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1. New Undercover Investigation of Perdue Farms,
Including Video
Activist group Compassion Over Killing (COK) conducted
an undercover investigation of a chicken slaughter
plant in Maryland owned by Perdue Farms that allegedly
shows repeated violations of state anti-cruelty laws.
Conducted during the last two weeks of September 2004,
the investigation prompted a Perdue Farms veterinarian
to deny that the evidence represents improper slaughtering.
According to COK, "From the very first day our investigator
worked, he saw animal cruelty on a regular basis."
The group has provided evidence from the undercover
investigation to local authorities and to executives
at Yum! Brands, which owns the US-based fast food
chain KFC. The activists say their 7-minute video
demonstrates violations of Maryland's anti-cruelty
laws, which calls for using "the most humane method
reasonably available" when inflicting "necessary pain."
COK also claims that the undercover investigator received
no training related to animal care or handling, which
appeared also to be true of the coworkers questioned
by the investigator.
COK documented numerous alleged violations, including
workers violently throwing birds, dying birds left
unattended or on the ground outside, and birds "flapping
violently after having their throats slit." According
to the Perdue Farms veterinarian, "The motion observed
by an activist who worked for two weeks at the plant
is an involuntary muscle reaction that occurs after
death." However, the same official went on to acknowledge
that the undercover video showed some improper handling
of birds, and admitted that "the very nature of meat
processing is something some people may not be comfortable
watching." Perdue Farms already had plans to close
the Showell, Maryland plant in early November as part
of a corporate restructuring program.
"Perdue Farms Refutes Abuse Allegations by Animal
Rights Group," Meatingplace.com, 11/1/04 http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13320
"Secret Video Leads To Perdue Suit," INCLUDES VIDEO, WJZ 13 / CBS News, 10/29/04
http://www.wjz.com/localstories/local_story_303143954.html
"Animal Rights Group Pursues Complaint against Perdue Farms," WBAL 11 / NBC News, 10/28/04
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3869424/detail.html
Details and video footage from Compassion Over Killing's investigation
http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/perdue/home.php
2. New Rules and Trade Issues Impacting Australian Live Exports, Sheep
The Australian government has drafted comprehensive
standards for the welfare of sheep in response to
concern from consumers and animal activists about
the live export trade. According to one report, the
proposed standards cover "the sourcing of livestock,
preparation time for sea transport, how the animals
are transported to port, their management onboard,
and their health before being moved." The standards
also include restrictions on certain types of animals
based on age, size, or the length of the animals'
horns. The Australian government is accepting public
feedback on the draft standards until November 26,
2004. While one expert predicts the eventual demise
of Australia's live export trade, others continue
to view it as a viable industry. The head of Australia's
live animal trade group, Kevin Schiell, criticized
the ban on shipments to Saudi Arabia, which began
one year ago when more than 5,000 sheep died at sea
as the Saudis refused to accept shipment. Schiell
went on to say that animal activists who supported
the ban have actually created a worse situation for
sheep, because now Saudi Arabia purchases animals
from countries with lower welfare standards. For a
history of the Cormo Express affair from an activist
perspective, see http://www.liveexportshame.com/.
"Live Animal Trade Overhaul Unveiled," The Age, 10/28/04
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/28/1098667887798.html
"Sheep Suffering Because of Ban: Claim," The Sydney Morning Herald, 10/26/04
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/26/1098667748793.html
"Analyst Predicts End of Live Export Trade," ABC News, 10/28/2004
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s1229809.htm
3. Ducks: Foie Gras Study; Avian Influenza Research
FOIE GRAS: A California law banning the production and sale of foie gras, which is made by force-feeding ducks and geese, may be reversed if research shows that the process can be proven humane. Researchers at the University of California (Davis) have been "working behind the scenes" with the office of Governor Schwarzenegger to fund a study to determine whether or not foie gras production methods are humane. Comments from Dr. George West, a veterinarian for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, suggest the results may be a foregone conclusion: "It gives the university time to decide what research is needed to confirm that this is a humane practice." West, who is also a veterinary professor at UC-Davis, has said that the anti-foie gras law may also have an unintended impact on chicken and turkey farms because of its definition of "force-feeding." Defined broadly as "a process that causes the bird to consume more food than a typical bird of the same species would consume voluntarily," the term force-feeding could potentially apply to any large-scale animal feeding operations. According to West, some California farmers are concerned about the law's impact because "all factory-produced animals are trained to eat more than they normally would."
AVIAN INFLUENZA: According to new research, ducks were shown to transmit the highly pathogenic strain of Avian Influenza known as H5N1 while remaining perfectly healthy. The findings pose a new challenge to experts trying to control the virus amid growing fears of a flu pandemic resulting from H5N1 jumping from species to species. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) head of influenza research, "We have never seen so many countries in such a wide geographical area infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza." Although there is no evidence of transmission from ducks to humans, domestic ducks will be more of a focus as a potential source of risk based on this study. The WHO is also convening a meeting on November 11 at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the issue among health officials and pharmaceutical executives.
"Study Could Disrupt Planned Foie Gras Ban," Mercury News, 10/27/04
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/food/10025785.htm
(Registration Required)
"Ducks Pose Further Bird Flu Risk for Humans," Planet Ark, 11/1/04
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/27946/story.htm
"The Altered Role of Domestic Ducks on Bird Flu," The Poultry Site, 11/1/04
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/LatestNews/Default.asp?AREA=LatestNews&Display=7122
4. French Goat Provides Evidence of Inter-Species BSE Transmission
Scientists believe that a goat tested two years ago
in France may represent the first case in which bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow" disease)
has jumped from one species to another. During tests
throughout Europe in 2002, the goat was found to have
an abnormal strain of scrapie, which is in the same
family of diseases as BSE. Subsequent tests on laboratory
mice showed that the disease was BSE, although European
Union officials are awaiting confirmation from labs
in England. Scientists believe the goat may have contracted
BSE by eating infected cow meat and/or bonemeal, which
has been banned in the UK since 1996 and in the EU
since 2001. Only one case of the disease has been
found in more than 140,000 tests of goats throughout
the European Union. Although officials say there is
no increase in risk to consumers because of these
findings, the UK's leading BSE expert pointed out
that there remains "a risk from eating the brains
of any ruminant."
"Fears Over Mad-Cow Goat," The Australian Times, 11/3/04
http://tinyurl.com/58ump
(The Australian website)
"French Goat Tests Positive for BSE," Meatingplace.com, 11/3/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13338
"UK Experts Test for BSE in Goats," BBC News, 11/1/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3967211.stm
5. Other Items of Interest
Rod Markham, an Australian scientist and expert
in neuropsychotherapy, says that people will "eventually
be largely vegetarian because we will have realised
the health benefits." He refers to so-called "superfoods,"
which some have found to assist in the treatment of
ailments ranging from joint pain to depression to
Alzheimer's disease.
"Superfoods May Replace Medicine," The Courier Mail News, 10/28/04
http://tinyurl.com/3wsqy
(The Courier Mail website)
According to Humane USA, the November 2 election
in the US resulted in several wins for animals, including
the defeat of a major cockfighting supporter running
for an open US House seat in Louisiana. Also noted
is the defeat of Charles Stenhold in Texas, a leading
opponent of the Downed Animal Protection Act, and
others.
"Humane USA Endorsed Candidates," Humane USA
http://humaneusa.org/article.asp?article_key=130&n=1
The Canadian government is providing $2 million to expand the operations of four slaughterhouses near Ontario to process more than 60,000 mature cows representing the province's "backlog" due to the closure of US borders to Canadian beef products.
"Canada to Expand Slaughterhouses to Absorb Beef Surplus," Meatingplace.com, 11/3/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13337
In-depth article discusses the growth of concentrated animal farming and its impact on the environment and rural neighbors, with particular focus on an ISE America egg farm in New Jersey.
"Egg Farm Neighbors Say System is Broken," Newark Star Ledger, 10/31/04
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1099198480218010.xml
Sales of red meat products in the US are up almost 40% since 1999. Since 2002, sales of beef are up almost 20%, sales of pork are up 13%, and sales of lamb are up 7%. One in five people say low-carb diets caused them to increase consumption of meat, while four in ten say they have concerns about "hormones found in meat and poultry."
"US Retains an Appetite for Red Meat," MSNBC, 10/27/04
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6338142/
Argentina has more than tripled its beef exports
so far this year compared to the same period last
year, from a value of $181 million to about $635 million;
increased demand from China and Russia and the eradication
of hoof-and-mouth disease are believed to be the causes
of the high growth.
"Argentine Beef Exports Continue to Increase," Meatingplace.com, 10/28/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13303
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