Federal lawmakers and watchdog groups had harsh words Monday for the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the agency ordered a recall of 143 million pounds of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse.
Beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006 that came from the Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. are subject to the recall, which is the largest such action in U.S. history. The notice came after the Humane Society of the United States filmed undercover video showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts — treatment that has also triggered an animal-abuse investigation...
What an inhumane waste of resources and lives!
I am reminded of the following link Wagga posted under Yushin Maru Whale Butchery Captured on Film:
There is no doubt there is a similar denial here too. If many lamb eaters were obliged to consider and confront the awful reality of their culinary choices, they would spurn the dish. Yet here denial rears its ugly head again and roast lamb and vegies remains among the most popular meals in this country. Leave your conscience under the napkin.
Rack of lamb: delicious but very cruel
cow. by *rooze
UPDATE Edgar/AKA Buzz Saw's friend Weaseldog posted some more detailed and disturbing videos here: Downer Cows, It's What's For Dinner
Apparently the U.S. taxpayer is subsidizing ($40 million) this cruelty.
Also, the employees have now been charged with animal cruelty.
11 comments:
Murst!
The fact that they were processing downer cows at all is pretty disturbing. Cruelty aside, there are good health reasons why that's Just Not Done.
@Ogg,
Yes, of course - and if it were simply a matter of cruelty rather than public health I highly doubt the feds would have acted so quickly.
The fact that the downer cows were being processed in such a manner suggests larger scale cruelty and neglect. They clearly did not get proper vet treatment that would have at least provided a more humane death. Most likely the only "treatment" the sick cattle received was a massive dose of antibiotics in their feed which leads to all of those lovely superbugs like MRSA.
I am going to leave the same comment here that I left at Weaseldog's place:
Appalling. I can assure you that many of the cattle I have seen and been around here are very happy and healthy. Yes, they get antibiotics, but none of that stuff like in the video. I am going to see if I can't find a local butcher who does a better job, I am not going total vegetarian.
@buzz saw,
Are the cattle farms in your area large scale commercial business or small ones? There are a number of small dairy farms and - I believe -even a cattle farm or two where I grew up in West Marin and I never saw anything like that, but driving by those huge commercial meat factories in California is a pretty scary sight - let alone smell.
Animal cruelty aside, do your energy/global warming/green concerns ever make you consider going vegetarian?
Hi akubi,
The cattle here free range some and also eat a range of agricultural hay. I.E. grass, alfalfa, and various silage. You asked:
Animal cruelty aside, do your energy/global warming/green concerns ever make you consider going vegetarian?
No. They flare off more natural gas in a day in Iraq than I will ever be responsible for. I cut down driving to almost nil, I keep the thermostat set right, etc., etc.. It is unfortunate that so many animals suffer, I know that I have probably purchased mistreated animal meat, and I am going to try to change that. The carbon savings just aren't worth it, and the local economy needs my money more than those big feed lots do.
I actually have spent some time with cows. They are so funny. They look at you and they lick their noses and wiggle their ears. Then they rub their butts on a fence post. Good fun.
I watched a young calf one time, a young male. They cows were separated from the bull when the calves are young. Anyway, this ornery little thing was just a month or two on his feet and he would lower hid head and charge at his mama and butt her on the head. Ha! He would almost fall down, shake it off, and try to make another run. Spunky little fella. Anyway, the next time he comes at her she lowers her head too, and Kapow! He goes down. Then he gets up dazed, shakes it off a little and just starts looking at her. He didn't try that again.
Open season on pro politicians.
Forklifts, cattle prods, whatever it takes to make them see reason.
Interview with pro politician:
"For $100 million, will you vote for drilling for oil in (insert area)"
"Yup!"
"How about $10?"
"Absolutely not!!!"
"We've established that you are a whore - just establishing the price"
I caught that undercover video shown on the news; it was really disturbing. I've vaguely considered dropping meat, which no longer tastes as good as it used to... but so far, lack the impetus for such a change.
I did just have a date with a sheep farmer (well, she's planning on going to New Zealand and becoming a sheep farmer) who is convinced that sheep farming in NZ is very humane. *shrug*
Unless some folks wake up, we're so fucked.
@Notanoptimist,
I've vaguely considered dropping meat, which no longer tastes as good as it used to... but so far, lack the impetus for such a change.
If nothing else, one can save money by avoiding meat. For example, I'm currently shopping at Safeway.com and one can purchase 14 Oz of tofu for $1.
Well and good. One’s an adverb, the other an adjective. Never confuse the two.
I want you to hide SQL camera obscuras behind my dog kennel until it's unimportant and blow-up.
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