Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
January 22, 2004
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Number #40 Volume 2
CONTENTS
USDA BAN ON NON-AMBULATORY CATTLE IN THE HUMAN FOOD SUPPLY
1. Emergency Measures
2. Regulatory Changes
3. Rationale
4. Prevention
5. Opposition
6. Expansion
7. Foreign Policy
8. BSE Sites
9. References
1. EMERGENCY MEASURES
In response to the first recognized case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE,
a.k.a. "mad cow disease") in the U.S. (see
http://tinyurl.com/3bx3n
), Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced on Dec. 30th an immediate ban
on the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle at USDA inspected slaughterplants.
Also announced were: a ban on air-injection stunning, restrictions on Advanced
Meat Recovery (AMR) systems, additional types of cattle tissues added to the
list of "specified risk materials" prohibited for use in the
human food supply, and the requirement of a confirmed negative test result for
cattle tested for BSE before meat from them can be marked as having been
inspected {1}. (State-inspected slaughterplants are to have equivalent
procedures in place.)
The measures were passed as an emergency interim rule and as such are open to
change. Although a ban on non-ambulatory animals had been opposed by the meat
industry and its allies in government since at least 1992 {2}, it is now
generally accepted by industry as a necessity {3} in order to resume trade
with the more than 40 countries which banned U.S. cattle and beef after the
BSE case was announced {4}. However, some argue the ban is too strict and
should be relaxed {5}. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is
accepting comments from the public on the new rules until April 12, 2004. The
agency will then publish another document incorporating changes made as a
result of the comments. The documents and information on submitting comments
can be found at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2004/bseregs.htm
(see in particular Docket 03-0251F).
2. REGULATORY CHANGES
FSIS has amended the slaughter inspection regulations by replacing the term
"downers" with the term "non-ambulatory disabled livestock'' to
more accurately describe the cattle it believes should be prohibited from the
human food supply. They are defined as animals who "cannot rise from a
recumbent position or that cannot walk, including, but not limited to, those
with broken appendages, severed tendons or ligaments, nerve paralysis,
fractured vertebral column, or metabolic conditions." The definition
includes cattle who are non-ambulatory due to an injury or illness. All such
cattle are included regardless of when they become disabled {6}. (The only
exception is for cattle who incur an acute injury after they've passed
ante-mortem inspection {7}.) Cattle who become disabled due to acute injury en
route to slaughter or at the slaughterplant are to be humanely moved and
euthanized, and their bodies are to be denatured, rendered or incinerated.
Non-ambulatory cattle are not allowed to be taken into slaughterplants to be
killed or processed {6}.
3. RATIONALE
Non-ambulatory cattle are more likely to be infected with BSE than are
ambulatory cattle. (Screening in Switzerland found them to be 49 times more
likely to be infected.) Clinical signs of BSE are not always observable in
non-ambulatory cattle, and current testing methods may not detect infection
even if it is present in certain tissues of the body. [Not all non-ambulatory
cattle are tested for BSE.] Therefore, FSIS contends that permitting
non-ambulatory cattle who have tested negative for BSE into the human food
supply will not be as safe as prohibiting all non-ambulatory cattle from it
{6}.
4. PREVENTION
It is believed the ban will force changes in the way cattle are treated,
particularly those used in the dairy industry. An estimated 3-4% of cattle in
the beef industry become non-ambulatory, whereas research in Wisconsin and
Minnesota in 2003 found 23% of cattle in the dairy industry were lame. This is
in part because they are slaughtered at a later age. Animal scientist and
industry consultant Temple Grandin notes that some dairies force heifers to
mature so fast that their bones don't have time to develop properly, creating
leg problems and lameness. Cows are pushed to increase their milk supply
"until they're pouring their bones into the milk pail." Grandin says
90% of non-ambulatory cases are preventable. Dairy veterinarian Karen Jordan
explains that, due to the severely discounted price paid for cattle who are
rendered, the ban will be a strong incentive for sending cattle to slaughter
sooner rather than allowing them to become disabled {8}.
5. OPPOSITION
Some within government and industry want the ban relaxed so cattle who are
non-ambulatory due to an injury (vs. an illness) are allowed to be used for
human food. (The cow who was found to be infected was non-ambulatory due to an
injury sustained from having given birth to an abnormally large calf {9}.)
They contend that a great amount of usable meat will otherwise be needlessly
restricted {5}, and that BSE testing will be impeded if potentially diseased
non-ambulatory cattle are not taken to slaughterplants {10}. Criticisms of the
ban dominated a January 21st Congressional hearing on the BSE situation {11}.
Some lawmakers said the government should pay farmers, ranchers and feedlot
operators for getting disabled cattle tested. Earlier this month the USDA had
said it might make such payment. Secretary Veneman responded at the hearing by
pointing out that there has been no government payment for the estimated
400,000 dead or dying cattle taken to rendering plants each year {12} (which
process them into products other than meat {13}). She said they are at higher
risk of having the disease {11} than are the 150,000-200,000 non-ambulatory
cattle who have gone to slaughterplants each year {12}. (Thirty-six million
cattle are slaughtered annually in the U.S.) Veneman said some BSE testing
will be done at facilities other than slaughterplants, such as farms and
rendering plants {14}. She said the matter needs further debate {12} and that
changes to the ban are a possibility {11}.
6. EXPANSION
Advocates for consumers and animals want the ban expanded to include other
species of farmed animals. They point out that, in addition to BSE, such a ban
will help safeguard against E. coli, Salmonella and other diseases {15}. For
example, a USDA study published in August found non-ambulatory cows to be
three times more heavily contaminated with E. coli than were other cows {8}.
On the same day as the Congressional hearing, a number of federal legislators
announced the reintroduction of the Downed Animal Protection Act, in both the
House (H.R. 2519) and Senate (S. 1298), which seeks to ban the use of cattle,
goats, horses, pigs and sheep in the human food supply {16}. In addition to
including other species in the ban, bill sponsor Representative Gary Ackerman
(D.- N.Y.) said he wants to make the ban permanent to prevent the USDA from
later tweaking it on behalf of industry {17}. Farm Sanctuary has renewed its
call to the FDA to grant a petition it filed in 1998 to prevent the use of
disabled animals in the human food supply, and the organization continues to
pursue a lawsuit with the same intent against the USDA {18 and see:
http://www.nodowners.org/how2help.htm
)}.
7. FOREIGN POLICY
The USDA has written to countries that sell beef to the U.S. requiring that
they match the new BSE safeguards, including the ban on non-ambulatory cattle.
The ten countries are: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Costa Rica,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Uruguay. "Any exporting
establishment that has not properly implemented equivalent control will be
suspended immediately," the letter states. Veneman told the House
Agriculture Committee that none of the counties have said they intend to
contest the requirements {19}. On Jan. 21st, Canada banned the slaughter of
non-ambulatory animals at slaughterplants that ship beef to the U.S. as a
temporary trade measure. Canada's "wishy-washy" rules regarding
disabled animals vary across the country. Surveys are being conducted, and the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency is reported to be working on a nationwide ban
on the use of non-ambulatory cattle for human consumption {20}. Non-ambulatory
cattle are also banned from the human food supply in member countries of the
European Union {21}.
8. BSE SITES
The following web sites offer extensive information on BSE and the new
regulations:
3. "Groups React to USDA's Steps on BSE," Pro Farmer, Roger Bernard,
December 30, 2003.
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?articleID=104453
"For Cattle Industry, a Swift Response Years in The Making," The New
York Times, Glen Justice, January 1, 2004.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040101/ZNYT02/401010431
"Farmers Won't Lose Much on 'Downed' Cow Slaughter Ban," Seattle
Times, Jonathan Martin, Susan Keheller, & Gene Balk, December 31, 2004.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001826710_maddowner31m.html
5. "Cattle Slaughtering Ban Too Strict, Conrad Says," Associated
Press, James MacPherson, January 10, 2004.
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2004/01/10/news/state/sta01.txt
"USDA Takes Heat For 'Downer' Ban," Meating Place, Brendan O'Neill,
January 8, 2004.
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/oop/qnohit_g.asp?ID=11701
"AFBF Delegates Adopt BSE Policies," Iowa Farm Bureau News, Dale
Johnson, Jan. 19, 2004.
http://www.ifbf.org/publication/spokesman/story.asp?number=22141&type=News
See also #10 & #11 below.
10. "BSE Situation Brings Downer Animal Issue Back to Forefront,"
Pro Farmer, Roger Bernard, December 12, 2003.
http://tinyurl.com/2c8gz or
13. "One Cow, Hundreds of Uses," The Oregonian, Steve Woodward,
January 4, 2004.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1073135194312870.xml
"Mad Cow Case Casts Light on Beef Uses," The Los Angeles Times,
Stephanie Simon & Lianne Hart, January 4, 2004.
http://tinyurl.com/2ynjb or
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-beef4jan04,1,5159276.story?coll=la-home-headlines
15. "Statement of Adam Goldberg, Policy Analyst, Consumers Union, at a
Press Conference in Support of the Downed Animal Protection Act, Consumers
Union press release, Jan.21, 2004.
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_food_safety/000764.html
"Farmers Won't Lose Much on 'Downed' Cow Slaughter Ban," Seattle
Times, Jonathan Martin, Susan Keheller, & Gene Balk, December 31, 2004.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001826710_maddowner31m.html
