Farmed Animal Watch
April 9, 2001                                                   (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Premier Issue

CONTENTS

1. Animal Cloning Yields Defects
2. Antibiotic Use Higher Than Reported
3. World's "Cheapest" Food Supply?
4. New Agriculture Secretary Friend of Big Agribusiness
5. USDA Does a 180 on Salmonella Testing
6. PETA Moves Burger King Protests to U.K.
7. Britain's Foot-and-Mouth Costs
8. Special Animal Welfare Group Convened
9. BSE Countries Selling Meat?
10. Vegetarians Prevail

1. ANIMAL CLONING YIELDS DEFECTS
Faced with the prospect of cloned humans, scientists are now admitting that
physiological defects are a common problem in other cloned animals. Fewer
than 3 percent of all cloning efforts are successful, and cloned animals
have suffered developmental delays, heart defects, lung problems and
malfunctioning immune systems. Dr. Rudolph Jaenisch, Professor of Biology at
MIT, stated "it would be reckless and irresponsible. What do you do with
humans who are born with half a kidney or no immune system?"

The New York Times, March 25, 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/24/science/25CLON.html?pagewanted=print


2. ANTIBIOTIC USE HIGHER THAN REPORTED
Chickens, pigs and cows are dosed with antibiotics far more than has been
revealed, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The organization
reports that American livestock producers use nearly 25 million pounds of
antibiotics annually for growth promotion and disease prevention and not to
treat disease. This compares to the 3 million pounds used annually to treat
human diseases.

Egg Industry, February 2001
http://www.wattnet.com


3. WORLD'S "CHEAPEST" FOOD SUPPLY?
The U.S. Senate approved a $5 billion bailout for agriculture this year and
an additional $58.5 billion for farm supports in the next decade, for a
total of $63.5 billion in farm subsidies. This figure is half of what farm
groups had asked for, and democrats had sought a $97 billion increase. The
republicans prevailed 53-47. Congress has yet to vote on the measure. Since
late 1998, Congress has
approved nearly $25 billion in farm bailouts, citing persistently low grain
prices.

Reuters April 4, 2001
http://www.agriclick.com/news/story/0,1411,96223,00.html


4. NEW AGRICULTURE SECRETARY FRIEND OF BIG AGRIBUSINESS
Newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman is described as an
agribusiness lawyer and former member of the national steering committee of
Farmers and Ranchers for Bush who "rarely missed an opportunity
to....encourage policies that lead to the displacement of family farms by
huge factory farms...[and] support genetic modification of food and to
defend biotech experimentation with agriculture." Veneman also served as
deputy secretary of agriculture for the Bush administration from 1991 to
1993. The article notes that she is a "militant freetrader" who helped in
negotiations that led to the formation of the World Trade Organization.
Farm activist Mark Ritchie forewarns that Veneman will use her position to
advance "strictly pro-agribusiness, pro-pesticide company,
pro-pharmaceutical company positions." He asserts that the line she is
following is "completely out of synch with....what we know to be
scientifically, ecologically and economically right." In her first public
address, Secretary Veneman urged a collective approach to educate consumers
about biotechnology benefits.

"No Friend of the Farmer," The Nation, January 29, 2001
Western Farm Press, March 17, 2001
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=21&releaseid=5649&
magazinearticleid=66962&siteid=5


5. USDA DOES A 180 ON SALMONELLA TESTING
The Bush Administration did an aboutface on its proposal last week to cease
Salmonella testing of beef served in the national school lunch program,
following outcry from public interest groups who pointed out that last year
nearly 5 million pounds of this meat was found to be contaminated.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman denied approving the proposed change which
had been posted on the agency's web site. The meat industry has repeatedly
called for an end to this testing.

Reuters, April 6, 2001
http://www.agriculture.com/worldwide/AgricultureFarming/04_05_2001.rontz153
2-story-bcnewsfoodschoolsdc.html
http://www.agriculture.com/default.sph/AgNews.class?FNC=AgNews__Astart_html


6. BRITAIN'S FOOT-AND-MOUTH COSTS
Britain's response to the foot-and-mouth epidemic is estimated to cost $4.3
billion. The epidemic is believed to be leveling off after having infected
over 1,000 sites. Efforts have been made to slaughter animals within 24
hours of diagnosis and kill susceptible animals on farms surrounding
infected sites within 48 hours. Now in its seventh week, more than a million
animals have been killed or slated for death.

Reuters, April 5, 2001
http://www.agriclick.com/news/story/0,1411,96265,00.html


7. SPECIAL ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP CONVENED
The Foot-and-Mouth Welfare Consultative Group has been organized to advise
the British government on implementing welfare standards during the culling
program, and to help identify and "fast-track" cases in which animals'
welfare becomes a matter of urgency. The Group, comprised of The Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Compassion in
World Farming, and the Humane Slaughter Association, held its first meeting
on April 6th.

AgWeb News, April 6, 2001
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_2001461744_1713&newscat=GN


8. BSE COUNTRIES SELLING MEAT?
"The `highly likely' presence of BSE in eastern Europe, announced this week
by the European Commission, means nearly a fifth of the European Union's
meat imports have been coming from suspect countries that have applied no
BSE safeguards," reports "New Scientist" in an article entitled "More mad
cows."

New Scientist, April 5, 2001
http://www.newscientist.com/dailynews/news.jsp?id=ns9999601


9. PETA MOVES BURGER KING PROTESTS TO U.K.
Following its success with McDonald's and the U.S. Burger King in getting
them to agree to an animal welfare program, People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PETA) announced a campaign against British Burger King outlets.
The fast food chains announced plans to ensure humane treatment of animals
through the adoption of animal industry husbandry and slaughter guidelines.
A PETA spokesperson said the U.K. chain has so far ignored its demands, and
protests are planned.

Reuters, April 3, 2001
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010402/n02334817.html
http://www.agriclick.com/news/story/0,1411,96008,00.html


10. VEGETARIANS PREVAIL
A New York Times article, entitled "It's Easier to be Green," tells how
recent fears of meat eating are giving vegetarians the upper hand. The image
of vegetarians, the increasing popularity of vegetarian food, and historical
vegetarian trends in America are discussed.

The New York Times, April 8, 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/weekinreview/08ASIM.html?searchpv=nyToday