Kiowa Locker System, LLC: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2021 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1),313.16(a)(3)

At approximately 11:16 am on 9/25/21, I (CSI REDACTED) verbally notified Mr. Rick Hitchcock, Owner of M-21585, of my decision to take regulatory control action to prevent the slaughter of animals. I advised Mr. Hitchcock that I was contacting the District Office about possible enforcement action due to an egregious humane handling noncompliance and that the District Office would be following up with a written suspension or NOIE letter to the establishment. I based my decision to take a regulatory control action on the following: At approximately 11:16 am, the plant stunner at Kiowa (M-21585) shot a pig the first time and did not render it unconscious. Then he shot the pig the second time and the pig was still standing. The third and final gunshot was not immediately applied due to the plant’s inability to restrict the free movement of the animal and corner it in the stall. After the pig was finally cornered, it was shot for the third time, and this time, it rendered the pig unconscious. I let the stunner know I was tagging the knock box (Tag B15478435) and that they could not slaughter until further notice from the Springdale District Office. I then advised establishment employees in the stunning area that I was implementing a regulatory control action to stop the slaughter of animals but allowed all stunned animals to move through the slaughter process. I tagged the gate of the knock box with US Rejected tag number B15478435 to prevent pigs from entering the restrainer. I then informed the foremen in charge of the stunning area that I had taken a regulatory control action and that the stunning operation was stopped.