July
7, 2004
Number 58, Volume 2
Check out our NEW website: www.FarmedAnimal.net
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
1. EDITORIAL NOTE: JOIN OUR NEW ALERTS LIST!
In response to requests from our subscribers, Farmed Animal Net has established a separate email list for alerts and action items relating to farmed animal welfare. The new list will distribute no more than five alerts per week generated by Farmed Animal Net and our sponsor organizations. Each alert will briefly describe the issue and provide the information needed to take action. The new alerts service will begin in early August. Visit http://www.farmedanimal.net/signup.shtml and fill out the form at the bottom of the page to sign up. Note that if you previously received alerts from Farmed Animal Net, you do not need to sign up again..
2. NEW AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
New
outbreaks of avian influenza in Thailand, China, and Vietnam have resulted
in the deaths of an estimated 15,000 chickens, and at least 50,000 more
have been ordered killed to prevent further spreading of the disease.
Both China and Vietnam declared in March 2004 that they had eradicated
the disease, despite concerns from scientists that low-pathogenic variants
of avian influenza would likely remain undetected. China said the new
outbreak can be attributed to migratory birds, which are also believed
responsible for the outbreaks earlier this year. The new outbreaks are
isolated to two farms in Thailand and one farm in China, but Vietnam has
indicated a resurgence of avian influenza in six provinces since April
2004.
Scientists in the UK have found the cause of a variant of avian flu that
emerged in 1918 and killed up to 50 million people, billed the “most
deadly (human) infection in history.” The 1918 virus – known
to be the H5 variant versus the H1 variant now impacting Asia and other
countries – had a structure that allowed it to easily interact with
human proteins. Scientists are concerned that a similar pandemic could
occur if the current outbreaks of H5 avian influenza mutates into a more
pathogenic form, and specifically one with similar structure to the 1918
variant. All of the worst outbreaks of human influenza during the 20th
century are attributed to bird diseases.
“New Bird Flu Outbreaks Discovered in China, Thailand,” Meatingplace.com,
Ann Bagel, July 7, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/pop.asp?ID=12640
“Deadly Bird Flu Erupts Again in Thailand, China,” Reuters,
July 7, 2004
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=5603060
“New Bird Flu Outbreak Found in Vietnam Most Likely Lethal Strain,”
AFP News, July 1, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/37rz8 (Yahoo!
News website)
“Scientists Unlock Secret of Deadly Spanish Flu,” TheAge.com,
July 5, 2004
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/05/1088879417217.html
3. POSSIBLE BSE CASES TEST NEGATIVE; ANNOUNCEMENT POLICY QUESTIONED
Two
possible cases of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or “mad
cow” disease announced last week by the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) have been ruled negative on further testing. The first of the two
false positives was likely due to human error rather than a faulty initial
test, said an official from the company that manufacturers the rapid tests.
According to the company, only 1 in 300,000 tests conducted worldwide
last year resulted in false positives, and the most recent cases probably
stem from the inexperience of technicians using the tests. Some US government
officials and industry groups are criticizing the USDA’s decision
to announce inconclusive results before conducting further tests. However,
USDA said that it will continue announcing inconclusive results in the
interest of transparency and consumer confidence. Despite the most recent
false positives, one food industry consultant says there could be more
than 100 cases of BSE among cows in the US. “There is no question
that we will be seeing a dozen or more – possibly 100 or more –
cases of BSE-positive cattle in our national herd,” he said. Citing
the number of “downer” cows in the US and rates of infection
in Europe, the consultant also said that about half of the cases will
go undetected by USDA officials.
“Human Error Likely Caused Mad Cow Scare,” Planet Ark / Reuters,
Randy Fabi, July 6, 2004
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/25869/story.htm
“Up to 100 More Mad Cow Cases Expected,” United Press International,
Steve Mitchell, July 1, 2004
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040630-042354-9787r
“Care Urged in Reaction to Mad Cow Tests,” Aberdeen American
News / Associated Press, July 5, 2004
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/9084222.htm
4. FRANCE: MORE THAN 300,000 BSE-INFECTED COWS SINCE 1980
A
new report from the French government says that more than 300,000 of the
country’s cows have had BSE over the past 13 years, including almost
50,000 that entered the human food supply. The startling report also stated
that official records during the 1990s indicated only 103 BSE-infected
cows. From the period 1991 to 2000, France relied on self-reporting from
farmers and veterinarians to identify possible cases of BSE. Since 2000,
when the country placed tighter controls on reporting BSE, another 820
cases have been officially confirmed. France has experienced seven human
deaths officially attributed to the human version of BSE known as variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).
“France Did Not Detect Hundreds of Thousands of BSE Infected Animals,”
Medical News Today, July 5, 2004 (Thanks to Bruce Friedrich for forwarding
this article)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=10311
5. BSE, AVIAN INFLUENZA, OTHER DISEASES IMPACTING GLOBAL TRADE
New
reports on the US domestic and international meat markets indicate higher
prices and lower production due to outbreaks of animal diseases such as
BSE and avian influenza. Globally, the United Nations’ Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) said its “trade-weighted” meat
price index rose by 16% in 2003, with the price of “poultry”
products rising by 42%. In 2004, the FAO predicts that meat production
will grow by only 1%, representing “one of the slowest growths registered
in FAO’s database.” Import bans in early 2004 stemming from
animal disease outbreaks have impacted about one-third of global meat
exports, and the FAO expects that 2004 will see the first decline in international
meat trade since the mid 1980s. In the US, meat exports have declined
significantly as a result of import bans from other countries. Forecasted
US beef exports for 2004 are at 451 million pounds, compared to 2.5 billion
in 2003. Exports of US “poultry” products are expected to
decline by 11% in 2004, while slight increases are expected for exports
of pig products.
“U.S. 2003 and 2004 Livestock and Poultry Trade Influenced by Animal
Disease and Trade Restrictions,” USDA / ERS, July 2004
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/LDP/JUL04/LDPM12001/
“June 2004 Meat Market Assessment,” UN / FAO, June 2004
http://www.fao.org/es/ESC/en/20953/21014/highlight_27269en.html
6. SHEEP LIKE SMILES, SUGGESTING “RICH EMOTIONAL LIVES”
Researchers
in the UK have discovered that sheep show a strong preference for smiling
human faces rather than angry or stressed faces. The work was carried
out by a team led by Dr. Keith Kendricks of Cambridge University; Kendricks’
past research showed that sheep can remember the faces of both humans
and other sheep and can remember more than 50 individuals based on facial
features (see FAW #84: http://www.farmedanimal.net/Newsletters/Newsletter84.htm).
In the new study, sheep “vastly preferred” pictures of smiling
humans or satiated sheep when compared to angry humans or stressed out
sheep. Said Dr. Kendricks, “This does open up the possibility that
they have much richer emotional lives than we would give them credit for.”
“Sheep Like Smiles Say Researchers,” BBC News, June 11, 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/3796017.stm
7. EVENT: LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
Visit
the Farmed Animal Net events page: http://www.farmedanimal.net/events.shtml
Washington, DC, September 22 -- This full-day event will include panelists
from both industry and animal activism, including Gene Bauston of Farm
Sanctuary and Michael Appleby of The Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS). Discussion topics include domestic and international growth of
animal agriculture, different types of farming systems, animal welfare,
and specific consideration for "bridging the differences" between
Europe and the US. Registration is free, but pre-registration is required.
Contact: David Brubaker 145 S Spruce St, Lititz, PA 17543 717.627.0410;
Fax: 717.627.0410. No website available for this event.
“Western
Diet Hikes Stroke Risk, Study Finds,” CNN / Reuters, July 2, 2004
In brief: A research study of more 71,000 nurses shows that a diet high
in animal fat and low in fiber, fruits and vegetables has been linked
to the risk of stroke.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/02/western.diet.reut/index.html
“UC Develops Voluntary Health Assurance Program for California Game
Chickens,” University of California, Jeannette Warnert, June 29,
2004
In brief: The University of California is broadening its “poultry
health assurance” program to include breeders of fighting cocks,
in an effort to prevent future outbreaks of Newcastle and other avian
diseases.
http://news.ucanr.org/newsstorymain.cfm?story=590
“Chicken Busters Triumph,” Miami Herald, Erika Pesantes, June
27, 2004
In brief: Fire and code inspectors in Miami have caught more than 4,000
“nuisance” chickens and sold most of them to farms and religious
groups for use as animal sacrifices.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/miamiherald/news/front/9022391.htm?1c
“The Smell of Success,” Newsweek, Dirk Johnson and Vince Kuppig,
July 12, 2004 (Forwarded from Paul Shapiro)
In brief: Pollution from large-scale pig farms is more than just an annoyance
and can pose “serious health concerns.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5359344/site/newsweek/
“Bush v. Kerry: Where Do They Stand on Animal Issues?” Humane
USA PAC, July 6, 2004
In brief: Compares the positions, recent activities, and past voting records
of both candidates as they relate to animal issues.
http://humaneusa.org/article.asp?article_key=95&n=1
“She Gives Poultry Workers a Voice,” Associated Press, Gretchen
Parker, June 27, 2004
In brief: A Maryland chicken producer who slaughters more than 250,000
chickens each year is recognized for advocating the rights of farm workers.
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/06/27shegivespoultry.html
“Caring for Fellow Creatures Can Lift You to New Level of Humanity,”
Aberdeen American News, July 4, 2004
In brief: Profiles the work of animal sanctuaries in the US, including
Farm Sanctuary, and the positive impact on volunteers.
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/living/travel/9053639.htm
“The Agribusiness Giant Monsanto will Donate $50,000 to the Agriculture
in the Classroom (AITC) Consortium,” Monsanto Press Release, June
23, 2004
In brief: Monsanto will donate $50,000 to the USDA’s “Agriculture
in the Classroom” program designed to increase agricultural literacy
among students.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040623/cgw035_1.html
CONTENTS
- Editorial Note: Join Our New Alerts List!
- New Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Southeast Asia
- Possible BSE Cases Test Negative; Announcement Policy Questioned
- France: More than 300,000 BSE-Infected Cows Since 1980
- BSE, Avian Influenza, Other Diseases Impacting Global Trade
- Sheep Enjoy Smiles, Suggesting “Rich Emotional Lives”
- Event: Future Trends in Animal Agriculture
- Other Items of Interest
RESOURCES
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Edited by Hedy Litke and Che Green, Farmed Animal Watch is a
free weekly 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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