Posted on 01/31/2008 5:05:57 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A video showing California slaughterhouse workers abusing dairy cows -- a violation that raises questions about U.S. food safety -- was released by the Humane Society of the United States on Wednesday.
The video, which one lawmaker said raises questions about the safety of the nation's food supply, shows Hallmark Meat Packing Co. workers administering repeated electric shocks to the downed cows -- animals that are too sick, weak or otherwise unable to stand on their own. Workers are seen kicking cows, jabbing them near their eyes, ramming them with a forklift and shooting high-intensity water up their noses in an effort to force them to their feet for slaughter.
The society says the video was shot last year by an undercover investigator who wore a hidden camera under his clothes when he worked at the facility.
Hallmark Meat Packing Co., based in Chino, California, sells beef to its sister company, Westland Meat, which distributes it to various federal programs, including the National School Lunch Program.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Precisely why I am a vegetarian.
>>Hallmark Meat Packing Co., based in Chino, California, sells beef to its sister company, Westland Meat, which distributes it to various federal programs, including the National School Lunch Program.<<
Beggers can’t be choosers.
“Beggers can’t be choosers.”
And they’re even less likely to be hunters.
The video, which one lawmaker said raises questions about the safety of the nation's food supply, shows Hallmark Meat Packing Co. workers administering repeated electric shocks to the downed cows -- animals that are too sick, weak or otherwise unable to stand on their own.
These animals should be rendered, not slaughtered for human consumption.
Not sure where the meat is going, but if your kids eat lunch at school and aren't bringing their own, they could be getting some of this meat.
“The true measure of a man (or a nation) is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no dood.” Samuel Johnson
-I added the (or a nation)
dood=good
I suggest that PETA and the HSUS go and move the cows that are downers. Or maybe they can sweet talk the downed cows to get up and move to another location. Articles like this make me want to puke...if 90% of the cattlemen agree that HSUS or PETA has a better idea then go with it..otherwise tell HSUS and PETA to STFU and stick with dogs and cats; PETA and the HSUS are better at slaughtering dogs and cats than anyone.
You’re absolutely right about PETA and the HSUS. Neither group should be supported. That said, nothing excuses treating sick animals like this. Surely there’s a more humane way.
As opposed to what the video recorded? Downer cattle happen. But what those folks did in the video was uncalled for.
Doody, doody! /Tweetie
I would not expect that what is going on at a slaughter house to be pretty. Visuals aside , How you gonna get a 1000 lb cow up. The fork lift wasn’t “ramming” the cow he was attempting to get her up. This is a slaughter house!
Suggestion?
>>These animals should be rendered, not slaughtered for human consumption<<
Perhaps they are not.
The slaughter houses in Cleveland process both animals for human consumption and for animal feed. Trust me, they kind of go hand in hand. What is left after I get my rump roast is processed to dog food. So are Downer cows.
I have often observed how people treat the helpless, those down and out, even the hired help. It speaks volumes about their character.
First, why are downer cattle even being slaughtered in that facility? FSIS issued a Final Rule prohibiting the slaughter/processing of downer cattle.
Second, use a captive bolt device as part of the process to down the animal. Our DVM uses a similar device to put down cattle prior to euthanasia.
Ding-Ding-Ding! We have a WINNER!!
I have no idea why they are being slaughtered there, but they are there and they’re not going to be medivaced to a veterinary hospital. They’re going to be killed and disposed of.
The article mentions that they were working to get the animals up for slaughter, not euthanasia.
Perhaps they went down after arriving at the facility, who knows. And how do we know the meat was processed??
Yes, stunning (killing) the cow first then pulling it out of the yard might've been a better approach. However, they're simply trying to get the downed cows out of the yard, perhaps to transport to another facility or area to be slaughtered separately from the rest of the herd.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.