Yoder's Butcher Block: Non-Compliance to Humane Livestock Handling in 2025 (USDA)
See the detail of the non-compliance of humane livestock handling that the USDA observed at the Yoder's Butcher Block slaughterhouse establishment in 2025.
You can also see other establishments that were non-compliant in 2025.
313.15(a)(1)
At 11:10 am on 8/26/25 while performing the livestock humane handling inspection task in the slaughter area, CSI observed a captive bolt stunning failure with a pig. The first attempt to stun was with a captive bolt gun. The captive bolt gun failed to stun as the pig was standing, moving and vocalizing. CSI observed blood coming from the nostrils of the pig. The employee immediately switched to gunshot which caused a stunned state and stuck the pig. Plant manager and owner notified of noncompliance in person. Regulation cited 9cfr313.15(a)(1) due to failure to produce immediate unconsciousness for humane handling.
313.16(a)(1)
At 8:35 am while performing the livestock humane handling inspection task in the slaughter area, CSI observed a gunshot stunning failure with a cow. The first shot failed to stun as the cow was standing and moving. The employee quickly took a second shot which immediately caused a stunned state and stuck the cow. Plant manager and owner notified of noncompliance in person. Two shots confirmed on postmortem examination. Regulation cited 313.16(a)(1) due to failure to produce immediate unconsciousness for humane handling.
313.16(a)(1)
At 11:30am while performing the livestock humane handling inspection task in the slaughter area, CSI observed a gunshot stunning failure with a pig. The first shot failed to stun and the pig squealed. The employee quickly took a second shot which immediately caused a stunned state and stuck the pig. Plant manager and owner notified in person. Plant owner notified by email. Two shots confirmed on postmortem examination. Regulation cited 313.16(a)(1) due to failure to produce immediate unconsciousness for humane handling.
313.16(a)(1)
At 10:55am while performing the livestock humane handling inspection task in the slaughter area, CSI observed a gunshot stunning failure with a pig. The first shot failed to stun and the pig made screaming vocalizations. The employee took a second shot which immediately caused a stunned state and stuck the pig. Plant manager notified in person. Plant owner notified by email. Two shots confirmed on ante-mortem examination. Regulation cited 313.16(a)(1) due to failure to produce immediate unconsciousness for humane handling.
313.16(a)(1)
At 9:50am on 3/4/25, while performing humane handling inspection duties in the slaughter room, CSI observed a stunning failure. The employee attempted to stun a pig by gunshot, but the pig was not stunned and began screaming/vocalizing. The employee aimed and took a second shot. The animal began vocalizing again. Employee immediately took a third shot and the pig was completely stunned and stuck. The employee switched to a more powerful firearm for the remainder of the shift. Plant owner notified at time of the event. Regulation cited 313.16a(1). This noncompliance is linked to two recent humane handling noncompliance records EWA4812023804N and EWA0613015828N.
313.16(a)(1)
At 12:01 on 2/4/2025 while performing livestock humane handling observations in the slaughter area, the CSI observed the following noncompliance. The first stun with a .22 magnum rifle did not render a hog unconscious. Immediate action was taken to stun the hog a second time, but the stun did not effectively render the hog unconscious. The establishment took immediate effective corrective action by stunning the hog a third time and rendering it unconscious. On postmortem inspection three distinct points of entry into the skull were observed. This is noncompliant with 9 CFR 313.16(a)(1) Plant owner notified verbally and in writing.
313.16(a)(1)
At 10:35am on 1/28/2025 while performing livestock humane handling observations in the slaughter area, CSI observed a failed stun with a pig by gunshot. Plant employee took a second shot and the pig was immediately stunned. 2 holes confirmed on postmortem inspection. Regulation cited 313.16(a)(1) At 11:45am, in the same slaughter shift, CSI observed a failed stun with a pig by gunshot. Plant employee took a second shot and the pig was immediately stunned. 2 holes confirmed on postmortem inspection. Regulation cited 313.16(a)(1) Plant was notified verbally and in writing.
