1. NEWCASTLE EPIDEMIC SPREADS TO NEVADA; KILLING CRITICIZED
Exotic Newcastle disease has spread to Nevada where it was detected in a backyard poultry flock in Las Vegas. (See issue #100.) A quarantine has been imposed in 2 counties. In California, the USDA said Newcastle disease has spread to another commercial flock of chickens, resulting in an order to kill the 400,000 birds. This is the 5th major flock in the state to be condemned for the disease. Earlier this week the USDA declared the outbreak an "extraordinary emergency," clearing the way for $40 million to be used to eradicate it. A door-to-door search is being conducted in Ventura County, where many residents raise chickens at home for eggs. Violators of the now 8-county quarantine can be fined up to $25,000. Canada, Mexico and China have banned poultry and poultry products from California, and all shipments of U.S. poultry to Columbia have been stopped.

 

Contaminated or exposed chickens are being killed, double-bagged and buried. The birds are being killed with carbon monoxide gas or barbiturate injection. The Humane Farming Association (HFA) sent a letter to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman criticizing the way the birds are being treated, and the actions taken during the avian influenza epidemic in Virginia last summer (see issue #90). The organization notes that, while the American Veterinary Medical Association considers carbon monoxide gassing an acceptable way to kill birds, California banned it due to concerns over its administration. HFA also states that during the Virginia epidemic, turkeys were bludgeoned to death, chickens were put in plastic bags attached to vehicle exhaust pipes, and birds were subjected to other inhumane treatment.  

 

"Deadly Poultry Virus Spreads to Nevada-Official," Reuters, January 16, 2003 (1/16 AnimalNet)
http://131.104.232.9/animalnet-archives.htm
"Poultry Disease Dooms 400,000 California Chickens," The Associated Press, January 16, 2003.
"Poultry Quarantine Now Covers 8 Counties in Region," San Diego Union-Tribune, Elizabeth Fitzsimons, January 10, 2003.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030110-9999_1m10emer.html
"Search to Target Infected Poultry," Los Angeles Times, Rodney Bosch, January 10, 2003.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/ventura/la-me-chickens10jan10.story

 

"USDA Finds Poultry Virus in New California Flock," Reuters, Randi Fabi, January 15, 2003.
http://131.104.232.9/animalnet-archives.htm
"Group Blasts USDA for Poultry Eradication Program," Farm Progress, Willie Vogt, 1/16/2003.
http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1009057

 

2. FIRST FELONY CRUELTY CONVICTION FOR FARMED ANIMAL ABUSE
Alejo Pena, 30, has been convicted of 3 felony counts of animal cruelty for beating pigs with a hammer and a metal gate hook at a Seaboard Farms Inc. pig farm in Oklahoma. PETA, which videotaped the abuse in an undercover investigation, reports it is the first ever U.S. felony conviction for the injury and killing of farmed animals. A 4th count, alleging Pena had left a sick pig without food or water for 6 days, was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Pena withdrew his innocent plea on Monday and is under supervised probation until his judgment and sentencing, which was deferred until January 2005. He will not be further sentenced as long as he does not violate his probation. Pena had faced up to 5 years in prison and fines of $500 on each count.

 

Pena resigned from Seaboard before charges were filed. PETA had sought charges against 3 other workers but the D.A. said there was no evidence that Seaboard had committed any crimes. Seaboard, the 3rd largest pig producer in the U.S., said it has long had a policy of firing any employee caught abusing animals. It now requires employees to sign a zero-tolerance abuse policy. "No matter which pig farm we enter, we find animals in abject misery, their torment almost unimaginable," a PETA spokesperson remarked. "The conviction of a pig farm manager who has an agriculture degree from a university is really an indictment of the entire industry's cruel nature." Video footage and an account of the case can be found on PETA's site at: http://www.peta.org/feat/invest/index.html      

 

"Guymon Man Pleads No Contest to Animal Cruelty," The Oklahoman, January 16, 2003.
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=974021&pic=none&TP=getarticle
"Oklahoma Pig Farm Manager Receives First-Ever Felony Cruelty Conviction for Abuse of Farm Animals in U.S. History," PETA news release, January 16, 2003.

 

3. UARC INVESTIGATES CIRCLE FOUR FARMS, REMOVES PIGS
Circle Four Farms (CFF), the 15th largest pig production operation in the U.S., was the subject of a covert investigation by the Utah Animal Rights Coalition (UARC). A fire that killed 20,000 pigs (see issue #20) first attracted the group's attention to CCF. After the company declined UARC's request for a tour, 5 members of the organization conducted clandestine visits of the operation 3 times in September and December. They videotaped and photographed conditions and, on December 20th, removed 2 small pigs. The pigs were treated by a veterinarian and taken to an undisclosed sanctuary. The investigation is thought to be the first of its kind involving pigs in the U.S. (Similar actions here and originating in Australia are mentioned in the article.)

 

CFF has asked the county sheriff's office to investigate and criticized UARC for putting the pigs at risk for disease. UARC claims it followed industry biosecurity procedures. A UARC spokesperson said he welcomes prosecution to draw more attention to the pigs' plight. He said extreme overcrowding of the pigs is causing them to suffer respiratory and neurological disorders. Another UARC investigator called the conditions "beyond sickening." The group reportedly found 4 dead pigs and countless injured ones. CFF denies the cruelty claims, stating that it monitors the animals constantly, has a full-time vet on staff, and complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Utah's animal-cruelty law does not cover farmed animals. In November, 45 sows suffocated at CCF after a ventilation system malfunctioned. The company produces about 1 million pigs per year at its operations in southwest Utah.    
 
"Advocates Describe Pig Farm ‘Misery,'" The Salt Lake Tribune, Brent Israelsen, Jan. 16, 2003.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jan/01162003/utah/20640.asp
"Activist who liberated 2 pigs may be charged," Deseret News, Donna Kemp Spangler, 1/16/03.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,450026865,00.html
"45 Pigs Suffocate at Circle Four Farms," The Deseret News, December 8, 2003.
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,450019315,00.html

 

4. COMMENTARY ON CONFINEMENT AGRICULTURE
The January 15th Los Angeles Times published a commentary on confinement animal agriculture by Wayne Pacelle, senior vice president of the Humane Society of the U.S. He states: "In recent decades, livestock agriculture has seen a collapse of ethical boundaries, a moral race to the bottom as corporate farmers inflict worse privations on the animals to cut costs and intensify production....Through radical selective breeding and more invasive genetic manipulations, domesticated farm animals are being morphed into meat-, milk- and egg-producing machines." As an example, Pacelle explains that "assembly-line turkeys" are no longer even physically capable of mating. He continues: "What cannot be achieved through genetic manipulation is achieved by blunt force and sharp tools. For the misshapen and mutilated animals on factory farms, there is no breeze, no ray of sunshine, no rich soil under foot, no opportunity to root or graze in pasture."

 

Pacelle notes the dearth of legal protection for these animals and calls for a Congressional commission to examine factory farming and recommend changes. He concludes: "Some of us distance ourselves from the violence of meat, milk and egg production through vegetarianism. But we can all agree on this: If animals are reared for food, their lives should not be plagued by the occasional torture and the daily torments and deprivations of the factory farm." The complete article, "Cruel and Unusual Punishment on the Farm," can be found at: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-pacelle15jan15.story 

 

5. WASHING LIVE CATTLE AMONG MEASURES TO REDUCE E. COLI
Earlier this month, over 200 people representing different sectors of the beef industry attended a 2-day E. coli O157:H7 summit hosted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Last summer, the pathogen led to the 3rd largest meat recall in history (see issue #77). Recommendations for each segment of the industry were put forth. Regarding live animal management, the president of Cactus Feeders said: "Clean water, clean feed and clean pens. We're committed to good production practices to accomplish this goal." A vaccine to prevent bacteria from adhering to the intestines of cattle is being researched. An Excel representative said other measures, such as washing live cattle before they enter slaughterplants, will be tested thoroughly in the next 6 months. (The former ConAgra plant, now Swift & Co., which ordered the recall is already employing this practice.)

 

None of the recommendations included any regulatory measures, and no government representatives were present at the meeting. Consumer groups criticized the steps as being too vague with no time line or accountability. While thorough cooking will kill E. coli O157:H7, Steve Bjerklie, editor of Meat Processing magazine, notes: "Putting the responsibility on the consumer when there's a regulatory system that's supposed to guarantee the wholesomeness and the safety of the product is not right."

 

At a Senate Agriculture Subcommittee field hearing held in late December to gain insight into meat safety, small-scale meat packers asked why the USDA doesn't require documentation of the origin of raw meat used to make ground beef. (About a third of the beef produced in the U.S. ends up ground, with beef from many sources mixed together.) Though some companies already do maintain such records, USDA officials said it would be too burdensome.

 

"Beef Industry Leaders Pledge to Slash E. Coli Risks," Food Chemical News, Carole Sugerman, January 13, 2003.
"Summit Yields Industry-Wide Action Plan to Combat E. Coli O157:H7," Meating Place News, Daniel Yovich, January 10, 2003.
http://www.meatingplace.com/meatingplace/DailyNews/News.asp?ID=10290
"Meat Plant Bolstering Food Safety," The Denver Post, David Migoya, January 14, 2003.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E53%7E1108750,00.html

 

"Cattle Industry Targets E. Coli," USA Today, Elizabeth Weise, January 9, 2003.
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030109/4764675s.htm
"Montana ‘Insight' Hearing Held," Farm Progress, John Spitler, January 15, 2003.
http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1009039

 

6. RANCHER TO HEAD HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Known for his trademark cowboy hat and boots, Richard Pombo (R-Ca), has jumped ahead of more senior members to head the House Resources Committee. The committee has jurisdiction over 700 million acres of public lands. It oversees the National Parks and Public Lands, Wildlife and Oceans, Fisheries Conservation, Water and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Forests and Forest Health subcommittees, and environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Pombo says the ESA is out of control. In his 10 years in the House he has contested it, tried to repeal pesticide regulations, and fought against federal encroachment on property and water rights. Pombo, who manages his family's dairy and ranching business, is the top House recipient of contributions from the dairy industry.

 

"Rep. Pombo Wins House Resources Bid," Associated Press, Mike Taugher, Jan.10, 2003.
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20030109_1961.html
"Pombo Will Head House Resources Committee," Cow-Calf Weekly, Joe Roybal, Jan. 10, 2003.

 

7. SENATE, HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE CHANGES
Republicans regained majority control of the Senate in November and will be adding 2 new members to the Agriculture Committee and replacing vacated seats. Thad Cochran (R-Ms) will take over as chairman and Charles Grassley (R-Ia) has regained the seat he had to give up 3 years ago to accept chairmanship of another committee. Grassley, who bills himself as "the only working family farmer" in the U.S. Senate, differs from many Republicans in his preference for tighter limits on farm subsidies. In the House, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) will replace Larry Combest (R-Tx) as chair of the Agriculture Committee in May. Additional change announcement are anticipated.

 

"Grassley Regains Seat at Table," The Des Moines Register, Philip Brasher, January 9, 2003.
http://www.dmregister.com/business/stories/c4789013/20181523.html
"Goodlatte Takes Ag Committee Helm," Farm Progress, Ed Maixner, January 10, 2003.
http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1009015

 

8. NATIONAL STUDENT ANIMAL RIGHTS CONFERENCE
"Liberation Now!" is the title of the 2nd annual national student animal rights conference, organized by the Student Animal Rights Alliance. It will be held in Berkeley, California from February 21st-23rd. Presentations will be made by representatives from Compassion Over Killing, The Fund for Animals, PCRM, PETA, Vegan Outreach, Viva USA, and other organizations. A "Grassroots Training Progam" is also scheduled: http://www.DefendAnimals.org/GTP Travel grants are being offered with an application deadline of January 23rd. Registration and additional information can be found at: http://www.DefendAnimals.org/LibNow/index.htm