Farmed Animal Watch
July 26,  2001                                                     (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #18

CONTENTS

1.   Forced Molting Vote Imminent
2.   Senator Byrd Helps Animals Again
3.   $2.5 Million Allotted for Poultry Exports
4.   Senator Harkin Criticizes Federal Farm Payments
5.   Constitutionality of Checkoff Programs Challenged
6.   Feedlot Feuding
7.   Eat Manure
8.   Got 'Recycled' Animals?
9.   Flaws in U.S. Mad Cow Detection Program
10.  Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary Popular with D.C. Papers
11.  Vegetarianism for Longer, Better Health


1.  FORCED MOLTING VOTE IMMINENT
A vote is expected to be held in the very near future on the
Leahy-Fitzgerald amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill (S.
1191). The amendment seeks to bar the USDA from spending tax dollars to
purchase eggs from operations that force molt hens. Forced molting entails
depriving hens of food for days or even weeks to jolt them into a new cycle
of egg production. Hens may starve to death during the molt, and USDA
research has shown the practice increases Salmonella contamination of eggs.
The USDA buys the eggs for the School Lunch Program. USDA's Food Safety
Inspection Service advises egg producers to eliminate forced molting, and
McDonald's and Burger King are prohibiting their suppliers from force
molting hens. Concerned individuals are urged to contact their Senators.

"UPC Urges Va. Senators to Support Leahy-Fitzgerald Amendment," United
Poultry Concerns press release, July 23, 2001.
http://www.upc-online.org/010723nr_ag_ammend_molting.html

"Congress to Vote on Cruel Egg Industry Practices," Humanelines Special
Alert, The Humane Society of the United States, July 23, 2001.
http://www.hsus.org


2.  SENATOR BYRD HELPS FARMED ANIMALS AGAIN
The previous issue (#17) of Farmed Animal Watch reported that Senator
Robert Byrd (D-WV) rallied for $3 million for improved enforcement of the
Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Slaughter Act. Senator Byrd has since
sponsored an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2002 Agricultural Appropriations
bill. This $74 billion bill will fund the government's food and agriculture
programs. The amendment calls for an additional $2.5 million to go toward
enforcement of the Humane Slaughter Act. The Senate has not yet approved
the bill, and the $2.5 million could still be rejected. Concerned
individuals are urged to contact their Senators.

"Panel Gives Agriculture Dept. $2.5M," Associated Press, July 17, 2001.
"Senator Byrd Strikes Again," Humanelines, The Humane Society of the United
States, July 19, 2001.
http://www.hsus.org


3.  $2.5 MILLION FOR POULTRY EXPORTS
The USDA has allotted nearly $2.5 million to the USA Poultry & Egg Export
Council (USAPEEC) for the year. The funding comes from the $90 million in
promotional funds that the Market Access Program distributes to 65 U.S.
agricultural trade organizations. The $2.5 million is in addition to nearly
$1.5 million from the USDA's Foreign Market Development program. The
USAPEEC has a total budget of $5.4 million to promote U.S. eggs and poultry
in the 63 countries they are marketed in.

"US Government Allocates $2.5 million for Poultry Exports," Meat News, Meat
Processing, June 21, 2001.
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&artNum=1292


4.  SENATOR HARKIN CRITICIZES FEDERAL FARM PAYMENTS
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) released a General
Accounting Office (GAO) report he had ordered which shows how federal farm
payments are distributed. The study, entitled "Information on Recipients of
Federal Payments," tells that since the 1996 Freedom to Farm law, the
portion of payments to large farms has substantially increased and the
portion to small farms has substantially decreased. Senator Harkin stated,
"....Freedom to Farm has unfairly benefitted large farms while
disadvantaging small farmers." About half U.S. farms receive some form of
payments from the USDA. The largest part goes to a few hundred thousand
farm operators with annual gross receipts over $250,000. The more than one million
farm operators with gross receipts of less than $50,000 received the smallest share. Payments were made to 31% of small farms and 70% of large and medium sized farms.

"Harkin Finds Cause to Change Course," Agricultural Law, July 20, 2001.
http://www.agriculturelaw.com/headlines/jul01/jul20a.htm

"Inside Washington Today: GAO follows the money," Washington Watch, Ag Web
News, Jim Wiesemeyer, July 19, 2001.
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_20017181349_1011&articleID=77354&newscat=AW


5.  CONSTITUTIONALITY OF CHECKOFF PROGRAMS CHALLENGED
The Supreme Court ruled last month that the mushroom industry checkoff, a
mandatory program by which independent producers contribute to an
advertising fund, is an unconstitutional violation of free speech since
producers were forced to participate. Now, cattle and pig producers are
challenging their industry checkoff programs. The Livestock Marketing
Association has requested a judicial decision on the constitutionality of
the $80 million beef checkoff program. (The "Beef, It's What's for Dinner"
ad campaign is funded by this program.) Ranchers pay $1 per animal sold to
support the program. Opponents claim it only helps big meatpackers and
retailers but does little for ranchers. Proponents say $1 from the
approximately $700 sale is a nominal amount that benefits all. Pig
producers voted the pork checkoff program down in a national referendum but
the U.S. Agriculture Secretary overturned the vote, citing irregularities
in the referendum. Some pig producers are continuing to try to have their
industry program declared illegal.

"LMA Now Seeks Unconstitutionality Ruling on Beef," Agricultural Law, July
23, 2001.
http://www.agriculturelaw.com/headlines/jul01/jul23d.htm

"A beef: It's what ranchers have with ads," Denver Post, Steve Raabe, July
20, 2001.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,33%7E71618,00.html


6.  FEEDLOT FEUDING
The increasing scale of farmed animal production in the U.S. is causing
escalating feedlot problems. The USDA reports that 2% of farmed animal
operations produce nearly half the nation's excess manure nitrogen and more
than half of its excess manure phosphorous. These problems include stench,
water pollution, decreased property values, and animal suffering. A
December 2000 USDA study found that in the past 2 decades "The total number
of livestock has remained unchanged, but more livestock are kept in
confinement." Global competition is cited as a cause of this trend.
Economics are also considered. The article concludes that the challenge is
for policymakers to ensure that the price of the final product reflects the
cost of pollution control.

"Knee deep in feedlot feuds," Fedgazette, July 1, 2001.
http://usmef.yellowbrix.com/pages/usmef/Story.nsp?story_id=22329254&category=Livestock&ID=usmef

"Large Feeding Operations Produce Most of Nation's Excess Manure," DC
Digest, July 24, 2001.
http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1003251


7.  EAT MANURE
Scientists are looking at ways to obtain undigested and other proteins from
manure to turn into food for cattle. One researcher reassures that they
would only feed the processed manure product to non-dairy cows to safeguard
against contaminating milk products. A cow produces about 100 pounds of wet
manure a day, 20 pounds of which is dry waste. About 160 million tons of
animal manure is produced annually in the U.S. To reduce the harmful
leaching of phosphates, sulfates and other substances into water supplies
and increase the value of manure, the scientists hope to find uses for it
other than as fertilizer. They are starting with cow manure but also plan
to explore pig and poultry manure. The project is funded by a grant from
the Department of Energy.

"Got Manure?" ABC News, Amanda Onion, July 10, 2001.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/manure010710.html


8.  GOT 'RECYCLED' ANIMALS?
While U.S. officials insist that measures are being taken to protect people
and farmed animals from Mad Cow Disease, critics charge that a potential
source of contamination isn't being monitored closely enough. Rendering is
the process by which dead animals are turned into usable materials. Animals
rendered include farmed animals rejected for use as human food, animals who
have died from injury or disease, euthanized animals (including dogs, cats
and horses), and road kill. According to the FDA, products from rendering
may be used for such things as lipstick, pharmaceuticals, and animal food.
Forty billion pounds of animal remains are rendered each year in the 286
U.S. rendering plants. Rendering doesn't kill all bacteria or viruses or
the agent responsible for Mad Cow Disease. Phenobarbital, used to euthanize
animals, has also been found in some companion animal food. (Rendered
ingredients are listed as "byproducts.") Officials say the expense and
environmental impact of disposing of animal remains in landfills or
incinerators makes rendering a necessary form of "recycling."

"Recycling Through Rendering: Dead Animals Used in Products," Miami Herald
(Yahoo! News), July 20, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wplg/20010720/lo/863122_1.html


9.  FLAWS IN U.S. MAD COW DETECTION PROGRAM
Two consumer interest organizations, Public Citizen and Government
Accountability Project, have produced a study which calls into question the
USDA's procedures for testing cattle for Mad Cow Disease. Cattle exhibiting
central nervous system disorders at the time of slaughter and a sample of
"downer" cattle are supposed to be tested. The study analyzed government
data from 1997-2000 of the 20 largest cattle-producing states, representing
98% of all cattle slaughtered. A 2000-fold difference in testing rates was
found between the states, ranging from .5 brains per million (Kansas) to
1004 brains per million (N.Y.), with a median rate of 21 brains per million
cattle. Though 35,000,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2000, only 2,300
brains were tested. The government countered that the study did not
consider the age of the animals. Older animals are considered more
susceptible to the disease, and some plants handle more older cows than do
others. (Nationally, 88% of cows slaughtered are younger than 20 months of
age.) The USDA plans to double the number of tests on "downer" cattle from
the 2,500 that they conducted last year. However, the organizations
criticize the USDA for not having a clear definition of what a "downer" cow
is. They presented a letter to the USDA with recommendations of how the
agency can improve its BSE surveillance.

"Study Finds Flaws in 'Mad Cow' Detection Program," Environmental News
Network, July 19, 2001.
http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=4898

"Groups Say Gov't. Mishandling Mad Cow," ABC News (Yahoo! News), Michael S. James, July 20, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/abc/20010720/ts/madcow010719_1.html

"Backgrounder on USDA's BSE Surveillance," Vet. Services, USDA, July, 2001.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/bse/bsesurv.html


10.  POPLAR SPRING ANIMAL SANCTUARY POPULAR WITH D.C. PAPERS
A picturesque, historic farm on the Potomac River in Maryland is one of
about a dozen sanctuaries in the U.S. for formerly abused and neglected
farmed animals. This past weekend, Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary was
showcased in The Washington Post and The Washington Times, the 2 leading
D.C. newspapers. The nonprofit organization was begun 5 years ago by Terri
Cummings and Dave Hoerauf. The couple were moved by the fate of a herd of
cattle they had befriended on the farm they rent. They became vegetarians
and decided to rent the entire farm to use as a sanctuary. Ms. Cummings has
a degree in animal science and worked as a veterinary technician at the
National Zoo. About 150 rescued horses, cows, pigs, chickens and other
farmed animal now reside at the sanctuary, where they will remain for the
rest of their natural life. The articles relate the horrific situations
which many of the animals were rescued from. Poplar Spring regularly
conducts educational tours and will again participate in the annual
Montgomery County Farm Tour on July 28th.

"Safe Haven for Imperiled Animals," The Washington Post, Lisa
Braun-Kenigsberg, July 20, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20735-2001Jul19.html


11.  VEGETARIANISM FOR LONGER, BETTER HEALTH
People in Okinawa ("the Hawaii of Japan") are said to have the longest life
expectancy in the world. They also suffer less from heart disease and
several types of cancer. Diet may be the reason. When Okinawans move to
other countries, they develop shorter life expectancy and the higher rates
of cancer and heart disease common in their adopted country. The Okinawan
diet closely matches that of the American Institute for Cancer Research's
dietary guidelines, which emphasize a plant-based diet. Okinawans also eat
less than their American counterparts. Claims that fish may help protect
against some cancers have not been confirmed. Scientists are studying the
Okinawan lifestyle for clues to the residents' longevity.

An article in Poultry Magazine quotes Henk Hogenkamp, food development
specialist and noted expert on global dietary trends, as stating "On a
global basis, we're seeing a shift away from meat as a main dish." Mr.
Hogenkamp expects this trend to accelerate as more people in developed
countries begin "jumping onto the 'healthy lifestyle' bandwagon."

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota features a page promoting
vegetarianism on its web site. "If you're skipping meat entirely, you're in
good company" it states, explaining that about 2 million Americans report
never eating red meat, poultry or fish. The reasons for, and benefits of, a
vegetarian diet are noted, and tips for a healthful vegetarian diet are given.

Milk and its harmful effects on human health is a feature story in the
Philadelphia Daily News. Author Christina Pirello, Emmy-award winning host
of the national public television series "Christina Cooks," explains how
cows' milk is perfect for the intended recipient: baby calves. She explains
why the dense nutrients in cow milk create problems in human consumers, and
why it is not a good source of calcium for people. She opines that dairy
foods should be placed on the official hazardous food list with their own
surgeon general's warning.

"Okinawan diet: best for longer life?" Nutrition Notes, MSNBC News, Karen
Collin R.D., July 20, 2001.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/600199.asp?pne=msn

"The Magic Ingredients for Value-Added Success," Poultry Magazine, Deborah
Hyk, June/July 2001.
http://www.meatingplace.com

"Vegetarianism," Blueprint for Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota,
Kristin Kloberdanz.
http://blueprint.bluecrossmn.com/topic/topic13937

"Milk: The perfect food - for cows," Philadelphia Daily News, Christina
Pirello, July 18, 2001.
http://dailynews.philly.com/content/daily_news/2001/07/18/features/FCOL18F.htm