Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
March 7, 2002
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #57
CONTENTS
1. Agribusiness Outlook
2. OIE Expands Activities to Include Animal Welfare, Food Safety
3. Tens of Thousands of Chickens Starved, Many More to Be Killed
4. Australasian Action for Laying Hens
5. Sentencing for Swedish Civil Disobedience
6. NCBA Addresses Gunshot in Cattle
7. GAO Warns about Mad Cow Disease Risk in the U.S.
8. NPPC Forum: Warnings about Activism
9. Industry Public Relations Efforts
1. AGRIBUSINESS OUTLOOK
The prospects for U.S. agribusiness were announced at the annual
Agricultural Outlook Forum. According to Keith Collins, the USDA's chief
economist, animal product prices have "generally moved up...and net returns
were mostly positive." The U.S. cattle population, the largest U.S.
agricultural production sector, has been declining since 1995 and beef
production began to decline in 2001. This is believed to be a cyclical
trend. A 10-year projection shows cattle and pig populations growing slowly
while meat-type chicken production will grow substantially though at a
slower rate. The trend toward larger and more "commercialized" systems
is
anticipated to continue. U.S. per capita beef and pork consumption is
expected to decline slightly while chicken consumption continues to rise.
Beef and pork exports are expected to rise slightly while chicken exports
will rise substantially but at a slower rate than they have been rising. The
national dairy herd is projected to decline while milk production increases
due to greater production per cow.
"Forum: Animal agriculture showing resilience," Delta Farm Press,
Hembree
Brandon, 02/25/02.
http://industryclick.com/magnewsarticle.asp?newsarticleid=289558&magazineid=14&SiteID=5
Agricultural Baseline Projections: US Livestock 2002-2011, Economic Research
Service, USDA
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/baseline/uslstock.htm
2. OIE EXPANDS ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE ANIMAL WELFARE, FOOD SAFETY
The intergovernmental organization that addresses animal disease is
expanding its activities to include food safety and animal welfare. The
Office International Des Epizooties (OIE) acknowledges that established
"norms for animal protection on the farm, during transport and at the time
of slaughter, is a growing concern amongst consumers and decision-makers."
OIE's expansion is on behalf of its member countries (158), which want
strong scientific and normative involvement by the organization to help
resolve possible disputes and to dialogue with consumers and animal
protection organizations. An ad hoc group, comprised of specialists from 5
continents, is scheduled to meet April 2-4, 2002. OIE is recognized as the
leading international standards-setting organization for animal health and
diseases transmissible to humans.
"OIE Extends its Activities in Food Safety and Animal Welfare," OIE
release,
March 1, 2002.
http://www.oie.int/eng/flash/en_food_safety_020301.htm
3. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHICKENS STARVED, MANY MORE TO BE KILLED
Following the bankruptcy of Cypress Foods, one of the country's largest egg
producers, 20,000 chickens were allowed to starve to death. Some 180,000
survivors are expected to be killed since the lack of food has thrown off
their egg production cycle. The chickens had water but no food for about 10
days. Feeding also stopped the company's Georgia facilities where the
company has about 1.5 million birds. The situation was reported by an
activist with Florida Voices for Animals. Criminal charges are being
investigated.
"Food Stops; Thousands of Hens Die," The Tampa Tribune, Andy Reid,
March 8,
2002.
http://www.tampatrib.com/MGAADQU5IYC.html
4. AUSTRALASIAN ACTION FOR LAYING HENS
The New Zealand RSPCA is about to target battery cages in its largest-ever
campaign. It seeks the abolishment of battery cages by 2010 at the latest.
Under the 1999 Animal Welfare Act, the government is required to take public
opinion into account when determining animal welfare codes. The organization
seeks to mobilize public opposition against the cages to influence a
committee which will be reviewing the Welfare Code for Layer Hens later this
year. A recent campaign against gestation crates elicited 64,000 responses.
An even greater response is anticipated for this campaign. A human-scale
battery cage will be on display for members of the public to experience, and
the exhibit of 3 hens in a battery cage. The Body Shop is assisting with the
effort.
Two veteran animal activists were arrested after a dramatic break-in of a
Tasmanian battery cage operation from which 8 hens were removed. A media
conference was held by the break-in team and the office of the Minister of
Primary Industries (who is also the Minister of Police) was "stormed."
The
team then e-mailed the Police Commissioner and media stating that they would
raid the same operation that night. They were met on their way and the 2
activists were subsequently arrested. The events generated extensive media
coverage. The activists want battery cages banned. The Minister said
Tasmania is committed to phasing the system out but needs the cooperation of
the other Australian states. Proposed legislation seeks to abolish the
present quota system and require operators to meet animal welfare standards.
"New Campaign to Target Battery Cages," Newsroom, RNZSPCA press
release,
March 7, 2002.
http://www.newsroom.co.nz/story/88420-99999.html
"Force scrambles as Pam plays chicken," NEWS, Brett Stubbs and
Michelle
Paine, March 2, 2001.
http://www.news.com.au/common/printpage/0,6093,3873380,00.html
"Tasmanian Battery Hens Rescued - Two Activists Arrested," Open
Rescue,
February 26, 2002.
http://www.openrescue.org/rescues/20020226/2002_02_26.html
5. SENTENCING FOR SWEDISH CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Three members of Bye Bye Meat Industry, part of a Swedish animal liberation
coalition, have been found guilty of breaking into and damaging a
slaughterplant. (See back issue #24.) The 3 activists intended to be
arrested as part of their civil disobedience. One member, with 2 former
convictions for civil disobedience, was sentenced to 8 months in prison. It
is the longest sentence yet for an animal rights activist in Sweden. Another
was sentenced to 6 months in prison, and the third to 140 hours of community
service. All 3 are refusing to pay the $20,000 they are liable for in
damages since it would go back to the slaughterplant and its insurance
company. Their actions have generated extensive media attention.
"Bye Bye Meat Industry Found Guilty for Criminal Damage," communique
of the
Support Group of Bye Bye Meat Industry.
http://hem.passagen.se/djurensratt/texter_update_engelska.htm
http://www.byebyemeat.com
6. NCBA ADDRESSES GUNSHOT IN CATTLE
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is concerned about buckshot
and birdshot in cattle. (See back issue #9.) About 15,000 separate incidents
of it occur every year. Lost "profits, customers and competitive edge"
resulting from it, including foreign sales, are said to cost the industry
$1.5 billion annually. NCBA has therefore issued guidelines on the matter.
An NCBA brochure, entitled "Shot Up and Shot Down," urges ranchers to
leave
shotguns at home and to take responsibility for those allowed on their land
with guns.
"Shot Up and Shot Down," Lean Trimmings (AnimalNet), Jeremy Russell,
March
4, 2002.
http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/safefood/archives/animalnet-archives.htm
7. GAO WARNS ABOUT MAD COW DISEASE RISK IN THE U.S.
The General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative agency of Congress,
reports that the U.S. is at risk for mad cow disease. It based its warning
on the lack of compliance by feed mills with the ban on meat and bone meal
in cattle feed (see back issue #10). The FDA's inspection records are "so
severely flawed [that] it should not be used to access compliance," the
investigators noted. The disease may have occurred in the U.S. if
slaughterplants used imported beef that was infected. The U.S. purchased
about 125 million pounds of beef and about 1,000 cattle from countries that
later reported having the disease. The USDA downplayed the findings but it
is increasing the number of cattle brains inspected annually from 5,200 to
12,500. Federal spending on mad cow research and laboratory analysis is also
being increased, and inspectors at points of entry will nearly double to
4,000. In addition, USDA officials are drafting a rule to prohibit the use
of certain stunning devices used to immobilize cattle during slaughter. New
rules for disposing of deceased animals may also be forthcoming.
"US Said Vulnerable to Mad Cow Disease, Reuters, Randy Fabi, February 26,
2002.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020226/hl_nm/madcow_4
"Feds double tests to keep mad cow out of U.S.," U.P.I, February 27,
2002.
http://www.meatpoultry.com/newsfinder.asp?layout=story&gid=1130000913&did=457R-4CW0-00RC-8543-00000-00&cid=480004048
8. NPPC FORUM: WARNINGS ABOUT ACTIVISM
A former USDA official now turned agricultural consultant warned delegates
at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) that activists are
increasingly a threat. He attributed this to the coalescence of diverse
groups which have banded together against globalization. Opposition to
factory farming has become a rallying point. "The nature of the debate over
agricultural policy in the United States has changed dramatically," he
said.
Particulars he mentioned include well supported, politically sophistication
opponents; antibiotic usage; the Florida anti-gestation crate initiative;
and environmental and other legal action against the pig industry.
Regarding the Florida gestation crate ban, NPPC's director of communications
stated, "This is a serious issue and we need to this stopped in
Florida....if this ban is imposed, there, it will spread to other states."
"Special Report: Packer Ban, Animal Rights Strike Sparks at Pork
Forum,"
Daily News, The Meating Place, Dan Murphy, March 4, 2002.
http://www.mtgplace.com
"Live from the Pork Forum: 'New' NPPC Ready for Policy Battles in
D.C.,"
Daily News, The Meating Place, Dan Murphy, March 1, 2002.
http://www.mtgplace.com
Floridians for Humane Farms
http://www.BanCruelFarms.org
9. INDUSTRY PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS
The Truth Keeper's Initiative is a new industry effort to communicate with
the public. This "call to action" is a 6-step program with industry
advocates performing a monthly action. They include: writing to a
legislator, a schoolchild (in conjunction with Ag in the Classroom), and a
newspaper editor. Other actions involve talking to a stranger about the
industry, and being featured in a newspaper article. A final action involves
getting someone to invest in a steer, pig or acre of land and then
"feeding"
them information about it. Every member is asked to recruit one new member
each month. Program initiator Trent Loos explains, "The American consumer
is
a cow standing at the gate wanting to be fed."
The Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) Poultry Industry has announced
several new public relations initiatives. They include: a new video tape for
general audiences entitled "Poultry - Delmarva's Indispensable
Industry,"
another video designed for schoolchildren, printed materials to accompany
both videos, radio ads in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas presenting
a positive industry image, industry tours for agricultural educators, a
reception for Delaware legislators, updating the web site, and a cooking
contest in Baltimore.
The beef industry is distributing an activity patch program for Junior Girl
Scouts. To obtain the patch, girls must choose 4 activities from a list that
includes "cooking, researching regional or family recipes, exercising and
other food-related activities that support beef as a great tasting and
convenient product or deliver nutrition and physical activity messages."
The
program targets girls age 8-12 who are "forming attitudes about food while
influencing family food purchases now."
"Commentary: Cowboy Columnist Recruiting Meat Industry for Truth Keepers
Initiative," Daily News, The Meating Place, Dan Murphy, February 21, 2002.
http://www.mtgplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=8845
"DPI's New Budget Expands Several Programs," Delmarva Poultry
Industry, Bill
Satterfield, March 4, 2002.
http://www.dpichicken.org/index.cfm?content=news&subcontent=details&id=95
"Scouting for healthy lifestyles," Beef Magazine, March 1, 2002.
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=13&releaseid=9929&magazinearticleid=142530&siteid=5