Farmed Animal Watch - September 27, 2001

Farmed Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place

September 27, 2001 (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #31

CONTENTS

1. Chicks to Be Treated as Ordinary Mail 2. USDA Report: Eat More Veggies, Less Meat 3. Multi Million Dollar Farmed Animal Initiative for Indigent People 4. World Farm Animals Day 5. Mad Cow Regrets and Reproach 6. New Diseases Killing Thousands of U.K. Pigs 1. CHICKS TO BE TREATED AS ORDINARY MAIL The Senate has passed an amendment to the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill which forces airlines to carry baby birds as ordinary airmail (see issue #27). The chicks will not be given any special treatment in regard to temperature, handling or other considerations accorded to other live animals. The conference committee will be meeting in the near future to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. (The House version does not contain language requiring that birds be treated as standard mail.) To voice your opinion on this matter, call Senate Chairman Byron Dorgan at (202) 224-8244 and the House Ranking Democrat, Steny Hoyer at (202) 225-3481 as soon as possible. Humanelines, Issue 163, September 26, 2001. http://www.hsus.org 2. USDA REPORT: EAT MORE VEGGIES, LESS MEAT The USDA's recently released "Report on Food and Agriculture Policy"notes the need for Americans to consume more fruits and vegetables and less meat and sugar. At a press conference announcing the report, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman used a "Healthy Eating Index" chart to show that 70% of Americans should improve their diet. If the report manifests into policy, the impact could be enormous. The government is the largest purchaser of food in the country, and USDA officials influence what Americans eat through speeches and advertising. Past administrations that have tried to change public eating habits have encountered political opposition from producers of foods targeted for reduced consumption. "Ag Report: Eat your veggies," Grand Forks Herald, Jerry Hagstrom, September 26, 2001. http://web.northscape.com/content/gfherald/2001/09/24/agweek/924JHDIET.htm

"Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century," United States Department of Agriculture, September 19, 2001. http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/farmpolicy01/fpindex.htm 3. MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FARMED ANIMAL INITIATIVE FOR INDIGENT PEOPLE United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 675 million rural poor currently use farmed animals to support and sustain their livelihoods. It is predicted that the demand for animal products in nonindustrialized countries will double in the next 20 years due to population growth, increasing urbanization and rising incomes. Animal production is expected to move to warmer, more humid areas where diseases spread more easily. The number of large-scale animal production operations are anticipated to grow to satisfy the demand for cheap animal protein. Severe environmental damage could result, posing public health risks. Pressure on grazing land will also increase. The FAO and the U K's Department for International Development (DFID) are collaborating on a major farmed animal initiative for indigent people in nonindustrialized countries. The DFID is expending $13 million to support the "Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Facility" over a period of 6 years. A FAO spokesperson stated that "policy-makers too often favour urban industrial livestock production over small-scale rural production." She noted that development projects involving farmed animal production have been unsuccessful which she attributed to inappropriate technologies and poor services to indigent farmers. The initiative seeks to improve competitiveness for these farmers; to lower market access barriers, and to reduce such farmer risks as drought or animal disease. It is seen as a promising way of helping indigent people through political and institutional reform by advising national governments, the public sector, and development agencies that influence policy. The objective is to create awareness concerning the potential and problems associated with indigenous people and farmed animal production. The Global Hunger Alliance promotes effective and equitable solutions to world hunger through a plant-based diet. Employing an online petition, it is calling on the FAO to put the needs of people above those of corporate desires at the upcoming World Food Summit. The petition can be accessed at: http://www.petitiononline.com/gha1/petition.html Food and Agriculture Organization press release, September 24, 2001. http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0155.htm

Department for International Development http://www.dfid.gov.uk/index.html

Global Hunger Alliance http://www.globalhunger.net

GRACE Factory Farming International page http://www.factoryfarm.org/internationalinformation.html 4. WORLD FARM ANIMALS DAY The 19th annual observance of World Farm Animals Day (WFAD) will be held on October 2nd, in recognition of Mahatma Ghandi's birthday. The occasion was originated to "expose, memorialize, and mitigate the suffering of billions of innocent, sentient animals in the world's factory farms and slaughterhouses." Last year, WFAD was observed in over 100 U.S. communities and a dozen other countries. For the event, 30 governors and mayors issued proclamations and 44 vigils were held at the U.S. and state capitols. This year the event will focus on preventing the export of factory farming practices to nonindustrialized countries. http://www.wfad.org 5. MAD COW REGRETS AND REPROACH The Japanese Minister of Agriculture has stated, "We should humbly take the blame" for blocking the publication of an alarming report on the risk of BSE in Japan. The EU's Scientific Steering Committee had evaluated the risk level in Japan as being 3 on a scale of 4. (The higher the number the greater the chance BSE had already contaminated the food chain.) The Japanese farm ministry had challenged the evaluation method and insisted that cattle in Japan were safe. The report still has yet to materialize. After BSE was confirmed in a Japanese cow on September 10th (see issue #29), the government announced that 1 million cows will be slaughtered and tested annually, at a cost of $25 million. Cows with fever, abnormal breathing or reduced milk yield are to be tested. Farmers are being urged not to market cows older than 30 months. Holman W. Jenkins Jr., a columnist for the Wall Street Journal criticized the U.S. cattle industry and government for not conducting an effective search for mad cow disease in this country. He comments that the industry has long feared that a single case of the disease would spell the end for its $3.6 billion export trade and loss of much of its domestic market. Hundreds of tons of potentially contaminated animal feed was exported to 80 countries until 1996, including 12 tons to the U.S. Additionally, Americans annually consume 45 million pounds of "mechanically recovered meat," which until recently would have contained brain and spinal tissues - potentially infectious materials. Mr. Jenkins contends that the disease is bound to occur here sooner or later, and that the world is coming to accept the disease. "Japan regrets for having rejected an EC mad-cow warning," AFP, September 20, 2001. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010920/1/1hqqh.html

"Mad Cow Disease Sets Off a Scare in Japan," The New York Times, James Brooke, September 27, 2001. http://www10.nytimes.com:80/2001/09/27/international/asia/27JAPA.html?pagewanted=print

"Mad Cow Cometh," Business World, Wall Street Journal, Holman W. Jenkins Jr., August 31, 2001. http://www.wsj.com 6. NEW DISEASES KILLING THOUSANDS OF U.K. PIGS Two linked diseases are killing thousands of English pigs, with no known trigger, treatment or cure. Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) are believed to be linked to a virus. Afflicted pigs either suffer a sudden death or become listless, gaunt and physically waste away. Some develop a purple rash on their skin. It is unknown what causes the virus to trigger the conditions, though stress is thought to be a possible factor. The condition was first recognized 2 & 1/2 years ago and has spread through the country, affecting both indoors and outdoor pig units. About 60% of the country's pig operations have experienced high mortality. The cost in lost meat sales alone this year is estimated at over $40 million. Pigs seem able to recover with nursing and good care. As safeguards, farmers are reducing the number of pigs in pens, cleaning pens, replacing straw and water more frequently, and ensuring that feed is free of mold.

"Pig industry under threat from disease," The Times, Valerie Elliot, September 24, 2001. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001331316,00.html