iliiii1 United States Department of Agriculture 

February 2, 2024 

Bowman’s Butcher Shop LLC 

M44985 ELECTRONIC MAIL on February 2, 2024 

3452 Churchville Road 

Aberdeen, MD 21001 

bowmansbutchershop@gmail.com 

410-914-5607 

Attention: Alice Schott, Owner 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION 

Dear Ms. Schott, 

This letter confirms the verbal notification given on February 2, 2024, at approximately 1205 hours, 

by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) of the 

suspension of the assignment of inspectors for slaughter operations at Bowman’s Butcher Shop, 

LLC, Est. M44985, herein after referred to as “your establishment.” This action was initiated in 

accordance with Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) 500.3, after FSIS determined 

that your establishment failed to slaughter and handle animals humanely. 

Background/Authority 

The Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (Title 21 of the United States Code {21 U.S.C.} 603 et 

seq.) provides that for the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock, the 

Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and 

inspection of the methods by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines are 

slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected 

under this Act. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment 

or may cause slaughtering to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment if the 

Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have been 

slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter at such establishments by any method not in 

accordance with sections 1901 to 1906 of Title 7 until the establishment furnishes assurances, 

satisfactory to the Secretary, that all slaughtering and handling in connection with slaughter of 

livestock shall be in accordance with such a method. 

The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) provides that Congress 

finds that the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock prevents needless suffering; 

results in safer and better working conditions for persons engaged in the slaughtering industry; 

brings about improvement of products and economies in slaughtering operations; and produces 

other benefits for producers, processors, and consumers which tend to expedite an orderly flow of 

livestock and livestock products in interstate and foreign commerce. It is therefore declared to be 

the policy of the United States that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in 

connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Schott Owner Notice of Suspension 

Bowman’s Butcher Shop, LLC, M44985 February 2, 2024 

Findings/Basis for Suspension 

At approximately 0910 hours on Friday, February 2, 2024, IPP identified an egregious humane 

handling non-compliance in which it required multiple stun attempts to render a steer unconscious. 

A black Angus steer was loaded into the knock box and the employee attempted the initial stun 

using a 9mm rifle. After the stun attempt, the steer remained conscious, standing in the box. The 

employee immediately reloaded the same 9mm rifle and attempted a second stun, which was also 

ineffective as the steer remained standing. The employee then immediately retrieved a backup .22 

Magnum rifle and administered two successive stun attempts. Again, the animal remained 

conscious, standing in the knock box. The employee then immediately retrieved the 9mm rifle 

and administered a final stun to the steer, rendering it unconscious. IPP applied US Retain/Reject 

Tag # # B14092357 to the knock box to prevent further slaughter of livestock; this is in accordance 

with 9 CFR 313.50(c). Examination of the steer’s skull showed that 4 of the holes (2 from the 

9mm rifle and 2 from the .22 Magnum rifle) were below the zone of effectiveness, while one hole 

was slightly to the left of midline. The District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) notified 

establishment management of the recommendation for further enforcement action at 

approximately 1045 hours. The establishment was operating under a robust systematic approach 

at the time of the incident; management proffered immediate and appropriate corrective measures 

and the establishment was allowed to resume slaughter operations. 

At approximately 1200 hours, IPP observed a second stunning noncompliance. A black Angus 

steer was loaded into the knock box and head restraint. The employee attempted to stun the steer 

using the 9mm rifle, but the stun attempt was ineffective, and the steer remained conscious and 

standing in the knock box. The employee administered an immediate second stun using the 9mm 

rifle, effectively rendering the steer unconscious, and it remained unconscious throughout the 

remainder of the shackling, hoisting, and bleeding processes. IPP placed US Retain/Reject Tag # 

B14092361 on the knock box in accordance with 9 CFR 313.50(c). Examination of the steer’s 

skull showed one hole approximately 1” to the left of midline and a second hole that was in the 

zone of effectiveness. IPP notified the establishment owner of the decision for further enforcement 

action at approximately 1205 hours. 

Both incidents represent a violation of 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) which says in part “The firearms shall 

be employed in the delivery of a bullet or projectile into the animal in accordance with this section 

so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal by a single shot before it is shackled, 

hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.” The incident was considered egregious because there was prolonged 

discomfort of the animal before an effective corrective action could be administered. Furthermore, 

the corrective actions that your proffered failed to prevent recurrence of the ineffective stun. The 

establishment had been operating under a Robust Systematic Approach for Humane Handling; 

however, the repetitive nature of these incidents precludes the offering of regulatory discretion, 

and this Suspension action is being initiated. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Schott Owner Notice of Suspension 

Bowman’s Butcher Shop, LLC, M44985 February 2, 2024 

The suspension action will remain in effect until you provide the Raleigh District Office with 

adequate written assurances, including corrective actions and further planned preventive measures, 

to assure that livestock at your establishment are slaughtered humanely. In order to resume 

inspected operations, you must submit corrective actions to my attention at the District Office. 

These corrective actions should include at a minimum the following: 

1. Identify the assessment process used to determine the nature and cause of the 

noncompliances. 

2. Identify what the assessment revealed as the likely cause of the system failure. 

3. Describe the specific actions that will be taken to eliminate the cause of the failures. 

4. Describe the future monitoring activities you will use to ensure that changes are 

implemented and are effective. 

You are reminded that, as an operator of a federally inspected plant, you are expected to comply 

with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate corrective actions to prevent inhumane handling of 

livestock at your establishment. Please be advised that your failure to respond adequately to these 

issues may result in our initiating action to withdraw inspection from your establishment. Please 

also be advised that you have the right to appeal this matter. 

In accordance with 9 CFR 500.5(a)(5), you may appeal this action by contacting: 

Sherri Johnson 

Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations 

Office of Field Operations 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

United States Department of Agriculture 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

South Building, Room 3154 

Washington, DC 20250 

Phone: 

(b) (6)

In addition, you may also request a hearing regarding this determination pursuant to FSIS’ Rules 

of Practice (9 CFR 500.). The rules of Practice were published in the Federal Register, Vol. 64, 

No. 228, on November 29, 1999. As specified in Section 500.5(d), should you request a hearing, 

FSIS will file a complaint that will include a request for an expedited hearing. If you wish to 

request a hearing regarding this determination, you should contact: 

Scott C. Safian, Branch Chief 

Enforcement Operations Branch 

Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit 

Food Safety and Inspection Service 

Stop Code 3753, PP3, Cubicle 9-235-A 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20250 

Voice: (202) 418-8872 

Fax: (202) 245-5097 
Alice Schott Owner Notice ofSuspension 

Bowman's Butcher Shop, LLC, M44985 Febrnaiy 2, 2024 

It is our hope that this matter can be resolved quickly. Ifyou have any questions, please contact 

me via telephone at 919-326-5281 or via electronic mail at todd.furey2@usda.gov Additionally, 

you can contact the Raleigh District Office at 919-844-8400 or by fax at 844-839-6359. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed by ARIAL ARIAL GuPTON GUPTON 

Date: 2024.02.02 14:47:37 -OS-Off 

Todd Furey 

Disti·ict Manager 
Alice Schott Owner Notice ofSuspension 

Bowman's Butcher Shop, LLC, M44985 Febrnaiy 2, 2024 

cc: S. Johnson, EARO/FO 

L Ho1ie11 RD/CID/OIEA 

, HHEC/FO 

y, 0 

-R. Mmphy, DDM/RDO/FO 

A. Gu ton, DDM/RDO/FO 

DCS/RDO/FO 

DVMS/RDO/FO 

, SEIAO/RDO/FO 

FLS/RDO/FO 

SPHV/RDO/FO 

, CSI/RDO/FO 

Quaiierly Enforcement Repo11 

Establishment File (Est. M44985)