Farmed Animal Watch - November 29, 2001

Farmed Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place

November 29, 2001 (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #43

CONTENTS

1. Getting to Know Them 2. Tough Times for Turkeys 3. The Truth About Turkeys 4. UK Pigs Beset with Yet Another Disease 5. New Drug Boosts Pig Growth 6. Government to Subsidize Pig Farm Insurance 7. Environmentalists Attempt to Outbid/buyout Ranchers 8. Upcoming Events 1. GETTING TO KNOW THEM Canadian researchers are undertaking the much-neglected study of farmed animal behavior to help improve the animals’ well-being. A better understanding of their social and emotional dynamics will also benefit industry. Dr. Jon Watts, of the University of Saskatchewan, was recently awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to study the social life and cognition of cattle. The article also discusses the work of scientists at the University of British Columbia who “study phenomena most milk-drinking, meat-eating –and soft-hearted– consumers would prefer not to think about,” the pain, trauma and distress of farmed animals. Dr. Watts notes: “Almost everything about the way they are kept is abnormal. They’ve been bred over generations to stay healthy despite what we do to them, and to produce lots of lean meat and milk. From a psychological point of view, they are a wild animal stuffed into an artificial containment system. I think we should be as concerned about how we treat domestic animals as people are about how we treat zoo animals, because basically they are the same.” “Smarter than they look,” National Post, Margaret Munro, November 19, 2001. http://www.nationalpost.com/tech/discovery/story.html?f=/stories/20011119/793412.html 2. TOUGH TIMES FOR TURKEYS This year, 267 million turkeys will be killed in the U.S., about a third of whom are eaten during the holidays. Last week, President Bush “pardoned” two turkeys, in keeping with the traditional presidential Thanksgiving ritual. Speaking to a group of children, he said “It looks mean, but it’s a sweet bird.” The birds go to Frying Pan Park, a petting zoo in Virginia. ABC News commentator John Stossel wants Mr. Bush to give him a break, too, and took the president to task for saying this Thanksgiving would not be the turkeys’ last. According to the park manager, most of the turkeys only last a few months, one died within days. Turkeys have been selectively bred to grow so fat so fast that “simply walking can be a problem.” They are physically unable to mate and are instead artificially inseminated. Female turkeys can grow to 15 pounds in 14 weeks while males reach 35 pounds in 18 weeks. The “free range” designation for turkeys is also dubious. The USDA defines it as “access to the out-of-door,” a term “so broad as to be meaningless.” PETA sent President Bush “tofurkey,” a simulated turkey product made of soy. “Bush Issues First Pardon – to a Turkey,” Reuters, Randall Mikkelsen, November 19, 2001. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011119/ts/bush_turkey_dc_3.html “The Thanksgiving Turkey Reprieve,” ABC News, John Stossel, November 21, 2001. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/DailyNews/GMAB_turkey_011121.html “Thanksgiving Turkeys Getting Fatter,” Associated Press, Paul Elias, November 22, 2001. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20011122/bs/farm_scene_167.html “Born Free-Range,” Fortune, Susan Q. Stranahan, October 29, 2001. http://www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel=artcol.jhtml&doc_id=204735 3. THE TRUTH ABOUT TURKEYS “It’s important that people see who [turkeys] are and ask why there is so much disparagement surrounding the turkey in the build-up to [Thanksgiving],” states Karen Davis. Dr. Davis is president of United Poultry Concerns, a national nonprofit organization that addresses the treatment of domestic fowl and seeks to heighten public awareness. She has just published “More than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual and Reality.” The book is a historical examination of the relationship between humans and turkeys, and explores how the turkey has been misunderstood. Dr. Davis explains, "I was struck by the attitude of contempt and ridicule by the news media toward the turkeys as a prelude to Thanksgiving day. I wanted to explore that emotional pattern at Thanksgiving in this book.... I wrote the book to set the record straight about these birds." “Thanksgiving gobbling saddens U.S. turkey lovers,” Reuters, November 23, 2001. http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/11/11232001/reu_45658.asp “Book: Turkeys ‘More Than a Meal’: Activist’s 4th Book Seeks to Change Public Perception,” The Daily Times (AnimalNet), Joseph Cacchioli, November 22, 2001. http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/safefood/archives/animalnet-archives.htm 4. UK PIGS BESET WITH YET ANOTHER DISEASE Post-weaning multi-systematic wasting syndrome (PMWS), a new incurable disease, has already reached epidemic proportions in Britain. It can cause sudden death or leave pigs listless and gaunt. Herd mortality rates in excess of 40% are being reported. U.K. pig farmers have been contending with losses from foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever outbreaks for the past few years. They blame the cramped conditions imposed to control these diseases for the new outbreak. PMWS has reportedly spread rapidly among younger pigs due to the inability to distance sick pigs from healthy ones. Farmers have lost millions of dollars this year from pig mortality and increased feeding costs for surviving pigs to regain weight. “UK Pork Producers Battle New Disease,” AgWeb News, Darcy Maulsby, November 28, 2001. http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?articleID=81781&newscat=GN 5. NEW DRUG BOOSTS PIG GROWTH “Paylean” is a new drug being used as a feed additive to boost pig growth. It is actually ractopamine hydrochloride, a beta-agonist which is considered a growth hormone in the European Union where it is banned. In the U.S., it was first marketed in July 2000 after approval by the FDA. No withdrawal time is required prior to slaughter since the drug is said to have no harmful residues. Paylean causes pig metabolism to shift nutrients from fat to muscle growth, shortening the time needed to reach market weight. During the past 45 years, slaughter weights have increased about 1 pound per year due to selective breeding. The growth increase possible with Paylean reportedly would have taken animal scientists 14 years to reach through breeding. In 1956, the average weight of feeder pigs sold in the Midwest was 222 pounds, this year’s average is expected to exceed 260 pounds. “Big Pigs – New Drug in Feed Boosts U.S. Hog Size,” Reuters, Jerry Bieszk, November 19, 2001. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20011119/sc/food_hogs_paylean_dc_1.html 6. GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE PIG FARM INSURANCE The USDA will offer subsidized insurance to pig farms next spring. One type of policy will protect against price drops, another will respond to fluctuations in pig prices and feed costs. The experimental policies are initially being offered only in Iowa, the largest pig producing state. According to the USDA, the subsidies will be kept relatively low to avoid stimulating production and driving down prices. A USDA spokesperson explained that “Generally, the less risky you make enterprises the more production you get.” The insurance will be limited to operations that sell no more than 32,000 pigs a year. About 20% of those eligible are expected to buy the insurance, which will cost about $5 per pig. Currently, the government subsidizes $35 billion worth of insurance policies on plant crops. This is the first time the government will offer subsidized insurance to farmed animal operations. “U.S. to Subsidize Hog Farm Insurance,” Associated Press, Philip Brasher, November 26, 2001. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-insuring-livestock1126nov26.story USDA Risk Management Agency http://www.rma.usda.gov 7. ENVIRONMENTALISTS ATTEMPT TO OUTBID/BUYOUT RANCHERS In a precedent-setting ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that state officials must consider bids on grazing leases from conservationists. Such bids have been flatly rejected, including one from Forest Guardians which offered 5 times the rate a current leaseholder was paying. The organization has been trying for years to obtain leases to allow the land to recover. The Western Gamebird Alliance is also interested in bidding on land to make it available to hunters. The Arizona Cattlemen’s Association argued that state lands withdrawn from grazing will result in fewer cattle and ranchers. They claim that if ranchers aren’t around to bid on land after the 10-year lease is up, environmentalists wont either. The Arizona Education Association filed a brief in support of the environmentalists. (State schools are beneficiaries of Arizona’s nearly 10 million acres of trust lands, sharing in lease proceeds.) The lone dissenter in the 4-1 ruling argued that state law already requires the State Land Commissioner to deny leases on overgrazed land. He wrote that the Commissioner should not be forced to accept a bid from any party with a different agenda. Rangenet, a coalition of environmental groups, want Congress to use tax dollars to buy federal grazing permits back from ranchers. The group hopes to attach provisions for the buyout to the 2001 Farm Bill, but has not yet found a member of Congress to sponsor the proposed legislation. The plan would pay ranchers an amount substantially higher than market value. Proponents say that ranching is a marginal business and the buyout is a fair system to help people choose something else to do. Others disagree as to the value of agriculture to western state economies. Without ranching, critics counter, rural communities would be gutted. “Court opens grazing leases,” Capitol Media Services, Howard Fischer, November 22, 2001. http://cgi.azstarnet.com/star/Thu/11122Grazing.html “Environmentalists Propose Grazing Buyout in Western States,” Knight-Ridder Tribune (The Times-News), Cathy Roemer, November 24, 2001. http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/safefood/archives/animalnet-archives.htm 8. UPCOMING EVENTS 2001 Bovine Connection to Profit - International speakers, area ranchers and North Dakota State University Extension Service specialists will share “practical applications of production and economic technologies.” The seminar is designed for ranchers and those in associated agribusinesses. Topics will include: marketing, public policy, environmental challenges, genetic balancing, calving, disease and biosecurity. December 7-8, Veterans Memorial Building, Watford City, NE., (701) 444-3451 or dnaze@ndsuext.nodak.edu. Registration is $25 per person, $35 for couples and includes a copy of the proceedings. http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1004650 Forum on Animal Welfare Reforms - “Do Animal Welfare Campaigns & Reforms Hurt or Help Animal Rights & Abolition?” is the topic of United Poultry Concerns 3rd annual forum. Speakers will lead a discussion of “the effects of current animal welfare campaigns and reforms on the achievement of animal rights and the effort to abolish the status of nonhuman animals as property and resources in society.” December 8-9, United Poultry Concerns Sanctuary, Machipongo, Va., (757) 678-7875. Registration is $75, student/senior discount available. http://www.upc-online.org/forum2001.html