Animal Rights

What are Downer Cows?

By Natural Living ⋅  Email ⋅  Print ⋅

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Downer cows recently made headlines after a disturbing undercover video was released, the USDA issued a massive meat recall and the Humane Society sued. Cows headed for slaughter that are so sick or crippled they are unable to stand up are called downer cows by the meat industry. Generally speaking, these cows are not allowed to enter food supply because they are much more likely to carry mad cow or other diseases than cows that are able to walk. A loophole that allows downer cows to be slaughtered anyway after being examined by a veterinarian is the subject of the lawsuit.

“The USDA issued the largest beef recall in history Feb. 17 after the Humane Society released undercover video showing workers at Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. shoving sick or crippled cows with forklifts to get them to stand. The video also showed workers dragging sick cows with chains, shocking them with electric prods and shooting streams of water in their noses and faces. The lawsuit says the workers were trying to get the animals to stand, even briefly, so they could be considered acceptable for human consumption.” Foxnews.com

This is about more than the quality of meat that we eat. It is about how we as a society are treating our animal friends. The meat industry is an appalling example of our disconnect and callousness toward animals. The same people who adore their cats and dogs are perfectly willing to eat the meat of an animal tortured on its path to slaughter.

Even if Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer manages to reduce the torture with spot checks (rather than security cameras), we still have the issue of why the cows are sick and crippled to begin with. It is very simple. They are being fed a very unnatural diet of grain, fermented feed, antibiotics and hormones. Free range, grass fed cows are quite literally a totally different animal.

“Before factory farming took hold in the 1960’s……….meat was free of antibiotics, added hormones, feed additives, flavor enhancers, age-delaying gases and salt-water solutions. Mad cow disease and the deadliest strain of E. coli — 0157:H7 — did not exist. People dined on rare steaks and steak tartare (raw ground beef) with little fear.” Motherearthnews.com

Eating supermarket beef is not only supporting blatant cruelty to animals, but the stuff you are putting in your mouth cannot be called food. It is disgusting. The easiest way that you can do your part to end this needless suffering is to go vegan or vegetarian. If that is not an option at this time for you or your family, then please seek out grass fed beef for both the well being of the livestock and for the well being of your family.

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