USDA 

-

~ United States Department of Agriculture 

December 1, 2023 

The Center Cut Slaughter and Meat Processing ELECTRONIC MAIL on 12/01 /2023 

Est. M1562+P1562+V1562 FEDEX TRACKING 774315815224 

4904 Flat River Road 

Farmington, Missouri 63640 

Centercut.meatprocessing@gmail.com 

(573) 366-4578 

Physical Location 

4909 Flat River Road 

Park Hills, Missouri 6360 1 

Attention: Darin Johnson, Owner 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

On November 28, 2023, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) notified you of the 

reinstatement ofthe suspension ofthe assignment of inspection personnel related to your 

Slaughter process at The Center Cut Slaughter and Meat Processing, Est. Ml 562+P l 562+V 1562, 

located at 4909 Flat River Road, Park Hills, Missouri 6360 I, as per Title 9 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations (9 CFR) 500.3(b) (Rules of Practice). The Notice ofReinstatement of 

Suspension (NOS) was based on your failure to prevent inhumane handling and slaughter of 

livestock at your facility as required by 9 CFR 3 13. 1 S(a)(l ). 

On November 28, you provided a written response (Action Plan) to the NROS via email, 

beginning a dialog that ended with your final updates to the Action Plan on November 30, 2023. 

FSIS analyzed the corrective and preventive measures provided in your Action Plan and 

determined they represented compliance or the intent to comply with all applicable regulations. 

Therefore, FSIS will hold the suspension in abeyance pending verification by FSIS personnel 

that your Action Plan is effectively implemented. You were verbally notified of the suspension 

being held in abeyance on November 30, 2023, and this letter serves as formal, written 

notification of the same. 

An abeyance is a moratorium on the effect of a suspension. Once a suspension is imposed, the 

Agency may put it into abeyance if the establishment undertakes corrective and preventive 

actions that the Agency finds will ensure that the conditions that were the basis for the 

suspension will be eliminated, and the Action Plan is effectively implemented. During the 

abeyance period, FSIS personnel will evaluate your corrective and preventive actions to ensure 

their effectiveness. 

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is being shared with you to assist in understanding the 

nature and importance of the Agency's verification activities. This FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the Action Plan identified in your 

proposal and subsequent clarifications, and that measures proffered are effective in assuring 
Darin Johnson, Owner Notice of Reinstatement of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Center Cut Slaughter and Meat Processing, Est. MPV 1562 December 1, 2023 

ongoing regulatory compliance. It identifies the regulatory noncompliance, your actions, and 

FSIS verification procedures. 

Please be advised that your failure to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, to 

implement the corrective actions identified in the Action Plan, and/or failme to notify this office 

in writing of any changes to the Action Plan may result in us initiating further regulatory action 

as deemed necessary at the time. During this period of abeyance, any changes made to the 

Action Piao need to be submitted to this office for review and comment prior to you putting 

the changes into place. FSIS inspection program personnel will notify the Frontline Supervisor 

and District Office immediately when modifications are made to the Action Plan and your 

establishment fails to notify this office. 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact Dr. Daran (Curtis) Stovall via telephone at ( 4 79) 717-

5025 or via electronic mail at daran.stovall@usda.gov. Additionally, you can contact Springdale 

District Office at 4 79-75 1-8412 or by fax at 4 79-751 -4 739. 

District Manager 

Page 2 of2 
FSIS Verification Plan 

Center Cut Slaughter and Meat Processing (M1562/P1562/V1562) 

Background that led to enforcement action (Bkgd) 

Related Regulations (Reg) 

Establishment Action Plan (AP) 

Related Establishment Records (Rec) 

FSIS Verification Activity {VA) 

Frequency ofVerification Activity {Freq) 

Related PHIS Task (PHIS) 

As in NR GFU0512091719N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a hog twice using a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device. The animal remained standing and was 

Bkgd vocalizing after both attempts. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a 

firearm on the third attempt. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.lS(a)(l) 

Due to a lack of head restraints, the establishment switched from the use of captive bolt to electrical stun. The 

primary method of stunning will be electrical stunning device with a firearm or captive bolt as backup stunning AP 

VPl method. The establishment will train the electrical stunner operator on safety protocols and properly operating 

the stunner. 

Rec 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) that the electrical stunner operator follows the user manual on 

VA stunning, evaluates the animal for consciousness, and after consciousness is evaluated, administers a safety stun 

(if utilized). 

Freq Daily when hogs are slaughtered 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 

As in NR GFU0512091719N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a hog twice using a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device. The animal remained standing and was 

Bkgd vocalizing after both attempts. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a 

firearm on the third attempt. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.lS(a)(l) 

The operator ofthe electrical stunner will evaluate consciousness before initiating a safety stun (if utilized). The 

AP establishment designee will observe this evaluation of consciousness on at least one hog per day. VP2 

Rec Consciousness Evaluation Form 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) and record review (RR) that the electrical stunner operator 

VA evaluates consciousness before initiating a safety stun (if utilized) and that another establishment designee, 

observes and documents the evaluation of consciousness on at least one hog per day. 

Freq Daily when hogs are slaughtered 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 

As in NR GFU0512091719N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a hog twice using a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device. The animal remained standing and was 

Bkgd 

vocalizing after both attempts. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a 

firearm on the third attempt. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.lS(a)(l) 

The establishment will train all slaughter floor employees on humane handling consciousness and stunning, on 

AP the TBG stunner instructions for operation, Technical note (Electrical Stun-Kill in disease control situations) and 

VP3 Electric Hog Stunner video and document training completion. 

Rec Training for Safe Handling Check Off; Training for TBG Stunner; 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) and record review that employees operating the electrical stunner 

and the establishment designee observing consciousness evaluation have completed training on Humane 

VA 

Handling Consciousness and Stunning, TBG Stunner instructions for operation, Electric Hog Stunner video, and 

Technical note (Electrical Stun-Kill in disease control situations). 

Freq Initially, and once every other week 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 
As in NR GFU2812112728N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a bovine animal with a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device The animal remained standing with its 

Bkgd 

eyes opens. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a handheld captive 

bolt device on the third attempt. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.lS{a)(l) 

Due to inadequate head restraints, the establishment will properly place the animal in the head chute and 

immobilize the head using a nose catch. The establishment will train the stunner and assistant on proper stunning 

placement for beef. Additionally, the stunner will verify with the assistant regarding the proper placement of the 

AP 

captive bolt by pointing the appropriate position to place the stunning device on each bovine animal. The 

VP4 

establishment also wi ll use a steel to pith the animal after it is rendered insensible to ensure proper placement of 

the captive bolt stun. 

Rec 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) that the stunning employee properly places the animal in the head 

chute and immobilizes the head using the nose catch. Verify that stunner and assistant verify the proper VA 

placement of the captive bolt on each bovine animal. Ensure that if a pithing method with a steel is used that the 

animal is insensible prior to pithing the animal. 

Freq Daily when cattle are slaughtered 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 

As in NR GFU2812112728N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a bovine animal with a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device The animal remained standing with its 

Bkgd eyes opens. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a handheld captive 

bolt device on the third attempt. 

Reg 9 CFR 313.lS{a)(l) 

The assistant will verify that the nose catch is in place and the head properly placed in the head chute for each 

bovine animal. The stunner will verify with the assistant of the proper placement for stunning location by AP 

touching/point to the spot where the stunning device will be placed for each bovine animal. The establishment 

VPS will split the skull of one of every five cattle slaughtered or at least one per week. 

Rec newest evaluation form stun and split; 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) and record review (RR) that the assistant (observer) verifies the 

nose catch is in place and proper placement for the stunning location on each bovine animal. Verify through 

VA review and observation and record review that the skull of cattle is split (one in every five slaughtered or at least 

one per week). Verify the results of the monitoring of the nose catch, stunner device placement, and skull 

splitting is documented. 

Freq Daily when cattle are slaughtered (Review and Observation); Weekly (Record Review) 

PHIS Livestock Humane Handling 

Bkgd 

Reg 

AP 

VP6 

Rec 

VA 

Freq 

PHIS 

As in NR GFU2812112728N, IPP observed an establishment employee attempt to stun a bovine animal with a 

hand held captive bolt device and firearm as secondary stunning device The animal remained standing with its 

eyes opens. The establishment employee successfully rendered the animal unconscious with a hand held captive 

bolt device on the third attempt. 

9 CFR 313.lS{a)(l) 

The establishment revised their Humane Handling USDA Training Manual to include the Captive-Bolt Stunning of 

Livestock in addition to the Humane Handling Consciousness and Stunning PowerPoint. The establishment 

laminated a proper stunning placement diagram and placed on the wall for review by the stunner and assistant 

each day. 

Training for Safe Handling Check off 

Verify through review and observation (R&O) and record review (RR) that the stunner and assistant have 

completed training on Humane Handling Consciousness and Stunning PowerPoint and the Captive-Bolt Stunning 

of Livestock if new individuals are performing stunning or assisting with stunning. 

Initially, and once every other week 

Livestock Humane Handling