CFR > Title 9 - Animals and Animal Products > CHAPTER III—FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE > SUBCHAPTER A—AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION (parts 300 to 381) > PART 310—POST-MORTEM INSPECTION > 310.1—Extent and time of post-mortem inspection; post-mortem inspection staffing standards.

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. 1

Code of Federal Regulations

Footnote(s): 1 The “Maximum Slaughter Rates” figures listed in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section for one (a) and two (b) inspector kills are overstated because the time required to walk from one inspection station to another is not included. To determine the proper adjusted maximum slaughter line speed, paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this section for one inspector kills or paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) of this section for two inspector kills must be used along with their accompanying rules.
(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 27 a a a
28 to 56 b b b
57 to 84 1 1 1
85 to 86 1 2 1
87 to 143 2 2 1
Cows and Bulls
Maximum slaughter rates (head per hour) Number of inspectors by stations
Head Viscera Carcass
1 to 27 a a a
28 to 55 b b b
56 to 77 1 1 1
78 to 81 1 2 1
82 to 134 2 2 1
(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 carcass 2 6 Carcass 2 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 rail 1 13 Head rack and washbasin 1 14 Viscera and tags—brands
Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0
5 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.1
7 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 0.3
9 0 0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4
11 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.6
13 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.7
15 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0 0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.9
17 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0 0 0 0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 1.0
19 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.1
21 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.4 0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.1 1.3
23 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.5 0.5 0 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.2 1.4
25 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.0 0.5 0.5 0 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.5
27 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.4 0.5 0.6 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.6 0.6 0 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.4 1.7
29 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0 0 0 0 0.5 0.6 0.6 1.2 1.3 1.2 0.6 0.6 0 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 1.5 1.8
31 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.6 0 0 0 0 0.5 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.3 1.4 0.7 0.7 0 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.9
33 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.7 0 0 0 0 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.3 1.4 1.4 0.7 0.7 0 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.7 2.1
35 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.7 0 0 0 0 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 0.8 0.8 0 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.8 2.2
37 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0 0 0 0 0.6 0.8 0.8 1.5 1.6 1.6 .0.8 0.8 0 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.9 2.3
39 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0 0 0 0 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.6 1.7 1.7 0.9 0.9 0 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 2.4
41 0.4 0.3 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.7 1.7 1.8 0.9 0.9 0 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 2.1 2.6
43 0.4 0.4 1.2 0.9 1.0 0.9 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 2.2 2.7
45 0.4 0.4 1.2 0.9 1.0 0.9 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 2.3 2.8
47 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.0 1.1 1.0 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.0 2.1 1.1 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 2.4 2.9
49 0.4 0.4 1.4 1.0 1.1 1.0 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.8 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.1 2.2 1.1 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.6 2.5 3.1
51 0.5 0.5 1.4 1.1 1.2 1.1 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 1.2 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.6 3.2
53 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.1 1.2 1.1 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 1.2 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.7 3.3
55 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 0 0.1 0 0.1 1.0 1.2 1.2 2.3 2.3 2.4 1.3 1.3 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.7 2.8 3.4
57 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.2 0 0.1 0 0.1 1.0 1.2 1.3 2.3 2.4 2.5 1.3 1.3 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.7 2.9 3.5
59 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 0 0.1 0 0.1 1.0 1.3 1.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 1.4 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 3.0 3.6
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 inspection 1 Number of feet between points 2 Head rack and washbasin Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 3 Head rack and carcasses 2 Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 4 Washbasin and low rail Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 5 Head rack and low rail Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls Viscera and high rail inspection 6 Viscera and brands tags (washbasin) Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 7 Viscera and high rail Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 8 High rail and washbasin Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls 9 1 Viscera and washbasin Strs. Hfrs. Cows Bulls
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.2
5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3
7 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.5 1.4 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4
9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 2.2 2.0 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5
11 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.8 2.7 1.4 1.7 1.9 1.8 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.6
13 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 3.5 3.3 1.7 2.1 2.4 2.2 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.8
15 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3 4.1 3.9 2.0 2.5 2.9 2.6 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.9
17 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.3 4.8 4.5 2.4 2.9 3.3 3.0 0.8 1.0 0.7 1.0
19 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.4 5.4 5.1 2.7 3.3 3.7 3.4 0.9 1.2 0.7 1.2
21 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.4 6.0 5.7 3.0 3.7 4.2 3.7 1.0 1.3 0.8 1.3
23 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 6.6 6.3 3.3 4.0 4.6 4.1 1.2 1.4 0.9 1.4
25 0.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 7.2 6.8 3.6 4.4 5.0 4.5 1.3 1.6 1.0 1.6
27 0.4 0.8 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.5 7.8 7.4 3.9 4.7 5.4 4.9 1.4 1.7 1.0 1.7
29 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.6 8.3 7.9 4.2 5.1 5.8 5.2 1.5 1.8 1.1 1.8
31 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.6 8.9 8.5 4.5 5.4 6.2 5.6 1.6 2.0 1.2 2.0
33 0.5 1.0 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.7 9.4 9.0 4.8 5.8 6.5 5.9 1.7 2.1 1.3 2.1
35 0.6 1.1 0.3 0.8 0.5 0.7 10.0 9.5 5.0 6.1 6.9 6.3 1.8 2.2 1.3 2.3
37 0.6 1.1 0.3 0.8 0.5 0.7 10.5 10.0 5.3 6.4 7.3 6.6 1.9 2.4 1.4 2.4
39 0.6 1.2 0.3 0.9 0.5 0.8 11.0 10.5 5.6 6.8 7.6 6.9 2.0 2.5 1.5 2.5
41 0.7 1.2 0.3 0.9 0.6 0.8 11.5 11.0 5.9 7.1 8.0 7.2 2.1 2.6 1.5 2.6
43 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.9 0.6 0.9 12.0 11.4 6.1 7.4 8.3 7.6 2.2 2.8 1.6 2.8
45