9 C.F.R. § 310.1

Current through February 29, 2024
Section 310.1 - Extent and time of post-mortem inspection; post-mortem inspection staffing standards
(a) A careful post-mortem examination and inspection shall be made of the carcasses and parts thereof of all livestock slaughtered at official establishments. Such inspection and examination shall be made at the time of slaughter unless, because of unusual circumstances, prior arrangements acceptable to the Administrator have been made in specific cases by the circuit supervisor for making such inspection and examination at a later time.
(b)
(1) The staffing standards on the basis of the number of carcasses to be inspected per hour are outlined in the following tables. Standards for multiple inspector lines are based on inspectors rotating through the different types of inspection stations during each shift to equalize the workload. The inspector in charge shall have the authority to require the establishment to reduce slaughter line speeds where, in his judgment, the inspection procedure cannot be adequately performed at the current line speed because of particular deficiencies in carcass preparation and presentation by the plant at the higher speed, or because the health condition of the particular animals indicates a need for more extensive inspection.
(2)Cattle inspection. For all cattle staffing standards, an "a" in the "Number of Inspectors by Stations" column means that one inspector performs the entire inspection procedure and a "b" means that one inspector performs the head and lower carcass inspection and a second inspector performs the viscera and upper carcass inspection.
(i) Inspection Using the Viscera Truck.

Steers and Heifers

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 27aaa
28 to 56bbb
57 to 84111
85 to 86121
87 to 143221

Cows and Bulls

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 27aaa
28 to 55bbb
56 to 77111
78 to 81121
82 to 134221

(A) Rules for determining adjusted maximum slaughter rates for single-inspector kills considering walking distance according to the table in this subdivision: Determine the distances the inspector actually walks between the points shown in columns 2 through 14 of the following table. For each column, determine the deduction figure opposite the appropriate number of feet in column 1. Compute the total of the deduction figures for columns 2 through 14. The adjusted maximum rate is the maximum rate in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section minus total of the deduction figures. If the resultant number is not a whole number, it must be rounded off to the next lowest whole number.

One-Inspector Cattle Kill-Viscera Truck

[Table of deductions from maximum slaughter rates for each 2 feet between points (in tenths of cattle per hour)]

1
Number of feet between points
2
Head rack and high rail
3
Viscera and low rail
4
Low rail and head rack
5
Head rack and carcass2
6
Carcass2 and washbasin
7
Tags-brands and low rail
8
Viscera and washbasin
9
Viscera and high rail
10
Low rail and high rail
11
Head rack and closest washbasin
12
Washbasin and high rail1
13
Head rack and washbasin1
14
Viscera and tags-brands
Strs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows Bulls
100000000000000000000000000
30000000000000000000000000.10
5000.100000000000.10.10.1000000000.20.1
7000.10.10.10.100000.10.10.10.20.20.20.10.10000000.30.3
9000.20.10.10.100000.10.10.10.30.30.30.10.1000.10.10.10.10.40.4
110.10.10.20.20.20.200000.10.20.20.40.40.40.20.2000.10.10.10.10.50.6
130.10.10.30.20.20.200000.20.20.20.50.50.50.20.2000.10.10.10.10.60.7
150.10.10.40.30.30.300000.20.30.30.50.60.60.30.3000.20.20.20.20.70.9
170.10.10.40.30.30.300000.30.30.30.60.70.70.30.300.10.20.20.20.20.91.0
190.10.10.50.40.40.400000.30.40.40.70.80.80.40.400.10.20.20.20.21.01.1
210.20.20.50.40.40.400000.30.40.40.80.90.80.40.400.10.30.20.30.21.11.3
230.20.20.60.50.50.500000.40.50.50.91.00.90.50.500.10.30.30.30.31.21.4
250.20.20.70.50.50.500000.40.50.51.01.11.00.50.500.10.30.30.30.31.31.5
270.20.20.70.50.60.500000.40.50.61.11.21.10.60.600.10.30.30.30.31.41.7
290.20.20.80.60.60.600000.50.60.61.21.31.20.60.600.10.40.30.40.31.51.8
310.30.20.80.60.70.600000.50.60.71.31.31.40.70.700.10.40.40.40.41.61.9
330.30.30.90.70.70.700000.60.70.71.31.41.40.70.700.10.40.40.40.41.72.1
350.30.31.00.70.80.700000.60.70.81.41.51.50.80.800.20.50.40.50.41.82.2
370.30.31.00.80.80.800000.60.80.81.51.61.6.0.80.800.20.50.50.50.51.92.3
390.30.31.10.80.90.800000.70.80.91.61.71.70.90.900.20.50.50.50.52.02.4
410.40.31.10.90.90.900.100.10.70.90.91.71.71.80.90.900.20.60.50.60.52.12.6
430.40.41.20.91.00.900.100.10.70.91.01.81.81.91.01.00.10.20.60.50.60.52.22.7
450.40.41.20.91.00.900.100.10.80.91.01.81.92.01.01.00.10.20.60.60.60.62.32.8
470.40.41.31.01.11.000.100.10.81.01.11.92.02.11.11.10.10.20.60.60.60.62.42.9
490.40.41.41.01.11.000.100.10.81.01.12.02.12.21.11.10.10.20.70.60.70.62.53.1
510.50.51.41.11.21.100.100.10.91.11.22.12.22.21.21.20.10.30.70.70.70.72.63.2
530.50.51.51.11.21.100.100.10.91.11.22.22.32.31.21.20.10.30.70.70.70.72.73.3
550.50.51.51.21.21.200.100.11.01.21.22.32.32.41.31.30.10.30.80.70.80.72.83.4
570.50.51.61.21.31.200.100.11.01.21.32.32.42.51.31.30.10.30.80.70.80.72.93.5
590.50.51.61.31.31.300.100.11.01.31.32.42.52.61.41.40.10.30.80.80.80.83.03.6

1 The washbasin referred to here is the one the inspector uses while enroute from the head rack to high rail inspection.

2 This refers to the carcass in the bleeding area.

(B) Rules for determining adjusted maximum slaughter rates for two-inspector kills considering walking distance according to the table in this subdivision: Determine the distances the inspectors actually walk between the points shown in columns 2 through 9 of the following table. Column 9 is used only if the condemned brands and tags the viscera inspector uses are kept at a location other than at the washbasin-sterilizer. For each column, determine the deduction figure opposite the appropriate number of feet in column 1. Compute the total of the deduction figures for columns 2 through 9. Divide this total by 2. The adjusted maximum rate is the maximum rate in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section minus the number calculated above. If the resultant number is not a whole number, it must be rounded off to the next lowest whole number.

Two-Inspector Cattle Kill-Viscera Truck

[Table of deductions from maximum slaughter rates for each 2 feet between points (in tenths of cattle per hour)]

Heads and low rail inspectionViscera and high rail inspection
1234567891
Number of feet between pointsHead rack and washbasinHead rack and carcasses2Washbasin and low railHead rack and low railViscera and brands tags (washbasin)Viscera and high railHigh rail and washbasinViscera and washbasin
Strs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows BullsStrs. Hfrs.Cows Bulls
10000000000000000
30.100.100.10000000000.10.2
50.10.10.10.10.10.10.80.70.40.50.50.50.10.20.20.3
70.10.20.10.10.10.11.51.40.70.91.00.90.30.30.30.4
90.20.20.10.20.10.22.22.01.11.31.51.30.40.50.40.5
110.20.30.10.20.20.22.82.71.41.71.91.80.50.60.40.6
130.20.40.10.30.20.23.53.31.72.12.42.20.60.70.50.8
150.30.40.10.30.20.34.13.92.02.52.92.60.70.90.60.9
170.30.50.10.40.20.34.84.52.42.93.33.00.81.00.71.0
190.30.60.20.40.30.45.45.12.73.33.73.40.91.20.71.2
210.30.60.20.40.30.46.05.73.03.74.23.71.01.30.81.3
230.40.70.20.50.30.56.66.33.34.04.64.11.21.40.91.4
250.40.70.20.50.30.57.26.83.64.45.04.51.31.61.01.6
270.40.80.20.60.40.57.87.43.94.75.44.91.41.71.01.7
290.50.90.20.60.40.68.37.94.25.15.85.21.51.81.11.8
310.50.90.20.70.40.68.98.54.55.46.25.61.62.01.22.0
330.51.00.20.70.40.79.49.04.85.86.55.91.72.11.32.1
350.61.10.30.80.50.710.09.55.06.16.96.31.82.21.32.3
370.61.10.30.80.50.710.510.05.36.47.36.61.92.41.42.4
390.61.20.30.90.50.811.010.55.66.87.66.92.02.51.52.5
410.71.20.30.90.60.811.511.05.97.18.07.22.12.61.52.6
430.71.30.30.90.60.912.011.46.17.48.37.62.22.81.62.8
450.71.40.31.00.60.912.511.96.47.78.77.92.42.91.72.9
470.81.40.31.00.61.013.012.46.78.09.08.22.53.01.83.0
490.81.50.31.10.71.013.412.86.98.39.48.52.63.21.83.1
510.81.60.31.10.71.013.913.37.28.69.78.82.73.31.93.3
530.91.60.41.20.71.114.413.77.48.910.09.12.83.42.03.4
550.91.70.41.20.71.114.814.17.79.210.39.42.93.52.03.5
570.91.70.41.30.81.215.214.67.99.510.69.73.03.72.13.6
590.91.80.41.30.81.215.715.08.29.710.99.93.13.82.23.8

1 This column to be used only if brands and tags are not located at the washbasin.

2 This refers to the carcasses in the bleeding area.

(ii) Inspection Using Viscera Table, Tongue-In Presentation of Heads.

Steers and Heifers

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 32aaa
33 to 58bbb
59 to 84111
85 to 86121
87 to 143221
144 to 171321
172 to 198331
199 to 226332
227 to 253432
254 to 280442
281 to 306542
307 to 333552

Cows and Bulls

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 29aaa
30 to 56bbb
57 to 77111
78 to 81121
82 to 134221
135 to 159231
160 to 187331
188 to 213341
214 to 234342
235 to 264442
265 to 289542
290 to 314552

(iii) Inspection Using Viscera Table, Tongue-Out Presentation of Heads.

Steers and Heifers

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 32aaa
33 to 58bbb
59 to 86111
87 to 103121
104 to 156221
157 to 186231
187 to 216331
217 to 246332
247 to 275342
276 to 304442
305 to 333452
334 to 362552
363 to 390562

Cows and Bulls

Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour)Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 29aaa
30 to 56bbb
57 to 79111
80 to 98121
99 to 147221
148 to 174231
175 to 205331
206 to 233341
234 to 256342
257 to 288442
289 to 316542
317 to 343552

(3)Swine inspection. There are two systems of post-mortem inspection: The New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), which may be used for market hogs, and the traditional inspection system, which may be used for all swine.
(i) The NSIS may be used for market hogs if the official establishment requests to use it and meets or agrees to meet the requirements in 9 CFR 309.19 and § 310.26 . The Administrator may permit establishments that slaughter classes of swine other than market hogs to use NSIS under a waiver from the provisions in 9 CFR 309.19 and § 310.26 as provided by 9 CFR 303.1(h) . The Administrator also may permit establishments that slaughter both market hogs and other classes of swine to slaughter the market hogs under NSIS and slaughter the other classes of swine under traditional inspection.
(ii) Traditional inspection shall be used for swine when NSIS is not used. The following inspection staffing standards are applicable to swine slaughter configurations operating under traditional inspection when NSIS is not used. The inspection standards for all slaughter lines are based upon the observation rather than palpation, at the viscera inspection station, of the spleen, liver, heart, lungs, and mediastinal lymph nodes. In addition, for one- and two-inspector lines under traditional inspection, the standards are based upon the distance walked (in feet) by the inspector between work stations; and for three or more inspector slaughter lines, upon the use of a mirror, as described in § 307.2(m)(6) of this chapter, at the carcass inspection station. Although not required in a one- or two-inspector slaughter configuration, except in certain cases as determined by the inspection service, if a mirror is used, it must comply with the requirements of § 307.2(m)(6) .

Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(3)-One Inspector-Staffing Standards for Swine

Distance walked1 in feet is-Maximum inspection rates (head per hour)
Market hogs
(heads attached or detached)
Sows and boars
(heads detached)
Without mirror With mirror Without mirror With mirror
0 to 5140150131143
6 to 10134144126137
11 to 15129137122132
16 to 20124132117127
21 to 35120127113122
26 to 30116122110118
31 to 35112118106114
36 to 40108114103110
41 to 45105110100106
46 to 5010110797103
51 to 559810394100
56 to 60961009197
61 to 6593978994
66 to 7090958792
71 to 7588928589
76 to 8086898287
81 to 8584878085
86 to 9082857983
91 to 9580837781
96 to 10078817579

1 Distance walked is the total distance that the inspector will have to walk between work stations during one inspection cycle (e.g., between viscera, carcass, head, and wash-basin).

Table 2 to Paragraph (b)(3)-Two Inspectors-Staffing Standards for Market Hogs

Distance walked1 in feet by inspector B is-Maximum inspection rates
(head per hour with heads attached or detached)
Line configuration
Carcass,2 head viscera3 Viscera,2 head carcass3 Head,2 viscera carcass3
Without Mirror
0 to 5151-253151-271151-296
6 to 10151-239151-255151-277
11 to 15151-226151-240151-260
16 to 20151-214151-227151-244
21 to 25151-204151-215151-231
With Mirror
0 to 5151-253151-303151-318
6 to 10151-239151-283151-304
11 to 15151-226151-265151-289
16 to 20151-214151-249151-270
21 to 25151-204151-235151-254

1Distance walked is the total distance that Inspector B will have to walk between work stations during one inspection cycle (e.g., between viscera, carcass, and washbasin).

2Inspector A.

3Inspector B.

Note 1 to Table 2 to paragraph (b)(3): In multiple-inspector plants, the inspectors must rotate between all inspection positions during each shift to equalize the workload.

Table 3 to Paragraph (b)(3)-Two Inspectors-Staffing Standards for Sows and Boars

Distance walked1 in feet by inspector B is-Maximum inspection rates
(head per hour)
Line Configuration
Carcass,2 head viscera,3 heads detached Viscera,2 head carcass,3 heads detached Head,2 viscera carcass,3 heads detached Head,2 viscera carcass,3 heads attached
Without Mirror
0 to 5144-248144-254144-267144-267
6 to 10144-235144-240144-253144-253
11 to 15144-222144-227144-239144-239
16 to 20144-211144-215144-226144-226
21 to 25144-201144-205144-214144-214
With Mirror
0 to 5144-248144-292144-305144-292
6 to 10144-235144-273144-291144-280
11 to 15144-222144-256144-272144-268
16 to 20144-211144-241144-255144-255
21 to 25144-201144-228144-240144-240

1Distance walked is the total distance that Inspector B will have to walk between work stations during one inspection cycle (e.g., between viscera, carcass, and washbasin).

2Inspector A.

3Inspector B.

Note 1 to table 3 to Paragraph (b)(3): In multiple-inspector plants, the inspectors must rotate between all inspection positions during each shift to equalize the workload.

Table 4 to paragraph (b)(3)-Three Inspectors or More-Staffing Standards for Swine

Maximum inspection rates
(head per hour with heads attached)
Number of inspectors by station
Head Viscera Carcass Total
Market hogs:
319 to 5061113
507 to 5401214
541 to 8592215
860 to 1,0222316
1,023 to 1,1063317
Sows and boars:
306 to 4391113
306 to 46211113
440 to 4752114
476 to 7522215
753 to 8953216
896 to 9643317

1This rate applies if the heads of sows and boars are detached from the carcasses at the time of inspection.

Note 1 to table 4 to paragraph (b)(3): In multiple-inspector plants, the inspectors must rotate between all inspection positions during each shift to equalize the workload.

9 C.F.R. §310.1

35 FR 15567, Oct. 3, 1970, as amended at 47 FR 33676, Aug. 4, 1982; 50 FR 19903, May 13, 1985; 84 FR 52346, Oct. 1, 2019
84 FR 52346, 12/2/2019