Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
August 19, 2003
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Number #26 Volume 2
CONTENTS
1. Israeli Supreme Court Rules Out Foie Gras Production
2. Taiwanese Force-Feeding/Slaughter Ritual Denounced
3. Buckeye Hens Released to Sanctuary
4. Farmed Animal Welfare Standards
5. "Ethical Omnivores"
6. Organic Production
7. "Pastured Poultry"
8. AWI Fundraiser Features Pig Products
1. ISRAELI SUPREME COURT RULES OUT FOIE GRAS PRODUCTION
On August 11th, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the method used to
produce foie gras (liver pate) is cruel and the Health Ministry regulations
permitting it is illegal. Israeli law prohibits unnecessary cruelty to
animals, and the court majority opinion stated that long-accepted agricultural
practices are not exempted from this law. Force-feeding geese will become
illegal in March 2005. The practice has been banned in England, Switzerland,
Denmark, Austria, Belgium and Germany. Israel is the world's 3rd largest foie
gras producer.
According to Anonymous for Animal Rights (AAR), a leader in the decade-long
campaign for the ban, a recent survey found 69% of Israelis consider
force-feeding ducks and geese to be animal abuse. One of the justices offered
the following explanation: "The process, in which a metal tube is
inserted into the goose's throat, through which food is compressed into his
stomach, is violent and harmful. The process causes a degenerative disease of
the goose liver, and its enlargement up to 10 times its original size." A
video of the procedure was shown in court. Photos of it can be seen at:
http://www.anonymous.org.il/e-pic-geese.htm
Due to a current recession, the court gave the industry a year and a half to
come up with a humane alternative production method. Both sides expressed
doubt that such a method could be found. "Any method that achieves the
aim of swelling the liver is going to entail cruelty," said Andre Menache,
a prominent animal protection advocate and veterinary surgeon. AAR believes
the issue may next move to the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) with the
industry trying to get regulations passed to bypass the court decision. See:
http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030811/004770.html
2. TAIWANESE FORCE-FEEDING/SLAUGHTER RITUAL DENOUNCED
A competition in Taiwan, in which force-fed pigs too obese to stand are
dragged in front of thousands of people to have their throats cut, is being
challenged by animal welfare groups. The "Pig of the President" is a
religious custom of the Hakkas, an ethnic population of over 4 million
people in Taiwan. The Environment and Animals Society (EAST) claims the pigs,
who can reach weights nearing a ton, are force fed sand and heavy metals and
are terrified and screaming during the ritual (see links below for
photographs). Force feeding and ritual slaughter are said to be outlawed in
Taiwan. The Taiwanese president said the 170-year-old practice of sacrificing
"divine pigs" must be respected as part of Hakka culture:
http://tinyurl.com/kekr
The World Society for the Protection of Animals is active in both this and the
Israeli foie gras campaign (see
item #1):
http://www.wspa-international.org/site/index.php?page=257&ilocale=1
3. BUCKEYE HENS RELEASED TO SANCTUARY
Buckeye Egg Farm has release some 1,050 hens to Oohmahnee Farm, an 86-acre
farmed animal sanctuary located outside of Pittsburgh (photos at:
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3hg6v/buckeye_rescue.html
). Buckeye has appealed a state order to shut down (see
N.23,
V.2). The
released hens were ones who were no longer profitably producing eggs and would
otherwise have been killed. Bill Leininger, Buckeye director of operations, is
working with Cayce Mell, co-founder of Oohmahnee, despite their philosophical
differences over what constitutes humane treatment of hens. If Buckeye is
forced to close, it will have to get rid of nearly 15 million hens. According
to both Leininger and Mell, the birds might be burned alive or bulldozed into
the ground. Leininger stressed he will only deal with Oohmahnee on the
depopulation matter.
[Oohmahnee recently gained custody of 145 sheep after neighboring farmers had
a change of heart and decided to not send them to slaughter. With over 1,000
other residents, the sanctuary is seeking "loving, lifelong homes"
for the sheep.] PETA's Ingrid Newkirk was the featured speaker at Oohmahnee
recently held annual open house:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/westmoreland/s_149073.html
4. FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE STANDARDS
The United States is dramatically improving the quality of the lives – and
the humaneness of the deaths – of cows, pigs and chickens. So begins an
August 12th USA Today article about animal welfare reforms within the meat,
milk and egg industries. Noted reforms include slaughterplants redesigned to
take into account cattle behavior, larger cages for chickens (see item #3 of
N.21, V.2), and a Florida law against pig gestation crates (see back
issue
#94). Objective, measurable standards are increasingly being used to monitor
handling and killing methods in slaughterplants (see
N.14,
V.2). The standards
call for 95% of cattle to be stunned with one shot, 99% accuracy in the
electrical stunning of pigs, and 98% accuracy in the electrical stunning of
chickens. [United Poultry Concerns contends that chickens are immobilized
rather than stunned, and has recently released a report entitled "Poultry
Slaughter: The Need for Legislation." See (PDF file):
http://www.upc-online.org/slaughter/slaughter3web.pdf
]
After World War II, federal policies encouraged intensified agricultural
production practices. By the 1990's, "the way farm animals were treated
in the USA had gotten about as bad as it could under the relentless pressure
to produce food more cheaply." Indoor confinement systems were used for
producing pigs and chickens. Chickens raised for meat were bred to gain weight
so rapidly that their skeletal systems couldn't keep pace. They now reach
slaughter weight in about 6 weeks, half the time required 50 years ago. The
practice of amputating part of the beaks and toes of chickens used for egg
production was employed to keep them from pecking and scratching each other in
the close confinement in which they are kept. Forced molting, depriving hens
of food for 4-24 days to stimulate higher egg production, became the industry
norm. Referring to the 1980's as "the bad old days, animal scientist and
industry consultant Temple Grandin (
http://www.grandin.com
) explains: "When you breed for feed conversion, you tend to breed a
flighty, excitable animal, a very high-fear animal. You breed a calmer
chicken, she's going to need more feed but she's not going to peck others to
death."
In 1999, United Egg Producers announced the first animal welfare guidelines
for an industry trade group. By increasing space per hen from some 50 square
inches per bird to 67 square inches fewer birds die and more eggs are laid,
though the cost per egg is slightly higher. Some 80% of hens in the country
are reportedly being kept in accordance with the guidelines (see
http://www.eggscam.com).
In 2001, the National Council of Chain Restaurants and the Food Marketing
Institute (which represents grocery store chains) commissioned animal welfare
academics to review the standards of various animal industry groups (see item
#6 of
issue #80. [In early August, the National Pork Board announced its
"Swine Welfare Assurance Program." See
http://www.porkboard.org/SWAPHome/default2.asp
]). The review group has developed guidelines for cattle, pig, sheep and goat
slaughter and egg, milk and chicken production. Ones for handling cattle and
pigs are under review. The new guidelines are similar to the industries
standards but in some cases stricter. Cow tail docking is not allowed, more
space is required for chicken production, and pig gestation stalls are to be
phased out. Audits of egg, milk and chicken production facilities are to begin
this summer with audits of pig production facilities to follow. Discussions
are still underway for inspecting cattle and feedlots. Criticism that the
guidelines are merely voluntary and purchasers can ignore the results are
countered by proponents who note that large purchasers will probably require
all their suppliers adhere to the guidelines across the board.
Ultimately, it's up to consumers to bring about changes in animal production
through their purchases. Certified Humane is another standards program which,
according to the article, has created a "gold standard" for animal
welfare (see
N.21, V.2). This autumn, supermarkets will begin offering animal
products carrying the Certified Humane label. Even the highest industry
standards don't match those of the European Union, which are set to go into
effect 2012. Nor are animal rights activists satisfied with them. PETA's Bruce
Friedrich explains, "We just don't want people to think that what the
industry is doing is eliminating cruelty. It's clearly not." He goes on
to point out ways in which farmed animals will continue to suffer.
5. "ETHICAL OMNIVORES"
The search for "humanely raised" animal products is opening up new
ground in what was previously a no-man's land between omnivores and
vegetarians. This article tells of the growing number of "ethical
omnivores," people who will only consume "cruelty-free" animal
products. Animal welfare advocates assert there is still an enormous gap
between industry reforms and true humaneness. The "confusing sea of
claims" is considered, with particular attention given to the Certified
Humane program (see
item #4), which allows tail and beak amputation. Jack
Sparks, a program board member, explains: "People, when they hear the
animal welfare community is behind it... think we demand the cows be tucked
into the sheets with chocolate on the pillow. That's not the case, they're
very common sense." Whistling Train Farm, which produces pigs and eggs,
is presented as an alternative system with greater freedom for the animals. It
is noted that even there, animals are killed in a short fraction of what their
natural life span would be.
6. ORGANIC PRODUCTION
U.S. organic food and drink sales climbed to $11 billion in 2002, up from $1
billion in 1990. Horizon Organic, White Wave, and Nest Fresh Eggs are 3
Colorado companies profiting from the organic boom. Dean Foods, the nation's
largest processor and distributor of dairy products (
http://www.deanfoods.com
), owns White Wave, maker of Silk soy milk. It is in the process of acquiring
Horizon Organic, which makes and sells organic dairy products (see
http://www.horizonorganic.com
and item #2 of
issue #93). Nest Fresh, a cageless egg operation (see
issue #83), produces some organic eggs and has begun also selling organic chicken.
Among other things, the article discusses the economics of alternative
production.
Slowing sales growth rates in some European countries are causing a surplus in
the organic meat and dairy sectors. The demand for organic food is expanding
beyond the western world as more regional markets develop. Consumer demand and
the formation of trading blocs are expected to drive market growth. See:
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&artNum=5941
7. "PASTURED POULTRY"
Chickens in free-range production systems may actually spend little [if any]
time outdoors. This article attributes that to the breed of bird, with rapid
weight gain resulting in impaired mobility. [Poor outdoor access and/or barren
outdoor environments can also be contributing factors. See "Free Range
Chickens Need Trees," in the August 7th issue of Nature:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030804/030804-7.html
] "Pastured poultry" is a system whereby pens are used to keep
chickens in grassy areas. There is no legal definition for the practice.
Washington state passed a law this year permitting operators producing fewer
than 1,000 chickens a year to slaughter them. A mobile processing unit to be
used by a group of farmers is being considered. See also:
http://apppa.org
and
http://www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/grazing/pastpoul/resource.htm
8. AWI FUNDRAISER FEATURES PIG PRODUCTS
Fried pigs' ears, stuffed pigs' feet and pastries made from larded dough were
served at a mid-August fundraising event for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).
The products were made from "humanely raised" pigs. The event, held
at the Acme Chophouse in San Francisco, offered a vegetarian alternative to
individuals who ordered in advance. A pre-dinner discussion examined the
inherent cruelties of factory farming. AWI responded to those who criticized
the animal protection organization for having meat served at the event by
noting its "humane husbandry" program. It bans gestation and
farrowing crates for pregnant pigs; prohibits tail docking; and requires
bedding and outdoor access for pigs, and nesting opportunities (see:
http://www.awionline.org/farm/standards.htm
). Some 300 farmers are enrolled in the program. The event was also defended
as a way of reaching people who are not receptive to vegetarianism.
See:
http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030804/004490.html
and
http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030804/004531.html
The August 16th issue of the Guardian (U.K.) included a commentary by Jeremy
Rifkin entitled "Man and Other Animals: Our fellow creatures have
feelings - so we should give them rights, too." Rifkin notes that
research (sponsored by fast-food chains) has found that pigs crave affection
and are easily depressed if isolated or denied playtime with each other. A
lack of mental and physical stimulation can impair their health and increase
disease incidence. He presents other examples of nonhuman-animal sensitivity
and intelligence, and asserts that these capacities make other beings
deserving of our empathy. See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1019899,00.html
