USDA Records Show Use Of "Downer Cows" NOT Rare
The largest beef recall in United States history occurred largely because of video evidence that at least a couple "downer cows" made it into the food supply.
Now comes word from the Animal Welfare Institute, a 57-year old non-profit that wants to abolish so-called "factory" farming and achieve humane slaughter practices, that it has records from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) of 501 humane-handling or slaughter violations involving "downer cows."
The violations apparently occurred in the 18 months prior to March 2004. The records tell of a downed cow being pushed 15 feet with a forklift. Other companies were cited for dragging downed but conscious animals, letting downed cattle be trampled and stood on by others and, in one case, using "excessive force" with a rope and an electric prod to get a downed cow to stand.
The USDA records indicate that more than 10 percent of the humane-slaughter violations issued by the department involved animals, mostly cattle, that could not walk.
"Downer cows" are much more likely to be carrying diseases like Mad Cow, E. coli, and salmonella. Since an undercover video tape surfaced of a Chino, CA slaughterhouse that was forcing "downer cows" into the "knock" or kill box, USDA has been under pressure to stop such animals from entering the human food supply.
For more, check out the USA Today story here.
