the was not properly stunned and determined that the bullets from the .22 long rifle 

pistol did not penetrate the brain thus causing the problem; the .22 long rifle pistol will no 

longer be used to stun any livestock; you will use a .357 magnum pistol to ensure all 

animals stunned are insensible until you receive the captive bolt; the captive bolt is 

scheduled for delivery on October 6, 2023; close evaluation of the captive bolt will be 

implemented; all stunning activities will be monitored by the plant manager for four (4) 

months; all employees that stun livestock will be retrained to follow your Humane 

Handling Program; and you will document that the employees have been retrained in 

proper shot placement for stunning livestock. 

On September 29, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the inhumane 

handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS requested; a copy of 

your updated Humane Handling Program; copies of records that will be used as part of 

your Humane Handling Program; a copy of record used to document the retraining of 

establishment employees regarding proper shot placement; and a copy of the record used 

to document employee training in the proper use of the captive bolt. 

On October 5, 2023, you submitted your fifth response to provide clarification to your 

proffered corrective action. Your response included: a copy of the documentation and 

links to videos used to retrain your employees in proper shot placement for stunning 

livestock; links to videos use to train your employees in the use of the captive bolt; a 

copy of a record documenting employee retraining in shot placement and training in the 

use of the captive bolt; a picture of the new small animal restraining chute for stunning; 

and a copy your Humane Handling Program which included copies of the record that 

would be used to document monitoring of stunning effectiveness. 

On October 5, 2023, FSIS determined that the records to be used to document monitoring 

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Mr. David Christensen, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, M1844 October 6, 2023 

of stunning effectiveness were not adequate. Specifically, the records do not provide 

information regarding the number of animals being killed each day of slaughter; what is 

being monitored regarding stunning effectiveness (as we discussed the sign of an 

unconscious animal include; the animal is down and does not exhibit a righting reflex, the 

animal does not vocalize and the animal does not exhibit tracking eye movement); the 

time each observation was made; the type of animal being stunned and any identifying 

marks; the results of monitoring of stunning effectiveness for each animal stunned; if an 

additional stuns were applied; the type of stunning device used; and the initials or 

signature of the person performing the monitoring. 

On October 5, 2023, you submitted a revised copy of the record to be used to document 

monitoring of stunning effectiveness. 

On October 6, 2023, you were verbally notified by FSIS that the corrective actions and 

preventive measures met the requirements to place Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, Est. 

M1844, in Abeyance and that a Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) and 

Verification Plan (VP) would be issued. You are hereby being provided written 

notification of the Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance. 

Please be further advised that the suspension of inspection at your establishment will 

remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective actions 

and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future 

regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency 

personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective actions and preventive 

measures. 

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is attached to assist you in understanding the nature 

and importance of the agency’s verification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the revisions to its humane 

handling of animals and other corrective actions stated in your responses, and that these 

revisions and corrective actions are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance. 

The FSIS Verification Plan identifies your proposed corrective actions, the regulatory 

requirement(s), and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness of your proposed action plan. 

Please be reminded that as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to 

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate actions to prevent the inhumane 

handling of animals. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has the responsibility 

to initiate action if your establishment fails to operate in accordance with the regulations, 

or conditions occur that do not comply with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. 

Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulatory requirements or failure to 

effectively implement your proposed corrective actions and preventive measures could 

result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your establishment or other 

appropriate action. 

4 
Mr. David Christensen, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, Ml844 October 6, 2023 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact the Atlanta District Office at 404-562-5900. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed PHYLLIS byPHYLLIS 

ADAMS ADAMS o.1e:2021 1006 

13:23:03 --0-100' 

Dr. Phyllis Adams 

District Manager 

5 
Mr. David Christensen, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Ivy Log Meat Processing, LLC, Ml844 October 6, 2023 

cc: Karen Hunter, EARO 

, Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Lany Hortert, OIEA Regional Director 

Edward Hepburn, DDM 

Barney Welch, DDM 

Trac B1 ant DDM 

, SEIAO 

, DCS 

, DVMS 

, FLS 

PO/Quarterly Reports 

6