Farmed Animal Watch
July 29,  2001                                                     (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #19

CONTENTS

1.    Industry Commentator Calls for Media “Fight Club”
2.    Overgrown Animals
3.    Marek’s Disease and Chickens
4.    Breeding Heifers Prematurely Causes Difficulty
5.    Breeding Problems in Pigs
6.    Getting the Nitrogen Out
7.    Dairy Compact Supporters and Foes
8.    Reversing Disease Through Diet
9.   More on Health & Food


1.  INDUSTRY COMMENTATOR CALLS FOR MEDIA “FIGHT CLUB”
Dan Murphy, weekly commentator for the Meating Place, complains of industry critics deliberately “bending the truth in an attempt to discredit the companies and the people involved in producing red meat and poultry products...” To retaliate, he calls for the “....creation of a Fight Club to fund a full-time, high-level, totally targeted counterattack aimed at changing opinions among key media outlets on the so-called issues that the activist industry is peddling.” The purpose of the Club would be to “re-educate” members of the media. Humane animal handling is listed as the #1 issue. Food safety and water and air pollution are the other issues he addresses, offering specific “industry spin” on all of them.

“Commentary: Industry Fight Club Could Bring Some Muscle To Bear On Misguided Media,” The Meating Place, Dan Murphy, July 20, 2001.
http://www.mtgplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=7772

“Commentary: The Definitive List of Issues Industry Must Address – And How,” The Meating Place, Dan Murphy, July 27, 2001.
http://www.meatingplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=7812


2.  OVERGROWN ANIMALS
Antibiotic drug use by the animal agriculture industries is the subject of an opinion editorial (op-ed) published in the Baltimore Sun. The author, a spokesperson for the Union of Concerned Scientists, explains that the drugs are primarily used to promote fast growth of animals rather than for disease control. The total annual use of the drugs for animal agriculture has risen from 16 million pounds in the mid-80's to 25 million pounds today. This is in contrast to the 3 million pounds used for human medicine. The medical community has published prescription guidelines to reduce the use of antibiotics by 20-30%, and the author wonders why the meat industry hasn’t taken similar steps.

“Antibiotics Overused in Chickens,” Baltimore Sun, Rich Hayes, July 23, 2001.
http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.antibiotics23jul23.story


3.  MAREK’S DISEASE AND CHICKENS
Marek’s Disease afflicts chickens, causing tumors on internal organs and neurological disorders such as partial paralysis of the legs or wings. Despite vaccines, the disease costs the U.S. poultry industry millions of dollars due to bird fatalities, condemnations, and reduced egg production. New strains of the virus have become increasingly virulent, reducing the effectiveness of each new vaccine. This, “coupled with today’s high-density poultry production,” has exacerbated the problem. USDA scientists have sequenced the genetic code of the chicken herpes virus that causes the disease, and industry hopes it will lead to a more effective strategy.

“Cracking the Code of Marek’s Disease,” Agricultural Research, Jan Suszkiw, July 2001.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul01/index.html


4.  BREEDING HEIFERS PREMATURELY CAUSES DIFFICULTY
Calving difficulty, or “dystocia,” causes the death of calves and cows, increases the susceptibility of calves to disease, and lowers weaning weights. Cows who experience dystocia produce less milk and take longer to breed again. Although cows do not reach a mature size until they are at least 4 years old, heifers (cows who have not yet bore a calf) are usually bred at 12-14 months of age and deliver their first calf at 2 years of age. “Breeding them at a young age leads to more calving trouble but the beef and dairy industries depend on producing calves – they can’t afford to support nonbreeding females for 4 years before they get any return,” says Robert Bellows, a USDA physiologist. Dystocia costs the U.S. beef and dairy industries more than $400 million annually. Large calves are the main cause of dystocia, yet beef cattle breeders have sought them with the belief that they would ultimately fetch a greater market value. Management factors are responsible for 55% and calf deaths 80% of heifer deaths. Researchers are now investigating hormonal and genetic factors influencing dystocia, and hope to develop genetic “tools” to select animals less prone to dystocia.

“Helping Heifers Calve Easier,” Agricultural Research, Kathryn Barry Stelljes, July 2001.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul01/index.html


5.  BREEDING PROBLEMS IN PIGS
Breeding selection in the pig industry has been for animals with fast muscle growth and minimal fat (“lean gain”). However, intensive or continuous selection for a specific trait can result in reproductive, neurological and behavioral problems. Selection for lean gain in pigs reportedly has caused leg problems, cardiovascular inadequacy, and more excitable pigs. The latter can make pigs more fearful and difficult to handle. Pigs selected for lean gain are more easily stressed, have a higher mortality during transport and lower meat quality. The authors of this study conclude that breeders need to pay attention to the animal welfare implications of selection.

“The Effect of Selection for Lean Growth on Swine Behavior and Welfare,” Purdue University 2000 Swine Day Report, E. Pajor et al., (the Pig Site).
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/swine/swineday/sday00/psd01-2000.html

http://www.thepigsite.com


6.  GETTING THE NITROGEN OUT
The cleanup and disposal of manure from swine production wastewater is one of the nation’s greatest environmental problems, according to the USDA. In North Carolina alone, pig production increased from 2.6 million in 1990 to over 9 million in 1997. The waste from high-density confinement facilities is flushed into anaerobic lagoons and then applied to cropland. Problems occur when excessive nitrogen and other elements are applied. An Agricultural Research Service scientist explains “As the practice of confined-animal production grows, we desperately need effective and affordable alternatives for managing the nutrient byproducts of these large-scale operations.” A new technology is being experimented with to remove the ammonia form of nitrogen from these facilities.

“Coping with Swine Manure,” Agricultural Research, Hank Becker, July 2001.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul01/index.html


7.  DAIRY COMPACT SUPPORTERS AND FOES
The Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact (NEIDC) is a Congressionally created program begun in 1997 to guarantee dairy operators in participating states a minimum price from processors who buy their milk. Since its inception, the Compact has collected a tax and paid more than $130 million to these dairy operators.  A spokesperson for the International Dairy Foods Association said “The NEIDC is a ‘dairy cartel’ which increases profits to a few while creating surpluses that drive down prices for the vast majority of dairy farmers....” A June 20, 2001 Wall Street Journal editorial condemned the Compact. However, legislation introduced to more than quadruple the number of states in dairy compacts is expected to come before the Senate Judiciary Committee shortly. The Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee opposes the extension and calls for a national dairy program for the $20 billion industry. More than 30 environmental groups in New England are supporting the program in the hope that it will help preserve dairy farms and prevent urban sprawl and pollution. Critics charge that a comparatively greater number of dairy farms have failed since the Compact began.

“Study Finds California Dairy Farmers Would Be Biggest Loser if Congress Expands Northeast Dairy Compact,” PR Newswire, July 18, 2001.
http://news.excite.com/news/pr/010718/dc-idfa-ca-farmers
“Environmentalists back dairy farmers,” Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, Karen E. Culp, July 21, 2001.
http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/business/cows072101.html


8.  REVERSING DISEASE THROUGH DIET
A low-fat, plant-based diet that can actually reverse the risk of heart disease is gaining acceptance. Dr. Dean Ornish’s behavior modification program advocates better health through diet, exercise and stress management. Doctors, drug companies and hospitals stand to lose financially if patients adopt healthy lifestyles, but taxpayers stand to gain. The Ornish program “challenges the whole infrastructure of the medical business....It is openly threatening.” Dr. Ornish queries “How did we get to the point where it is considered radical to ask people to quit smoking, to walk and meditate and eat vegetables and it’s considered conservative to operate on people or perform angioplasty or have them take powerful drugs for the rest of their lives?” The program is offered by 40 health insurance companies and is being considered by Medicare.

Substituting soy products for meat dishes may help reverse or slow the development of type 2 diabetes. Researchers saw measurable results in those who did, and are continuing this study. Mycoprotein, a meat analog derived from mushroom-like fungi (see issue #17), also may be beneficial to diabetics and for weight control. It could be approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S. as early as this summer.

“Hearts and Minds,” The Washington Post, Sally Squires, July 24, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39482-2001Jul23.html
“Diabetics, Put that Burger Down!” MSN Health, L.A. McKeown, July 12, 2001.
http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1728.83645
“Could Mycoprotein Replace Soy-Based Ingredients in Meat Analogs?” Daily News, The Meating Place, Bryan Salvage, July 26, 2001.
http://www.meatingplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=7803


9.  MORE ON HEALTH & FOOD
Walter Willett, chair of the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health is challenging the USDA’s food pyramid. He sees it as “a missed opportunity to improve the health of millions of people.” Dr. Willet criticizes the government for putting the USDA in charge of the pyramid since the agency is charged with promoting agriculture and not with promoting human health. He states, “Serving two masters is tricky business, especially when one of them includes persuasive and well-connected representatives of the formidable meat, dairy and sugar industries.” Dr. Willet has formulated “the Healthy Eating Pyramid” which is markedly different in that it de-emphasizes red meat and has daily exercise and weight control as its base. A USDA senior scientist concurs, “....I think we all agree fruit, vegetables and grains are good for you and should be the base of the diet.”

“New shape of the food pyramid,” Health & Science, USA Today, Nanci Hellmich, July 26, 2001.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/healthscience/health/2001-07-26-food-pyramid-usat.htm