Farmed Animal Watch - August 8, 2001

Farmed Animal Watch
August 8, 2001 (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #21

CONTENTS
1. Manure Liberalism Attracts Foreign Entrepreneurs 2. Enviropig 3. BLM Seizes Illegal Cattle 4. E. Coli Killed the Mammary Cell 5. Rat Genes for Fresher Salad 6. British Disease Woes Continue 7. EU Proposals to Fight Food-borne Disease 8. Ballot to Ban the Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption 9. Animal Welfare Examined at UC Davis 10. Website Spotlight: SentientBeings.org 1. MANURE LIBERALISM ATTRACTS FOREIGN ENTREPRENEURS The lack of manure management regulations in Canada is attracting hundreds of foreign entrepreneurs who are setting up industrial-scale pig and dairy operations. Most are from the Netherlands, which, due to severe pollution problems, imposed strict manure disposal controls and is paying people to stop farming. The money to being used to buy Canadian farms, many of which are converted into intensive confinement operations. German agribusinesses are also expanding their operations with the acquisition of Canadian farms. Large operations in Canada are supposed to have manure management plans, but no manure treatment is required. Some people are calling for binding rules to replace the current manure management plans. Others say a limit on the number of animals allowed would be more enforceable and effective. A recent Canadian report warns that manure components are hazardously accumulating in numerous Canadian waterways. Last year, 7 people died and 2,000 were sickened when cattle manure contaminated an Ontario town's water supply with E. coli. "Canada: The world's 'barnyard,'" Ottawa Citizen, Tom Spears, August 4, 2001. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/national/010804/5039062.html 2. ENVIROPIG Researchers in Ontario have genetically engineered pigs who produce manure with a lower phosphorus content. (Phosphorus promotes the growth of algae in water bodies, which in turn depletes oxygen for other plants and animals.) The "Enviropig" absorbs 50-75% of the phosphorus that normally would be excreted. This was done by adding a gene from the E. coli bacteria and part of a mouse gene to pig embryos. The researchers hope this will help address pollution problems, especially as pig operations grow in size. Notes one researcher: "That's where the manure pollution problem is really at its peak, in these big, several-thousand-animal units, where the manure output from this point source is far greater than they can reasonably transport out and apply onto fields in the surrounding area." The safety of meat from these animals is uncertain, as are testing procedures. A researcher comments: "I don't know how to handle this yet ... Do you want to feed pigs to pigs, pigs to rats, or pigs to humans?" One article notes that testing cannot be done on mice or rats because their immune systems are so different from the human system. The researchers anticipate the meat will be approved and marketed within 5 years, conceding that the long-term effects of genetically-modified food are unknown. "Genetically modified pig passes on cleaner manure," Ottawa Citizen, Tom Spears, July 31, 2001. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/national/010731/5010627.html "'Enviropig' studies search for effects of meat on humans," The Record, Luisa D'Amato, August 3, 2001. http://www.therecord.com/news/news_010803911.html 3. BLM SEIZES ILLEGAL CATTLE The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seized nearly 200 cattle in Nevada. The agency charges that 2 men owe $370,000 in fees and fines for overgrazing the animals on federal land without permits since 1995. Other ranchers and states' rights activists are siding with the accused, as are local sheriffs, and are demanding the cattle be returned. BLM officials say the ranchers' actions jeopardize the future of public land grazing. The cattle may be auctioned off next week if the money remains unpaid. "Nevada Ranchers Clash with Bureau of Land Management," Ag Web News, Darcy Maulsby, August 2, 2001. http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_2001821742_79&articleID=77937&newscat=GN 4. E. COLI KILLED THE MAMMARY CELL Mastitis, inflammation of the mammary glands, reduces milk production and costs the U.S. dairy industry $1.7 billion a year, the equivalent of $180 per cow. About 150 strains of bacteria are the most common cause of mastitis, particularly E. coli. Canadian researchers have found that E. coli causes mammary cells to die, but also causes the cells to divide. This may enable the bacteria, which cause very persistent infections, to hide from the host animal's immune system. The infections may result in permanent injury to the cow's udder. Antibiotics are the main recourse. Besides therapeutic treatment, long-lasting antibiotics are also administered to cows between milking periods to eliminate latent infections. Bacteria may survive though, and cause flare ups later. Cows with chronic infections are slaughtered. A vaccine against E. coli has just been marketed but is of limited effectiveness. "Udder suicide," Nature, Helen Pearson, August 6, 2001. http://www.nature.com/nsu/010809/010809-3.html 5. RAT GENES FOR FRESHER SALAD A Virginia Tech physiologist has spliced rat genes into lettuce, resulting in greenery with up to 700% more vitamin C than normal lettuce. He believes his findings may potentially improve the health of people with nutritional deficiencies by helping to show how to increase the vitamin C content of other plants. The researcher argues that his work is merely an extension of the natural hybridization of plants. He concedes more research is required before the extensive use of animal genes to boost the quality of raw foods can become a reality. "Vitamins for your Veggies," Beyond 2000, August 6, 2001. http://www.beyond2000.com/news/Aug_01/story_%201241.html 6. BRITISH DISEASE WOES CONTINUE Britain continues to suffer from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and new concerns have arisen about "mad cow" disease (MCD). Despite previous reassurances from the government that FMD was abating, new cases continue to occur. The government now acknowledges it will be months before the country is free of it. More than 3.5 million animals have been killed on 9,000 farms and more are slated for killing. The cost to the British economy has been about $1.7 billion so far and is expected to double. Unlike farmers, other businesses are not being compensated for losses attributed to the disease. Farmers blame the government for not vaccinating animals -which would make them ineligible for export- and accuse government slaughterers of spreading the disease through sloppy practices. The government blames farmers and rural workers for not properly disinfecting themselves and their equipment. Meanwhile, new research indicates that sheep may also have been infected with MCD. Though the infection is isolated to certain parts of the body in cattle, such as the brain and spinal cord, it is more extensive in sheep. Anyone who ate British sheep in the early 1990's may have been exposed to the disease. "A Tenacious Disease Finds New Victims in British Herds," The New York Times, Sarah Lyall, August 5, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/05/international/05BRIT.html?searchpv=day02 (Registration (free) is required to access this article.) "New evidence for vCJD risk from lamb," New Scientist, Andy Coghlan, August 3, 2001. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991115 7. EU PROPOSALS TO FIGHT FOOD-BORNE DISEASE The European Union Health and Consumer Protection Commission has proposed new rules obligating member states to implement better systems for monitoring and regulating foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella and E. coli. The rules will primarily affect chicken, turkey and pig operations, and seek to establish maximum pathogen levels in specific animal populations. A timetable for pathogen reduction targets has been set, with improvements in hygiene measures at the farm level envisioned. The Commission will have the option of excluding certain control measures, such as the use of antibiotics or vaccinations, or of determining the conditions for their use. The Commission's proposals are subject to approval by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. "EU proposals to combat food-borne diseases like salmonella or E. coli," The Pig Site, August 2, 2001. http://www.thepigsite.com/LatestNews/Default.asp?AREA=LatestNews&Display=2080 "EC Proposes stricter rules for foodborne pathogens," Food Chemical News, Sebastian Romero Melchor, August 6, 2001. http://www.foodchemicalnews.com 8. BALLOT TO BAN THE SLAUGHTER OF HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Equine advocates are working to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption via the Massachusetts ballot next year. The same group succeeded in getting such a ban on the 1998 California ballot. They are setting their sights on a nationwide ban and have named their proposed ballot question after Brown Beauty, the horse who carried Paul Revere on his ride to announce the American Revolution. The activists assert that horses slaughtered for human consumption are treated more cruelly than those who are euthanized. A spokesperson for Cavel International, one of the few slaughterplants that still exports horse meat, opposes the ban and doubts people who possess horses would support it either. "Horses don't die of old age," he said. More than 57,000 signatures need to be obtained to get the question on the ballot. A survey of horses at auction versus those at slaughterplants found horses at auction to be in better physical condition than those at slaughterplants. The report concludes "Slaughter plants in the United States assist in maintaining a level of horse welfare by preventing old and (or) unsound working/riding horses from being neglected." "State Ballot Question Would Bar Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption," Associated Press (Fox News), August 7, 2001. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,31595,00.html "Survey of auction and slaughter horses," Temple Grandin et al., International Animal Agriculture and Food Science Conference Abstracts, July 25, 2001, ASAS/ADSA, Animal Behavior and Well Being. http://www.asas.org/jas/jointabs/jntmttoc.htm 9. ANIMAL WELFARE EXAMINED AT UC DAVIS The University of California, Davis, is increasingly the site of research and conferences on animal welfare. The Center for Animal Research was established 3 years ago, and last month a conference on the well-being of farmed animals was held at the campus. This week, 300 international ethologists (animal behaviorists) convened there to discuss animals, from mice to parrots. A substantial amount of their attention is on farmed animals. Weaning calves was one topic. It is common practice in the beef business to remove calves from their mothers at 6 to 7 months. This is highly stressful, causing the calves to cry and pace and lose weight. Weaning calves from cows can be made less stressful if they are allowed contact through a fence. Initially, they stay as close to each other as possible, "sometimes gazing at each other for long periods." Within 5 to 6 days, however, calves reportedly becomes independent, and are "happier and fatter." "UC Davis cultivating animal-friendly image: Adjustments in care may improve the quality of life for many creatures, from parrots to livestock, behaviorists are learning," The Sacramento Bee, Edie Lau, August 7, 2001. http://www.sacbee.com/news/news/local06_20010807.html 10. WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT: SENTIENTBEINGS.ORG A campaign to have farmed animals recognized as sentient beings has been launched with the August 4th debut of the web site: http://www.sentientbeings.org. The campaign seeks to improve the status of farmed animals in the U.S. and to foster basic legal reforms. While other countries have enacted legislation to protect farmed animals, over the past 10 years the U.S. anti-cruelty laws have actually been amended to exclude these animals. The site offers quotes from animal advocates, scientists, and industry, and stories and photographs. Campaign materials include an online petition, sample letters and a sample proclamation. Organizations interested in lending their support to the campaign can download an endorsement form. The campaign is sponsored by Farm Sanctuary, with Mary Tyler Moore as Honorary Chair. http://www.sentientbeings.org http://www.farmsanctuary.org