Main Street Market: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2024 (USDA)

313.16(b)(1)(iii),313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness: On Monday, November 27, 2023, at 10:50am, while performing a routine humane handling task, I observed the following noncompliance. The stun operator utilized a 22 Mag rifle, with multiple rounds loaded int he magazine, to stun the seventh market hog of the day in the stun box. There is room in the stun box for the hog to completely turn around in a full circle. I positioned myself behind a wall for safety. I heard the first stun attempt, and stepped out from behind the wall and observed the hog still standing within the stun box. The hog did not vocalize. The stun operator was talking to the hog. The stun operator utilized the same firearm for a second stun attempt and rendered the hog unsensible. I verified that the hog was unconscious. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I reflected the skin off from around the front of the skull. I observed two penetrating holes with bone fragments within 1/2 inch of each other. Through supervisory channels, Denver District Management was contacted. I applied US Reject tag number B31-831709 to take regulatory control at the stun box. I verbally informed the Owner of establishment M5652, of the noncompliance and that a withholding action would be taken until adequate written corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence were provided. This noncompliance is being associated with NR# VIE4012113027N/1 issued earlier today, 11/27/23, for same root cause. This establishment has not implemented a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.

313.16(b)(1)(iii),313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness On Monday, November 27, 2023, at approximately 8:50am, while performing a routine humane handling task, I observed the following noncompliance. The stun operator utilized a 22-Mag rifle, with multiple rounds loaded in the magazine, to stun the second market hog of the day, in the stun box. There is room in the stun box for the hog to completely turn around. I positioned myself behind a wall for safety. I heard the first stun attempt, but it did not immediately render the hog insensible, as I could hear loud vocalizations and heavily labored breathing from the hog. I stepped out from behind the wall and observed the hog to be down on the ground. I then heard the same firearm discharge a second time. The vocalization and heavily labored breathing stopped. I verified that the hog was unconscious. No regulatory control action was taken due to the observed immediate and effective corrective actions. Upon inspection of the dressed head, I reflected the skin off from around the front of the skull. I observed two holes, with bone fragments, within an inch of each other. Both holes penetrated the skull. One hole was slightly above the target zone. I verbally informed the Owner of the establishment M5652, of the forthcoming noncompliance record. Denver District office was contacted through supervisory channels. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment has not implemented a robust systematic approach to the humane handling of livestock.