Main Street Market: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)

313.16(a)(1)

HATS Category VIII: Stunning Effectiveness: On Monday, September 22, 2025, at approximately 8:25am, while performing a routine humane handling task, I, the CSI, observed the following noncompliance. The stun operator utilized a .22 mag rifle, with multiple rounds loaded in the magazine, to stun the first 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 outside the kill floor door, behind the outside wall. I heard the first stun attempt and a squeal. I asked if it was "all clear" to proceed into the kill floor. The reply was no. Then about 30 seconds later a second shot was fired, and the pig squealed. Again, I asked if it was ok to go into the kill floor. The response was no. Approximately 30 seconds later a third shot was fired. This time, they said all clear. I entered the kill floor and observed the market hog laying on the floor, with blood around the target zone. The hog was unconscious. There was no rhythmic breathing and no eye movement. The hog was shackled, hung, and bled. The owner skinned the head for visual observation. There was a 2-inch by 2-inch penetrating hole with bone fragments and shell fragments. U.S. Retain tag #B45-556186 was applied onto the stun box at approximately 8:40am. After consultation with the Denver District Management Team through supervisory channels, the US Retain tag was removed at approximately 10:30am. There have been no noncompliance records issued for the same root cause in the past 90 days. This establishment does not operate under a Robust Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock.