|
1.
BSE Discovered in US-Born Cow for First Time, Leading to More USDA Criticism
On June 24, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that further testing of a cow slaughtered in November 2004 confirmed that the animal had Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This represents the first time that a cow born in the US (Texas) was found with the disease; the only other US discovery involved a cow from Canada. The discovery has prompted stark criticism of the USDA for failing to confirm the November test that was determined to be inconclusive. Moreover, the USDA is being criticized for not disclosing the results of an "experimental" test that came up positive for the same animal last fall. According to the New York Times, "The delay in confirming the United States' second case of mad cow disease seems to underscore what critics of the agency have said for a long time: that there are serious and systemic problems in the way the Agriculture Department tests animals for mad cow."
The experimental test was performed following an immunohistochemistry (IHC) test, that the USDA has previously described as its "gold standard" test for BSE. However, following both tests, only the negative result was announced publicly. According to USDA, the experimental result was not announced because the test was not standardized and the laboratory did not report the positive result to government officials. The testing procedure was further confused because the USDA misidentified the cow's breed. According to the USDA's chief veterinarian, "The cow's type of breed was mislabeled, possibly because the animal had been soiled heavily with manure, and its tissues were mixed with tissues from other cows." In conjunction with announcing the positive results confirmed by tests conducted in the UK, the USDA also said it would begin verifying all rapid BSE screening tests by conducting both the IHC test and the more definitive Western blot test. The revised protocols are not silencing the department's critics, however, some of whom report that its close ties to the industry are preventing the implementation of serious testing procedures.
The second positive BSE case combined with USDA's failure to handle testing and disclosure to the public correctly has resulted in more border closures. Bans on US beef products were reinstated in Indonesia and Taiwan, which had just reopened its borders two months ago. Japan, historically the largest buyer of such US products with $1.5 billion in annual imports, said the most recent positive test will delay the "planned resumption" of beef trade with the US. Japanese officials have demanded full disclosure of the USDA's testing procedures and more information about the animal. Following the first US BSE discovery in 2003, nearly 50 countries closed their borders to US beef products, including at least 36 countries that still have bans in place.
1. "USDA Announced BSE Test Results and New BSE Confirmatory Testing Protocol," USDA, 6/24/05
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/06/0232.xml
2. "For Months, Agriculture Department Delayed Announcing Result of Mad Cow Test," NY Times, 6/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/26/national/26beef.html
(Registration)
3. "USDA's BSE Test Protocols Spur Worldwide Rumblings," Meatingplace, 6/28/05
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14452
(Registration)
4. "US Seeks Source of Mad Cow Infection," Yahoo News / Associated Press, 6/25/05
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050625/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/mad_cow
2.
PCRM Lawsuits Target US Dairy Industry's Weight Loss Claims
The health advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is challenging claims made by the US dairy industry that its products help people lose weight. On June 28, the group filed both a class action lawsuit and a monetary claim against several companies and three trade groups, including the International Dairy Foods Association, Dairy Management, Inc., and the National Dairy Council. PCRM alleges that the industry's marketing claims that weight loss results from consuming three servings of dairy each day is based on specious and biased research. The supporting research for the weight loss claim comes from only small-scale studies conducted by one researcher at the University of Tennessee who is funded primarily by the dairy industry. PCRM is seeking an injunctive relief to force the industry to stop using the weight loss claim in its advertising. According to Dr. Amy Lanou of PCRM, "Since 1989 there have been 35 clinical trials that have explored the relationship between dairy products and/or calcium supplements and body weight. Thirty-one found no relation; two indicated that milk and other dairy products actually contributed to weight gain." Despite offering such evidence in support of their legal challenges, the dairy industry is accusing PCRM of having an "animal rights" agenda.
1. "PCRM Challenges Dairy Industry's Weight-Loss Claims," NY Times, 6/21/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/business/media/21adco.html
(Subscription)
2. "Physicians Announce Lawsuit against Major Food Companies," PCRM, 6/28/05
http://www.pcrm.org/cgi-bin/lists/mail.cgi?flavor=archive&id=20050628100850&list=news
3.
Farm Sanctuary Report: "The Welfare of Cattle in Dairy Production"
Farm Sanctuary has issued a comprehensive new report on welfare conditions for the approximately 9 million cows used in US dairy production. According to the report, citing USDA figures, the number of US dairy farms has declined from 181,000 in 1991 to 81,000 in 2004. This consolidation, according to Farm Sanctuary, "is being accomplished by increasing the amount of milk produced by each cow while reducing the costs of caring for the animals." The report provides a detailed and well-referenced (more than 150 mostly academic citations) discussion of key welfare issues for cows, including feeding practices, housing, environmental conditions, surgical mutilations, milking, calf-rearing practices, and other issues. Farm Sanctuary notes that in 2001 a fourth of all cows raised for dairy were removed from their herds and that nearly 95% of those removed were sent to slaughter. The report concludes, "The U.S. dairy industry has failed to set meaningful standards for the care and handling of dairy cattle, or to take a stand in opposition to any of the various practices that result in physical or behavioral problems for animals."
"The Welfare of Cattle in Dairy Production,"
Farm Sanctuary, June 2005
-- News release: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/campaign/dairy_report.htm
-- Full report (PDF file): http://www.farmsanctuary.org/campaign/dairy_report.pdf
4. China's Farmed Animal Industry Poised to Grow and Consolidate Rapidly
China is the world's largest meat producing country, generating about 28% of the global meat supply (more than 72 million tons of animal flesh). However, the country's meat industry remains largely undeveloped, with only 25% of China's meat currently produced from animals slaughtered in "industrialized packinghouses." Despite already producing enough meat per capita to rival other developed countries, China is focused on growing the industry in part through joint ventures with US-based companies. Tyson Foods, the world's largest slaughterer of animals for human consumption, is reportedly negotiating a partnership with China's fourth largest chicken company, the Fujian Sunner Group. Tyson has proposed an investment of $150 million for 51% control of the company that would slaughter 120 million chickens per year in five years. This would be a four-fold increase in the company's slaughter rate. The quickly growing Chinese meat industry has prompted government and trade officials to establish a "quality control" system to include standardized methods for animal handling and slaughter. More than half of China's meat products will come from animals slaughtered through standardized methods by 2010, according to the current plan.
1.
"China Steps Up Quality Control in Meat Industry," Xinhua Economic News Service, 6/23/05
http://tinyurl.com/av29x
(Meatpoultry.com)
2. "Tyson Negotiating Deal with Chinese Chicken Company, Report Says," Meatingplace.com, 6/28/05
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14455
(Registration)
5.
Industry-friendly Bill to Ban Foie Gras Production
in NY State Withdrawn
A New York bill that would have banned the production of foie gras (made by force-feeding ducks and geese) in the state beginning in 2016 has been withdrawn by its author. The bill was drafted with help from the only producer of foie gras in NY state, Hudson Valley Foie Gras, in order to buy some time to transition the business to a different location. However, the bill's primary author, state senator John Bonacic withdrew the proposal because it could result in the loss of 200 jobs for his constituency. A sponsor of a similar bill in the New York State Assembly, Jack McEneny said, "I think it was a bill put in on principle, and the principle still stands. Tradition and profit are no justification for animal cruelty." Because the bill would only ban the production of foie gras and not the sale, some critics said the force-feeding operation would just move to Canada or elsewhere and continue selling to New York residents. Hudson Valley Foie Gras slaughters 5,000 ducks each week, or about 250,000 ducks a year. New York Magazine features an in-depth article on foie gras in its June 27 issue, including a detailed discussion of the history of foie gras production and current efforts to ban it in the US.
1.
"State Kills Duck Bill," Record Online, 6/18/05
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/18/sfoie18.htm
2. EDITORIAL: "Face to Face With the Foie Gras Problem,"
NY Times, 6/26/05
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/26/opinion/26sun2.html
3. "Does a Duck Have a Soul?" NY Magazine, 6/27/05
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/food/features/12071/index.html
6.
Other Items of Interest
"Carcinogen Found in Second Salmon Farm," Canadian Press, 6/24/05
Two salmon farms located on Vancouver Island (Canada) are contaminated with malachite green, a cancer causing agent once used to kill fungus on fish eggs and banned in Canada since 1992. The news comes as the salmon farming industry throughout Canada is being criticized for a variety of mostly environmental reasons. According to one expert, "It's just another example of the cocktail of chemicals and contaminants in B.C. farmed salmon."
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=c95158ea-bcfd-4fab-9bd3-57728bc0c5e8
"Vets Who Focus on Large Animals May Be a Dying Breed," Duluth Superior / Associated Press, 6/20/05
Fewer and fewer veterinarians are focused on large animal species, leading to a dearth of vets for farmed animals. In 1980, 17% of veterinarians worked "exclusively or mostly" with large animals, compared to less than 7% today. By 2012, there will be 28,000 open veterinary positions of all types, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/11940098.htm
"As Giant Farms Boom, Their Neighbors Fume," The Star, 6/26/05
The US state of Indiana has received more than 130 complaints since 2003 relating to "agricultural spills," mostly including manure overflowing from animal farms. Driving the complaints is a growing state farming industry, including both more farms and increased concentration of animals on existing farms. Since 2001, the average permit size for new cow farms increased by 67% and the average number of chickens and pigs on farms increased by 37% and 29% respectively.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050626/NEWS01/506260503
"Poultry Waste Surplus under Control," The News Journal, 6/24/05
Delaware officials announced that poultry litter produced by the state's chicken farmers has been reduced to a level of 50,000 tons above the capacity for soil to absorb the contaminants. Delaware's chicken farms produce 280 million tons of poultry litter every year, which according to studies in the late 1990s was 150 million more tons than the soil could handle. Delaware is a major chicken slaughtering state whose farmers killed more than 240 million chickens last year.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050624/NEWS01/506240327/1006
"More than 400,000 Chickens Die in Fire," Sioux City Journal, 6/25/05
Nearly 420,000 chickens died in a fire that occurred at an Iowa farm the night of June 23. The chickens were confined to three barns, two of which were destroyed by the fire. The third barn received mostly smoke damage, but only 6,500 of the 130,000 chickens in that barn survived the incident.
http://tinyurl.com/7gr3v (SiouxCityJournal.com)
|
![[missing header image]](http://www.farmedanimal.net/images/faw_cows.jpg)
![[missing header image]](http://www.farmedanimal.net/images/newsletter_ico.jpg)