Congress Debates Use Of "Downer" Cows

Agriculture Secretary Argues Not All Cattle That Are Unable To Walk Are Unsafe To Eat

(AP)  The agriculture secretary on Thursday resisted calls from Democratic senators for a complete ban on so-called downer cattle - those unable to walk - from entering the food supply.

In the wake of the largest beef recall in U.S. history, Agriculture Secretary Edward T. Schafer announced new steps to ensure the safety of the country's meat supply, including more random inspections of slaughterhouses and immediate audits of the 23 plants that supply meat for federal programs, primarily school lunches.

But Schafer contended downer cattle could occasionally enter the food supply safely, in accordance with USDA rules, after an additional inspection by a veterinarian.

"The rules say if one goes down you call the veterinarian to make a judgment," Schafer told a Senate hearing. "Today I'm convinced the rules in place are such where we are protecting the supply," he said.

Schafer ran into resistance from Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Appropriations agriculture subcommittee.

"We cannot allow a single downer cow to enter our food supply under any circumstances," Kohl insisted in his opening statement. He also urged Schafer to install cameras in slaughterhouses.

It was Schafer's first Capitol Hill appearance since the release in late January of video - shot by the Humane Society of the United States - showing workers at Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, Calif., shoving and kicking sick, crippled cattle, forcing them to stand by using electric prods, forklifts and water hoses.

In response, the Agriculture Department shut down the plant and has since ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of the company's beef - the largest recall in U.S. history - because the company broke rules preventing the downer cattle from entering the food supply.

Downers, those too sick or injured to walk, pose a higher risk of E. coli, salmonella contamination, or mad cow disease since they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak.

Westland/Hallmark was a major supplier to federal school lunch programs.

Schafer insisted his agency is taking the problem seriously and will investigate fully. He tangled with Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, about whether there was actually a safety risk from the recalled beef.

Schafer contended that not all the cattle shown on the Humane Society video ended up passing veterinarian inspections and getting slaughtered. He said others had already passed inspections, and while Westland violated USDA rules by not calling a veterinarian back after the cows fell down again, there was minimal safety risk.

"It is extremely unlikely that the mishandled animals pose a risk to human health," said Schafer.

"If you are there saying absolutely that meat was OK for everyone to eat, then why was it recalled?" Harkin asked. "As I understand it there was not a veterinarian called in to inspect these cattle afterward, so we don't know" whether they were sick or not.

Harkin condemned the USDA rules relying on slaughterhouse officials to call a veterinarian back if a cow falls down after already passing its inspection.

"I think that's a very poor requirement," Harkin said. "Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. This is a classic case of it." After the hearing Kohl said he would consider pursuing legislation to change that rule and enforce a 100 percent ban on downer cattle.

Schafer's testimony came a day after the Humane Society sued USDA over the rule, calling it a loophole.

In 2004, the USDA tightened regulations to prohibit the slaughter of all downer cows after a case of mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state. The agency subsequently decided to allow slaughter of cows that fell down after an initial veterinarian inspection but appeared otherwise healthy and were re-inspected.

Schafer told reporters after the hearing that it was not fair to cattle owners to ban the slaughter of cows that may be perfectly safe to eat and just have a broken leg or hip.

[michellem99-2009]

They are living things and should get the care but if ill keep them out of the food chail.

[ixoye_02]

Why not prepare specially packaged beef products made from downed cattle and send that to the Agriculture secretary''s family for consumption? And let''s see how fast this person will retract the comment that not all downed or "downer" cattle are unsafe to eat. I am all for eating healthy, moving cattle. I don''t think many of us would voluntarily select cattle who cannot stand as food.

[hungry1968]

No-Brainer = in nature, the Lion first eats the slowest, sickest member of the heard...pass the A-1!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 03:29 PM : Feb 29, 2008





But they won''t eat a disease ridden carcass. I don''t have a problem with selling these cows to zoos so that they can feed the lions.

That sounds like a win / win to me.

[hungry1968]

Another concept .. if downer cows couldn''''t be used perhaps they would take more care to prevent them from becoming downers in the first place.

Posted by cyberus at 02:45 PM : Feb 29, 2008





Alter their DNA before birth?

[hungry1968]

No thanks. I don''t eat road kill, carcasses covered with maggots, or drink from bacteria filled pools.

If you want to eat them, feel free. Just make sure that none of it makes it to my plate.

[grammawhamma]

Question for hunters: Who inspects that wild deer and rabbit meat you feed your family?

[tylenol6]

Since congress is not taking care of the american people''s business, I sincerely hope most of congress got to eat some of that meat since this problem should have
been taken care of a long time ago. Congress is a bunch
of loser''s!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, they will ALL be voted out of office along with the top IDIOT in charge.

[Syndicate]

This entire thing is a joke. They got caught. Simple as that. They got caught once! Do you think this is a one time thing? they have been doing this for awhile and no one we know of has gotten sick. Downers are in the food supply rather we like it or not. These animals are to valuable to just throw away. So the slaughter houses are going to use them when no one is looking. The only way to stop this is to have each animal inspected prior to slaughter by the FDA.

[cyberus-2009]

Another concept .. if downer cows couldn''t be used perhaps they would take more care to prevent them from becoming downers in the first place.

[missingamerica]

"additional inspection by a veterinarian"?

That fellow''s name going to appear on the packages of processed beef?

And will we be able to sue Edward Shafer if we lose a family member to - oh, say - mad cow disease?