Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
September 9, 2001
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #28
CONTENTS
1. PETA & Wendy's Reach Agreement
2. The Pig Welfare Debate
3. Pig Welfare: Production, Transport, Slaughter
4. State of the Pig Industry
5 State of The Meat Industry
6. Beef Exports
7. Animal Welfare/Rights Forum
1. PETA & WENDY'S REACH AGREEMENT
PETA called off its 2-month-old "Wicked Wendy's" Campaign after coming
to
terms with Wendy's, the fast-food chain. According to a PETA press
release,
Wendy's has agreed to meet the animal welfare standards which McDonald's
and Burger King agreed to earlier. "Out of corporate image concerns,"
reports USA Today, "the fast-food chains vigorously deny PETA's actions
had
any role in the changes." A Wendy's spokesperson claims the company had
already been doing some of the things which PETA announced it had agreed
to. The terms include: conducting unannounced inspections of
slaughterplants, require a minimum cage size for hens of 72 square inches,
cease purchasing eggs from operations which force molt hens, and
increasing
(or consider increasing) the voltage in electrical water baths used to
immobilize chickens prior to slaughter. Grocery chains, such as Wal-Mart,
or chicken fast-food chains may be targeted next.
"Wendy's steps up animal welfare standards," USA Today, Bruce Horovitz,
September 5, 2001.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/consumer/2001-09-06-wendy.htm
"Animal rights group to end Wendy's protests," Associated Press (Nando
Times), Sept. 6, 2001.
http://nandotimes.com/healthscience/v-text/story/74343p-1047933c.html
"PETA Wins 'Wicked Wendy's' Campaign," PETA press release, September
6,
2001.
http://peta.org/news/NewsItem.asp?id=360
Wendy's Animal Welfare Program Fact Sheet
http://www.wendys.com/pdf1.html
2. THE PIG WELFARE DEBATE
In response to European and domestic developments, the U.S. pig industry
is
challenging the basis for recent welfare initiatives. Chronic stress,
depression and neurotic coping behaviors, such as bar biting, are
attributed to the lack of environmental stimulation and behavioral
restrictions which pigs kept in stalls are subjected to. Defenders of the
stall system question the abnormality of such behaviors and dispute the
proposed Florida referendum to ban sow gestation crates. The industry is
also designing a welfare indexing system. The index is hoped to provide
producers with an objective system to measure the welfare of pigs in
various systems by evaluating production, behavior and physiological
factors.
Michael Meredith, the director of the U.K.'s Pig Disease Information
Centre, applauds his government's "courageous, world-leading ban" on
pig
stalls in an article about the "inextricably interwoven" connection
between
animal and human health and welfare. Free trade regulations are, however,
undermining this progress by enabling the importation of cheap meat from
countries with lower welfare standards. Such standards mean lower
production costs since economies in housing and labor often outweigh the
costs of impaired health and performance. Meredith calls for improved
income, training and government support for U.K. pig farmers.
"Defending Farm Animal Care," National Hog Farmer, Joe Vansickle,
August
15, 2001.
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=17&releaseid=6934&magazinearticleid=116057&siteid=5
"Gestation Crates: No Way to Treat a Pig, Impact Press, Robyn
Thunderchild,
Aug./Sept. 200l.
http://wwwimpactpress.com/articles/augsep01/gestation80901.html
"Animal health/welfare - Human health/welfare inextricably
interwoven,"
Pig
Disease Information Centre, Michael J. Meredith, 2001.
http://www.pighealth.com/Admin/releases/desperation.htm
3. PIG WELFARE: PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT, SLAUGHTER
Paul Hemsworth, an Australian researcher, contends that the most limiting
factor in animal productivity and welfare is also the easiest one to
change: the human factor. Handling studies have shown that pigs are very
sensitive to tactile interactions with humans. Brief but regular negative
interactions with humans result in pigs having high levels of fear of
humans. Pigs handled by people with a positive attitude perform better.
Hemsworth advocates "cognitive-behavioural therapy" to change the
attitudes
of workers towards pigs. To that end, he has developed ProHand, a
commercial multi-media training program. The program is said to have the
added benefit of reducing staff turnover and increasing job satisfaction.
The article lists the qualities of good pig handlers.
Transport and handling factors can also significantly impact animal stress
and meat quality. To raise trucker awareness of this overlooked area the
National Pork Board is developing a Trucker Quality Assurance (TQA)
Program. Animal welfare and health/biosecurity measures will be included.
After training, truckers will take a test to become certified animal
haulers. The Board hopes to have a national workshop in September to
initiate the program.
To prevent meat quality problems, Canada's Lancombe Research Centre is
experimenting with infrared technology to evaluate the condition of pigs
in
regard to preslaughter stressors, such as trucking and handling. A
significant correlation exists between the level of stress an animal is
experiencing and the energy radiating from the animal. Researchers hope to
be able to refine infrared thermography for use as a noninvasive method of
selecting pigs who need to rest and recover prior to being killed.
"Increased Welfare Leads to Increased Productivity," Pork News &
Views,
Penny Lawlis, August 2001.
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/swine/news/august2001.htm
"Winning the Hearts of Consumers," National Hog Farmer, Joe Vansickle,
August 15, 2001.
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=17&releaseid=6934&magazinearticleid=116051&siteid=5
"Pre Slaughter Determination of Animal Stress and Pork Quality," Pork
News
& Views, A.L. Schaefer et al., August 2001.
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/swine/news/august2001.htm
4. STATE OF THE PIG INDUSTRY
The USDA's National Animal Health Monitoring System has released the
results of a major survey of pig operations. Survey highlights include the
following:
MISCELLANEOUS: 60% of farms had 2,000 or more sows. The average litter
size
was 10.9 piglets, with 10 born alive and 8.9 weaned.
CONFINEMENT: 83% of sows farrowed in total confinement housing systems;
82%
of nursery pigs were kept in total confinement.
MORTALITY: The preweaning mortality rate was 11%; sow and gilt mortality
ranged from 5-7.4% and increased with herd size. Respiratory disease was
the greatest cause of mortality, claiming 29% of nursery deaths and 39% of
grower/finisher deaths.
CULLING: The culling rate was 36% of sows and gilts. The primary reason
(42%) for culling sows and gilts was age. Reproductive failure accounted
for 21% and lameness for 16%.
University researchers, with the help of PORK Magazine, have released a
"snapshot" study of pork industry for the year 2000. It found that 80%
of
pigs were produced by companies that market 5,000 animals annually. Over
half of the pigs were from some 156 companies that market 50,000 animals
annually.
"Highlights of NAHMS Swine 2000 Part I," APHIS/USDA, August 2001.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cahm/Swine/Swine2000/swine1highlights.htm
"Production and Marketing Characteristics of U.S. Pork Producers,
2000,"
University of Illinois Extension, The Pig Site, August 2001.
http://www.thepigsite.com/FeaturedArticle/Default.asp?AREA=FeaturedArticle&Display=447
5. STATE OF THE MEAT INDUSTRY
A lengthy, referenced article in the Economic Review examines the U.S.
meat
industry. It details consolidation and other changes in both production
and
processing, and changes in consumption patterns. It also examines relevant
government policies and how public policy may alter the industry. In
discussing transportation costs, the article notes that, on average, beef
packing plants bought cattle from as far away as 650 miles.
Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM) has released a compilation of facts
about animal agriculture in preparation for World Farm Animals Day 2001.
The document, entitled "Animal Agriculture Claims Nearly Ten Billion
Victims in 2001," and other information can be accessed at:
http://www.wfad.org/wfad-release.html.
World Farm Animals Day has been
observed on October 2nd for the past 19 years, in recognition of Mahatma
Gandhi's birthday.
An article about China's live animal meat markets concludes: "It is a
shocking scene for the uninitiated, but there's no arguing about the
freshness, and there's complete accountability by the butcher, who hides
behind no anonymous distributors. Just don't expect an endorsement from
the
bird."
"The new U.S. meat industry," Economic Review, Alan Barkema et al.,
Second
Quarter, 2001.
http://www.kc.frb.org/publicat/econrev/er01q2.htm#meat
"Here,
at least, there is no mystery meat," Chicago Tribune, Michael A. Lev, August 9,
2001.
http://chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0108090290aug09.story?coll=ch
6. BEEF EXPORTS
Last year, 99% of the growth in beef demand came from outside of the U.S.
Beef exports were up 12% (in volume) last year, and up 245% since 1990.
Exports account for nearly 13% of U.S. beef production. The increase in
global demand is attributed to rising incomes, a growing middle class, a
decline in self-sufficiency, and export promotion efforts. Obstacles to
U.S. exports include food safety concerns, foreign competition and trade
regulations. Japan and Mexico are the largest foreign markets for U.S.
beef. Australia leads the U.S. in beef exports.
"Beyond U.S. Borders," Beef Magazine, Kindra Gordon, August 1, 2001.
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=13&releaseid=6880&magazinearticleid=114820&siteid=5
7. ANIMAL WELFARE/RIGHTS FORUM
"Do Animal Welfare Campaigns & Reforms Hurt or Help Animal Rights &
Abolition" is the topic of United Poultry Concerns (UPC) Third Annual
Forum. Speakers included representatives or the Association of
Veterinarians for Animal Rights, PETA, and The Animals' Agenda. The forum
will be held September 15-16 at the Hilton Norfolk Airport in Norfolk, Va.
on the 15th, and at the UPC Sanctuary in Mochipongo, Va. on the 16th.
Registration is $75 with a $40 rate for seniors and students. Additional
information can be obtained at: http://www.upc-online.org/forum2001.html.