HSUS: Mistreatment of Downer Cows Is Commonplace at Livestock Auctions

[flvegan]

The shocking abuse of "downer" cows occurs not just at slaughter plants but may be an everyday happening at livestock auctions and stockyards around the country—the midpoints between farm and slaughter—as shown in an expanding undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.

"Downer" cows are those too frail to stand on their own—dragged and prodded with inhumane handling methods, and increasing the threat of carrying and passing disease.

During April and May, HSUS investigators visited auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas and videotaped downer cows at each stop—animals left to suffer for hours and in one instance overnight.

Executives of The HSUS brought preliminary evidence of the abuse to the attention of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week at a face-to-face meeting, and Secretary Schafer has promised to examine the issue. The HSUS looks forward to working with USDA to address the problem.

Details of the new undercover HSUS investigation include:

• At the Livestock Exchange (LSX) in Hereford, Texas, HSUS investigators videotaped two downed cows left in the parking lot for four hours. Neither cow could lift her head. They were still alive in the parking lot at closing time. HSUS had received a complaint from a passing motorist about live, downed cows at LSX hanging from their legs by chains attached to a front-end loader.

• At the Westminster auction in Maryland, HSUS investigators documented a downed cow abandoned outside of the auction barn, left to suffer through the night. HSUS investigators contacted agents with the Carroll County Humane Society. An officer expertly ended the cow’s suffering.

• At the Clovis Livestock Auction in New Mexico, two downed cows were filmed over a period of five hours. One was suffering from obvious pain, flailing her legs as she expelled watery feces into the pen where other cows were held for auction.

• At the Greencastle Livestock Auction in Pennsylvania, HSUS investigators documented a calf only days old who was unable to stand and left to die.
In 2002, Congress directed the USDA to investigate the question of downed animals at livestock auctions and markets—including the scope of problems, the causes, and the resulting cruel treatment of animals. Further, Congress ordered the USDA to follow up with "regulations to provide for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by stockyards, market agencies, and dealers."

More:

http://www.hsus.org/farm/news/ournews/downer_investigation_050708.html

[Tumbulu]

1. I am so so glad that these things are being brought to the attention

of the urban people. The inhumane treatment of farm animals is not acceptable, nor has it ever been.. But somehow the town people never knew too much about it. Just dogs and cat issues, maybe horses.

Now it is just beginning to change. Thank you HSUS for doing this great work of not letting this cruelty be hidden. Thanks flvegan for all the good info you share with us.

[nam78_two]

2. I am so glad that the HSUS is going so aggressively after farm animal abuse

In my estimation, this is the worst kind of abuse that takes place and people need to become more cognizant of it in general.

[blondie58]

3. and yet another reason to be a vegetarian

thanks for posting. I am glad that the HSUS is looking out for these kind of violations.

[govegan]

4. B.S.E., B.S.E., ain't it fun for you and me?

Of course not
all downer cows are BSE infected,
but since testing is practically forbidden
who knows how much of the disease is hidden?

"The shocking abuse of "downer" cows occurs not just at slaughter plants but may be an everyday happening at livestock auctions and stockyards around the country—the midpoints between farm and slaughter—as shown in an expanding undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States."