May
12 , 2004
Number 50, Volume 2
Farmed
Animal Watch is sponsored by Animal
Place, Animal
Welfare Trust, Farm
Sanctuary, The Fund
for Animals, Glaser
Progress Foundation, and People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
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Correction: In the last issue of Farmed Animal Watch,
we defined "zoonoses" as the factors that allow diseases to
jump from animals to humans. More precisely, a zoonotic disease is one
which can pass from animals to humans; zoonoses is the plural of this
term. Our thanks to a subscriber for this correction.
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2. FEWER "BROILER" CHICKENS KILLED IN 2003 (US)
More
than 98 million fewer "broiler" chickens were slaughtered in 2003 than
in 2002, according to new data released from the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA). The decline of about 1% compares to an increase in value of broiler
chicken production of 13%, to $15.2 billion in 2003. The USDAs annual
report, "Poultry Production and Value," also shows a decrease in the number
of eggs produced from 2002 to 2003. However, more recently the USDA has
indicated that broiler production was 2% higher in January, 2004 than
for the same month last year. The report also indicated that the 2004
annual chicken slaughter number would be an estimated 3.6% higher than
in 2003.
Poultry
Production and Value - 2004
US Department of Agriculture, April 29,
2004
Avian Influenza
Outbreaks Reduce Broiler Export Expectations
US Department of Agriculture, March, 2004
More information:
-- Broiler
Production and Consumption on the Rise (Poultry Times, Chris Hill,
April 12, 2004)
-- USDA
News Room: Broiler Industry
-- USDA Briefing Room:
Poultry and Eggs
3. EGG LABELS AND MORE ON CHICKEN WELFARE
The US Better Business Bureau (BBB) has ruled that the egg industry should not label its products "humane" while practices such as beak-trimming and forced or induced molting are used on hens. The BBBs National Advertising Review Board recommended to the United Egg Producers that they either discontinue or "significantly alter" the Animal Care Certified label. The BBB, which does not have enforcement capabilities of its own, will follow up with the industry to see if the recommendations have been followed; if not, the Bureau will refer the case to the Federal Trade Commission or to the Food and Drug Administration. As a result of the ruling, on Tuesday the egg industry voted to require that producers include a website with the logo that gives information about the treatment of egg-laying hens. The BBBs ruling comes as a result of a complaint from activist group Compassion Over Killing, based in Washington, DC. (See item #1:
http://www.farmedanimal.net/Newsletters/Newslettern36v2.htm)
Also, last week we mentioned a campaign by the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UK) to educate consumers about the living and dying conditions of "broiler" chickens (see item #1). On May 5, the British Poultry Council issued a response claiming that the campaign misleads consumers. However, the response does not provide any direct contradictions to the RSPCAs claims, and in fact confirms the groups statement that 100,000 "broiler" chickens die prematurely each day in the UK.
Egg Industry Will Revise
Ad Claims (Yahoo! News link)
Associated Press, Patrick Condon, May 11, 2004
Chicken
Farmers Disappointed by RSPCA's Confused Campaign
British Poultry Council, May 5, 2004
4. FACTORY FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE
A new documentary film entitled "The Emotional World of
Farm Animals" juxtaposes the lives of farmed animals living
on sanctuaries with those living and dying on modern
factory farms. The film is produced by the sanctuary Animal Place and directed by Jeffrey Masson as a companion piece to his book, "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon." The distinction of farmed animals as companions rather than commodities didnt play in the Vermont state legislature, however, which recently excluded farmed animals from criminal prosecution in animal cruelty cases. The exemption of farmed animals helped ehd a three-year stalemate on the proposal to classify animal cruelty as a felony in Vermont. The bill must still be ratified by both the senate and the house and must also be signed by the governor.
Compelling
Film Explores Emotions of Farm Animals
PIC Press, David Langlois, May 2004
Lawmakers
Reach Deal on Animal Cruelty Bill
Vermont Press Bureau, John Zicconi, May 7, 2004
5. BSE NON-COMPLIANCE AND CJD SCARE
As mentioned last week, the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) admitted that it had failed at a plant in Texas to
test a possible BSE-positive cow before it was sent for rendering (see item #2). USDA officials have stated that the cow in question was twelve years old, and was therefore certainly given feed prior to the eight-year-old ban on feed containing the parts of other cows. On May 6, USDA issued a gag order against inspectors discussing any BSE inquiries with the public. The order has been deemed a violation of free speech by the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals, the national union for inspectors, which is considering legal action against USDA. In Ohio, two feed companies were found in violation of laws designed to prevent BSE, including incorrect labeling, record-keeping, and handling of restricted feed. Eleven other feed mills throughout the US are also said to be out of compliance with the regulations as of April 24. And in South Africa, doctors are investigating a possible case of Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD), the human variant of BSE. This would be the countrys first case of the disease.
FDA Links
Condemned Texas Cow, Pre-Ban Type Feed (Yahoo! News link)
Reuters, Richard Crown, May 6, 2004
USDA
Issues 'Gag Order' to Inspectors after Texas BSE Testing Problem
Meating Place, Eric Hanson, May 12, 2004
Ohioans
Violate Mad Cow Feed Rules (Farm and Dairy link)
Farm and Dairy,
Andrea Myers, May 6, 2004
Human Mad Cow
Disease Scare in SA
AllAfrica.com, May 11, 2004
6. COW SLAUGHTER AND BEEF DEMAND UP SLIGHTLY
The number of cows slaughtered for food in 2003 grew by 2%
over 2002, to 47.7 million, while the number of calves slaughtered grew by 3.3%, to 9.3 million, says data from the US Department of Agriculture. According to a study by Purdue University, commercial cow producers (primarily those with $100,000 or more in sales) say they expect to grow the size of their operations by almost a third (31%) by 2008. Researchers at Western Kentucky University cite data saying that "beef demand is up 6.2% for the year," while demand for pig and chicken products is also up, at 5.3% and 5.8%, respectively.
Meat
Animals: Production, Disposition, Income - 2004
US Department of Agriculture, April 28, 2004
The
Beef Industrys Got It Going On!
Western Kentucky University, Nevil C. Speer, May 9, 2004
As a new part of our weekly service, Farmed Animal Watch will provide
links to other news items of interest that do not necessarily fit within
the scope of the weeks digest topics.
Nebraska's
Largest Hog Producer Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Meating Place, Daniel Yovich, May 7, 2004
Older Breeds
of Animals Diversify Meals, Barnyards
Newhouse News Service, Margie Wylie, May 6, 2004
The Worst
and Best of the Herd
Delta Farm Press, Steve Suther, May 6, 2004
Poultry
Litter Power Project Moves Forward
Meating Place, Ann Bagel, May 10, 2004
Veterinarians
Vote to Support Live Export Trade
ABC News Australia,
May 6, 2004
CONTENTS
- Editorial Note
- Fewer "Broiler" Chickens Killed in 2003 (US)
- Egg Labels and More on Chicken Welfare
- Factory Farmed Animal Welfare
- BSE Non-compliance and CJD Scare
- Cow Slaughter and Beef Demand Up Slightly
- Other Items of Interest
RESOURCES
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Farmed Animal Watch is a free electronic news digest of information concerning
farmed animal issues gleaned from an array of academic, industry, advocacy
and mainstream media sources.
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