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February 29, 2008
Just say no to downer cows?
UPDATE: If you're interested in this subject, you've got to check out the Doreen the Downer cartoon.
Something that's been glossed over in many of the news articles and blog posts about the recent HSUS undercover investigation and the resulting massive ground beef recall is the fact that downer cows -- those that are unable to stand and walk -- are entering our food supply every day. As long as they're looked at and approved by a USDA veterinarian, there's no law against slaughtering downer cows for processing.
There could be a law -- Congress brought up just such a strategy in a hearing yesterday with Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. The suggestion that downer cows should be banned from the food supply altogether (and that security cameras should be installed to ensure compliance) didn't go over well with Schafer, who points out that penalties against Westland-Hallmark have been "strong and swift."
Maybe they have been -- the company is certainly in dire straits at this point -- but the fact that it took the work of a non-profit to get anything done at all is downright embarrassing.
Shafer assures that it's okay. They're going to do more unannounced spot checks now. That ought to solve the problem, right?
Comments
The issue is really what they are feeding the cows in these feedlots. Distillers grain and the fermented feed are not to be fed over a very long amount of time. It is the feed that knocks them down in most cases. Nothing is going to be done, aside from some very public applications of band aids, because of the tumor-iike financial arrangements between USDA, growers, feedlots, feed producers, packing houses and all of those who stand between each step with their hands out. The answer to the question about what to do is buy locally grown meat and food from a farmer who you can go and meet.
One last note...those distillers grains are causing e-coli in the guts of the cattle. Research "swill milk" and see what feeding spend distiller grains did to milk at the turn of the 19th century. It is one of the reasons we are forced to drink pasteurized milk now. I can get raw milk from a local farm and I am glad for that.
Posted by: Henwhisperer | February 29, 2008 11:11 AM
Henwhisperer, I agree -- and what animals are being fed also plays into farm subsidies. It's all so knotted up.
And you're right that it's important for those of us who can afford it to buy local, biodynamically produced food... but unfortunately, not everyone can afford that. School kids eating hot lunches deserve safe, nutritional food too, and the only way to make that happen it to straighten out the mess that is our food system.
Posted by: Amanda | February 29, 2008 11:20 AM
Mother Earth News has an extensive article about beef in the current issue. It's also online: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/2008-02-01/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-the-Beef-You-Eat.aspx
Posted by: Kris Bordessa | February 29, 2008 6:32 PM
Kris, I read that article over the weekend -- it was fantastic! Talk about detail. And the illustrations were great too, in a disturbing way.
Posted by: Amanda | March 3, 2008 11:05 AM