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1. Australia: Mulesing of Sheep to be Phased
Out; Backlash against PETA
The Australian wool industry has agreed to a 5-year phase-out of mulesing, the practice of removing skin from the backside of farmed sheep in order to prevent the bites and breeding of blowflies. The decision was the result of an emergency meeting among Australia's wool producers, who have been forced to react to the ban on Australian wool by retailer and clothing manufacturer Abercrombie and Fitch. Abercrombie, under pressure from animal rights group PETA, had previously stated it would no longer purchase Australian wool as long as mulesing is being practiced on the country's sheep. Other international retailers such as GAP, Benetton, and Marks and Spencer are also said to be considering bans on Australian wool. For its part, the wool industry is taking legal action against PETA, seeking to prevent the group from "forcing" retailers to boycott Australian wool and to pay for "corrective advertising" in the US.
"Wool Industry to Stop Mulesing," ABC News, 11/9/04
http://www.abc.net.au/riverina/news/200411/s1237505.htm
"Mulesing Faces Cut," Herald Sun, 11/9/04
http://tinyurl.com/6hm58
(HeraldSun.com website)
"AWI Takes Legal Action Over Wool Boycott," ABC News, 11/10/04
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s1240169.htm
2.
Conflicting Reports on Environmental Impacts of Confined
Animal Operations
Representatives of the Canadian beef industry have issued a new scientific study that purports to show that air quality around the country's feedlots is within "standard limits." Based on 5,400 air samples from two feedlots in Alberta taken in 1999 and 2000, the researchers found that air quality around the feedlots was under the standard threshold, but that the quality was worse than comparable samples taken upwind from the feedlots. The threshold was exceeded in two locations in one of the feedlots, in each case near the center where activity is concentrated. In another study relating to New Zealand, the country's commissioner for the environment said that intensive dairy farms are putting the country's natural resources under "intense pressure." The number of dairy cows in New Zealand has increased by 34% from 1994 to 2002, while land used for dairy farms increased by 12% over the same period.
"Research Finds Feedlot Air Quality within Standard Limit for Livestock Facilities," Canada Alberta Beef Industry Development Fund, 11/1/04
http://www.albertabeef.org/CABIDF/02news/04_1101.html
"New Zealand's Lush, Clean Environment at Risk from Intensive Farming," Agence France Presse, 11/5/04
http://archives.foodsafetynetwork.ca/animalnet/2004/11-2004/animalnet_nov_5.htm
3.
Poultry News: US-China Trade; Clean Water Awards;
Antibiotics
Several recent Meatingplace.com articles have covered a range of noteworthy topics related to poultry farming. First, China has said it will resume importing chicken and turkey meat from the US, ending a nine-month ban on such products due to outbreaks of avian influenza in several US states last February. In 2003, China purchased nearly $100 million in chicken parts from the US, but trade between the countries is down by more than two-thirds so far in 2004. Second, in the US, the poultry industry's largest trade group has announced it is accepting applications for its "2005 Clean Water Award," which will be given to one member organization deemed outstanding in terms of water treatment. Finally, scientists from the University of Minnesota veterinary school have released findings of a study that suggest antibiotics used on concentrated chicken farms may have a net positive impact on human health. The researchers made mathematical comparisons of the estimated increased risk to humans from antibiotic resistance versus the expected decrease in food-borne illness. The study was based on the antibiotic "tylosin," and results may not be representative of other antibiotics used with chickens.
"China Lifts Ban on US Poultry Imports," Meatingplace.com, 11/10/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13380
"Poultry Plants Eligible for Clean Water Award," Meatingplace.com, 10/27/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13299
"Study: Benefits of Antibiotics in Chickens Outweigh Risks," Meatingplace.com, 11/8/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13366
4.
Potentially Cancer-Causing Dioxin Found in European
Animal Feed
More than 160 animal farms in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France have been closed down by authorities because they purchased animal feed that may contain dioxin, a carcinogenic substance that originates in impurities found in some herbicides and pesticides. Dioxins are believed to be a cause of cancer in humans, although preliminary tests suggest the current scare will not impact humans. The contaminated potato-based feed was sold by the Dutch division of Canadian potato chip manufacturer McCain Foods. The source of contamination is believed to be a potato sorter used by the company; the discarded potato peelings are made into animal feed.
"Dioxin in Animal Feed No Health Threat - EU," Reuters AlertNet, 11/10/04
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1020715.htm
"Dioxin Traces Found in European Animal Feed," Meatingplace.com, 11/8/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13360
5.
Animal Disease Update: BSE; Pseudorabies; Upcoming Conference
BSE: On October 28, Canada announced it had surpassed the country's goals to test cows for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), without any cases of BSE being found. Canada has tested more than 8,600 cows who were dead, dying, diseased and/or considered "downer" cows; the target for 2004 was to test 8,000 animals. In Scotland, a leading food safety expert says that "cattle culls" as a precaution against spreading BSE are a waste of money with no tangible benefit for humans. According to the scientist, the decrease in BSE incidences and improved testing make it unnecessary to slaughter cows age 30 months or older. More than seven million cows have been killed under the Over Thirty Months (OTM) rule, at an estimated taxpayer cost of more than two million pounds.
PSEUDORABIES: For the first time ever, all commercial pig farms in the US have been declared free of the pseudorabies virus (PRV), a disease that "causes reproductive problems including spontaneous abortions and stillbirths in addition to respiratory and central nervous system disorders." According to the National Pseudorabies Control Board, official recognition of the US status as PRV-free will come in October 2006, assuming no more outbreaks occur. A trade association for pork producers is praising the announcement, citing the industry's efforts to comprehensively test animals since 1989.
UPCOMING CONFERENCE: From November 16-19, experts on public health and animal diseases will gather in Panama to discuss the global status of Avian Influenza, BSE, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The annual Conference of the OIE (Office International Des Epizooties) Regional Commission for the Americas will focus on "veterinary education and risk communication topics."
"NPPC Applauds Recent Announcement Indicating US Swine Herd is PRV Free," The Pig Site, 11/8/04
http://www.thepigsite.com/LatestNews/Default.asp?AREA=LatestNews&Display=8418
"Focus on Disease," MeatNews.com, 11/3/04
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Article&artNum=8470
"Safety Expert Calls for End to BSE Cattle Culls,"
Sunday Herald, 11/9/04
http://www.sundayherald.com/print45811
"Canada Exceeds 2004 BSE Testing Targets," Canadian
Food Inspection Agency, 11/4/04
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2004/20041028e.shtml
6. Other Items of Interest
Author Gale Eisnitz is being presented with the "Albert Schweitzer Award" from the Animal Welfare Institute for her achievements as an investigator of farmed animal issues. Eisnitz authored the 1997 book "Slaughterhouse," which exposed widespread violations of the federal Humane Slaughter Act.
"Author and Investigator Eisnitz to Receive Animal Welfare Award," Meatingplace.com, 11/5/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13351
Live exports from Dover, England have resumed with a shipment of 5,000 live sheep to La Rochelle (France), the port's first shipment of live animals since January 2004. A port authority spokesperson has said that they will continue to provide space for vessels carrying live animals.
"Live Exports Carry on at Dover," Farmers Weekly, 11/4/04
http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=16517&sec=18&hier=2
Several farming associations have reacted to the 2004 election season, calling the results mixed for agricultural interests in the US. While the re-election of George W. Bush as President is considered a positive for farmers, some are concerned that the loss of some key farm supporters in the US congress will have a negative impact on the industry.
"Farm Groups React to Bush Re-election," Agricluture.com, 11/3/04
http://tinyurl.com/5no33
(Agriculture.com website)
Opinion: Actor and farmed animal activist James Cromwell editorializes about the American Veterinary Medical Association's November 5 meeting to discuss the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs. Cromwell urged the association to end the use of gestation crates, calling them "cruel and oppressive."
"Veterinarians Should Act to Stop Crating of Pregnant Pigs," Chicago Sun Times11/6/04
http://www.suntimes.com/output/otherviews/cst-edt-ref06b.html
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