Backroad Meats Inc.: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

On January 7th, 2025, at approximately 9:25 a.m., while performing HATS category VIII, stunning effectiveness, I observed the following noncompliance. While observing and listening from the neighboring room, outside of the slaughter room containing the knock box, I heard the first shot of a stun attempt on a sow contained in the knock box. After the shot, I immediately entered the slaughter room to verify stunning effectiveness. The establishment uses a 22-caliber long rifle with 22 high powered jacketed hollow point ammunition to stun hogs. The hog remained standing after the first attempt and remained standing and looking around the room. I stepped back into the neighboring room for the second stunning attempt with the same firearm. After the shot was heard, I stepped into the slaughter room and the hog was still standing, shaking her head and was visibly agitated. I again left the room, and the establishment made a third attempt at stunning with the same firearm. After the shot was heard I entered the slaughter room, and the hog was rendered unconscious. She showed no signs of sensibility. I applied USDA Reject tag # B34356583 to the knock box and informed the establishment they could not continue with federal slaughter until a decision was made by the district office. Once the hog’s head was removed, it was examined for the bullet holes. There were 3 entrance wounds to the skull. One was centered between the medial canthus of the eyes and one inch cranially. The 2nd wound was about 1⁄2 inch above the first and the 3rd wound was approximately 1⁄2 inch above the second wound. I informed REDACTED establishment owner, of the forthcoming noncompliance record (NR).