WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 661, The Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act

Comment by T (September 20, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

How could half of the people on this site be against this bill? What could possibly be the reason to want cows that can barely stand to be placed in the slaughter line rather than be relieved of their suffering? This really blows my mind.. how could a bill that helps prevent animal cruelty be so debatable?...

Comment by Melia (May 12, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Rather then just preventing eating 'downer' cows. Why don't you TRULY stand up for animal rights and for the environment and give up meat altogether. The meat and dairy industry are responsible for a lot of environmental damage and intolerable animal suffering. Don't just talk. Walk the walk. Go green. Go veg. [Large concentrations of cows on farms release methane gas which is responsible for environmental damage, beyond that of what we use for transportation. It breaks down the ozone layer, contributing to global warming and melting of the polar ice caps. Run off from farms pollute streams and damage the land. The expanses of land used for housing and slaughtering cows is inefficient for the amount and nutrition of the food is produces. If that land was used to grow vegetables and grains we could feed so many more people and end world hunger]...

Comment by Alissa Lois (May 8, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

PASS HR 661. We are stewards of the earth and God is watching. We must treat all animals with respect even when going into our food chain. NO questions and we must stand for what is right in America. Vote YES in November 2008....

Comment by Paul Avery (May 1, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

I call this one a no-brainer. I don't think that there is any kind of undue burden put on anybody or industry by passage of this legislation. In the future we will all be judged by our treatment of animals by more enlightened future generations. Pass it now....

Comment by Dee Prado (April 6, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Please pass H.R. 661 with an ammendment to help sick animals. How did they get that way first of all? Is the mistreatment so severe, the transport so cramped? Why do these factory farms use and abuse animals until they no longer can walk or stand? What have we done as humans, what will happen when all the animals are gone? Is there no understanding left in humanity that gives back animals basic instict? What has happened?...

Comment by Dave Godin (February 29, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Please pass H.R. 661! Right now regulation is only for cattle, leaving all other animals, unable to stand or walk on their own, completely unregulated. Downed animal meat has a huge risk for contamination and USDA records show downed animals afflicted with gangrene, malignant lymphoma, pneumonia, or other serious illnesses approved for human consumption. It’s virtually impossible to move downed animals humanely so they are dragged with chains, pushed with tractors or forklifts, hauled by tails and ears, and electroshock prods and other devices are used. Downed animals awaiting slaughter receive no veterinary care. Since animals must be kept alive until slaughter to be used for human food, this bill would remove profit motive, the main obstacle to humane euthanasia. It is common sense to enact humane and permanent standards to the treatment of all downed farmed animals, for the sake of the animals as well as human health....

Revision by dave007 (February 29, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act - States that it is U.S. policy that all nonambulatory livestock in interstate and foreign commerce be immediately and humanely euthanized when such livestock become nonambulatory.

Amends the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations providing for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by a covered entity, including a requirement that nonambulatory livestock be humanely euthanized.

Requires an entity to: (1) humanely euthanize nonambulatory livestock (while not limiting the Secretary's ability to test nonambulatory livestock for disease, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy); and (2) not move nonambulatory livestock while such livestock is conscious, and ensure that such livestock remains unconscious until death.

Prohibits an inspector at an establishment covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act to pass nonambulatory livestock, carcass, or carcass parts through inspection. Requires an inspector or other employee at such establishment to label such material as "inspected and condemned."

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

H.R. 661, Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act would alleviate the suffering of countless animals as well as protecting human health and safety by reducing the risk of Mad Cowâ��tainted meat entering the U.S. food supply. The current USDA regulations apply only to cattle, while pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals, unable to stand or walk, go completely unregulated. Also, the current regulations only apply only to slaughterhouses, leaving stockyards, farms and other venues unregulated. USDA records show downed animals afflicted with gangrene, malignant lymphoma, pneumonia, or other serious illnesses approved for human consumption.
Downed animals are routinely dragged with chains, pushed with tractors or forklifts, hauled by their tails and ears, and moved by electroshock prods and other implements in order to move.
While downed animals await slaughter they receive no veterinary care and since animals must be kept alive until slaughter to be used for human food, this bill would remove profit motive, the main obstacle to humane euthanasia. It is common sense to enact humane and permanent standards to the treatment of all downed farmed animals, for the sake of the animals as well as human health.
Hereâ��s some data in support of this legislation: (a) Animal handling expert, Dr. Temple Grandin, and other experts have estimated that as many as 90% of downed animal cases could be prevented through better care, transportation and handling methods (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association;1994;204:372); (b) E. coli has been found to be more common in non-ambulatory versus healthy cows at slaughter (Applied and Environmental Microbiology;2003;69:4683); (c) Outbreaks of Salmonella resistant to antibiotics, have been traced back to meat produced from slaughtered dairy cows and to processing plants that slaughter a higher proportion of downed animals (New England Journal of Medicine;1987;316:565; Journal of the American Medical Association;2002; 288:951); (d) Conditions that present the most serious risk to public health are bacterial contamination and central nervous system disorders like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that up to 50% of BSE cases could be missed on ante-mortem inspection at slaughter; (e) A number of agriculture industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau, the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Veal Association, the Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center, and the National Pork Producers Council recommend that non-ambulatory animals be euthanized on the farm and not transported to market (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (f) 80 % of industry respondents agreed with the USDA ban on marketing of non-ambulatory cattle (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (g) Many in the meat industry are not opposed to ending commerce in downers because they recognize that such a move would have little economic impact on farmers (Dairy Herd Management); (h) In studying the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle in California, Dr. Pam Hullinger of the California Department of Food and Agriculture found that, on average, only $28.70 profit was realized for each downed cow leaving the farm (1999 Report of the Committee on Animal Health, U.S. Animal Health Association); (i) Of the 103 million pigs slaughtered in the US in 2006, the total number of downed pigs would have been between 103,000 and 927,000; (j) In 2001 and 2003 a large majority of Americans were opposed to using downed animals for human food and in 2003, 77% indicated they felt slaughtering animals too sick to stand or walk was unacceptable (Zogby International).

Points Against

H.R. 661 known as the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act is another attempt to increase government regulation on business. This bill supposedly solves a problem, yet the problem has already been solved. H.R. 661 prohibits that all nonambulatory livestock or "downer" animals in interstate and foreign commerce be immediately and humanely euthanized when such livestock become nonambulatory. This supposedly prevents an animal that may Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) from entering into the food chain. However, the industry already has in place numerous protocols that ensure this will not happen. The US has a very strict BSE surveillance system in place that includes testing a high number of animals for BSE. Prohibiting an animal from being slaughtered simply because it broke its leg during transportation to a packing plant is a ridiculous and onerous government regulation. Who will pay for the loss of dollars this creates? What will we do with all the animals that are deemed "unfit" for human consumption? These are perfectly healthy animals that are safe to be processed. Congress knows the US has a system in place that ensures the humane processing of animals for consumption. Creating a "feel good" piece of increased government regulation only hinders an effective and efficient process. Oppose H.R. 661.

Revision by dave007 (February 29, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

H.R. 661, Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act would alleviate the suffering of countless animals as well as protecting human health and safety by reducing the risk of BSE (Mad Cow) tainted meat entering the U.S. food supply. The current USDA regulations apply only to cattle, while pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals, unable to stand or walk, go completely unregulated. Also, the current regulations only apply only to slaughterhouses, leaving stockyards, farms and other venues unregulated. USDA records show downed animals afflicted with gangrene, malignant lymphoma, pneumonia, or other serious illnesses approved for human consumption.
Downed animals are routinely dragged with chains, pushed with tractors or forklifts, hauled by their tails and ears, and moved by electroshock prods and other implements in order to move.
While downed animals await slaughter they receive no veterinary care and since animals must be kept alive until slaughter to be used for human food, this bill would remove profit motive, the main obstacle to humane euthanasia. It is common sense to enact humane and permanent standards to the treatment of all downed farmed animals, for the sake of the animals as well as human health.
Hereâ��s some data in support of this legislation: (a) Animal handling expert, Dr. Temple Grandin, and other experts have estimated that as many as 90% of downed animal cases could be prevented through better care, transportation and handling methods (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association;1994;204:372); (b) E. coli has been found to be more common in non-ambulatory versus healthy cows at slaughter (Applied and Environmental Microbiology;2003;69:4683); (c) Outbreaks of Salmonella resistant to antibiotics, have been traced back to meat produced from slaughtered dairy cows and to processing plants that slaughter a higher proportion of downed animals (New England Journal of Medicine;1987;316:565; Journal of the American Medical Association;2002; 288:951); (d) Conditions that present the most serious risk to public health are bacterial contamination and central nervous system disorders like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that up to 50% of BSE cases could be missed on ante-mortem inspection at slaughter; (e) A number of agriculture industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau, the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Veal Association, the Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center, and the National Pork Producers Council recommend that non-ambulatory animals be euthanized on the farm and not transported to market (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (f) 80 % of industry respondents agreed with the USDA ban on marketing of non-ambulatory cattle (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (g) Many in the meat industry are not opposed to ending commerce in downers because they recognize that such a move would have little economic impact on farmers (Dairy Herd Management); (h) In studying the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle in California, Dr. Pam Hullinger of the California Department of Food and Agriculture found that, on average, only $28.70 profit was realized for each downed cow leaving the farm (1999 Report of the Committee on Animal Health, U.S. Animal Health Association); (i) Of the 103 million pigs slaughtered in the US in 2006, the total number of downed pigs would have been between 103,000 and 927,000; (j) In 2001 and 2003 a large majority of Americans were opposed to using downed animals for human food and in 2003, 77% indicated they felt slaughtering animals too sick to stand or walk was unacceptable (Zogby International).

Points Against

Revision by dave007 (February 29, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

H.R. 661, Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act would alleviate the suffering of countless animals as well as protecting human health and safety by reducing the risk of BSE (Mad Cow) tainted meat entering the U.S. food supply. The current USDA regulations apply only to cattle, while pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals, unable to stand or walk, go completely unregulated. Also, the current regulations only apply only to slaughterhouses, leaving stockyards, farms and other venues unregulated. USDA records show downed animals afflicted with gangrene, malignant lymphoma, pneumonia, or other serious illnesses approved for human consumption.
Downed animals are routinely dragged with chains, pushed with tractors or forklifts, hauled by their tails and ears, and moved by electroshock prods and other implements in order to move.
While downed animals await slaughter they receive no veterinary care and since animals must be kept alive until slaughter to be used for human food, this bill would remove profit motive, the main obstacle to humane euthanasia. It is common sense to enact humane and permanent standards to the treatment of all downed farmed animals, for the sake of the animals as well as human health.
Here is some data in support of this legislation: (a) Animal handling expert, Dr. Temple Grandin, and other experts have estimated that as many as 90% of downed animal cases could be prevented through better care, transportation and handling methods (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association;1994;204:372); (b) E. coli has been found to be more common in non-ambulatory versus healthy cows at slaughter (Applied and Environmental Microbiology;2003;69:4683); (c) Outbreaks of Salmonella resistant to antibiotics, have been traced back to meat produced from slaughtered dairy cows and to processing plants that slaughter a higher proportion of downed animals (New England Journal of Medicine;1987;316:565; Journal of the American Medical Association;2002; 288:951); (d) Conditions that present the most serious risk to public health are bacterial contamination and central nervous system disorders like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that up to 50% of BSE cases could be missed on ante-mortem inspection at slaughter; (e) A number of agriculture industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau, the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Veal Association, the Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center, and the National Pork Producers Council recommend that non-ambulatory animals be euthanized on the farm and not transported to market (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (f) 80 % of industry respondents agreed with the USDA ban on marketing of non-ambulatory cattle (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (g) Many in the meat industry are not opposed to ending commerce in downers because they recognize that such a move would have little economic impact on farmers (Dairy Herd Management); (h) In studying the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle in California, Dr. Pam Hullinger of the California Department of Food and Agriculture found that, on average, only $28.70 profit was realized for each downed cow leaving the farm (1999 Report of the Committee on Animal Health, U.S. Animal Health Association); (i) Of the 103 million pigs slaughtered in the US in 2006, the total number of downed pigs would have been between 103,000 and 927,000; (j) In 2001 and 2003 a large majority of Americans were opposed to using downed animals for human food and in 2003, 77% indicated they felt slaughtering animals too sick to stand or walk was unacceptable (Zogby International).

Points Against

Revision by dave007 (February 29, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

H.R. 661, Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act would alleviate the suffering of countless animals as well as protecting human health and safety by reducing the risk of BSE (Mad Cow) tainted meat entering the U.S. food supply. The current USDA regulations apply only to cattle, while pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals, unable to stand or walk, go completely unregulated. Also, the current regulations only apply only to slaughterhouses, leaving stockyards, farms and other venues unregulated. USDA records show downed animals afflicted with gangrene, malignant lymphoma, pneumonia, or other serious illnesses approved for human consumption.
Downed animals are routinely dragged with chains, pushed with tractors or forklifts, hauled by their tails and ears, and moved by electroshock prods and other implements in order to move.
While downed animals await slaughter they receive no veterinary care and since animals must be kept alive until slaughter to be used for human food, this bill would remove profit motive, the main obstacle to humane euthanasia. It is common sense to enact humane and permanent standards to the treatment of all downed farmed animals, for the sake of the animals as well as human health.
Here is some data in support of this legislation: (a) Animal handling expert, Dr. Temple Grandin, and other experts have estimated that as many as 90% of downed animal cases could be prevented through better care, transportation and handling methods (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association;1994;204:372); (b) E. coli has been found to be more common in non-ambulatory versus healthy cows at slaughter (Applied and Environmental Microbiology;2003;69:4683); (c) Outbreaks of Salmonella resistant to antibiotics, have been traced back to meat produced from slaughtered dairy cows and to processing plants that slaughter a higher proportion of downed animals (New England Journal of Medicine;1987;316:565; Journal of the American Medical Association;2002; 288:951); (d) Conditions that present the most serious risk to public health are bacterial contamination and central nervous system disorders like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated that up to 50% of BSE cases could be missed on ante-mortem inspection at slaughter; (e) A number of agriculture industry groups, including the American Farm Bureau, the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Veal Association, the Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center, and the National Pork Producers Council recommend that non-ambulatory animals be euthanized on the farm and not transported to market (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (f) 80 % of industry respondents agreed with the USDA ban on marketing of non-ambulatory cattle (Beef Cow-Calf Weekly;1/6/04); (g) Many in the meat industry are not opposed to ending commerce in downers because they recognize that such a move would have little economic impact on farmers (Dairy Herd Management); (h) In studying the slaughter of non-ambulatory cattle in California, Dr. Pam Hullinger of the California Department of Food and Agriculture found that, on average, only $28.70 profit was realized for each downed cow leaving the farm (1999 Report of the Committee on Animal Health, U.S. Animal Health Association); (i) Of the 103 million pigs slaughtered in the US in 2006, the total number of downed pigs would have been between 103,000 and 927,000; (j) and in 2001 and 2003 a large majority of Americans were opposed to using downed animals for human food and in 2003, 77% indicated they felt slaughtering animals too sick to stand or walk was unacceptable (Zogby International).

Points Against

Comment by Sue Miller (February 18, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Please pass H.R. 661 to help poor defenseless animals from agony. We all know the processing plants hire people that are capable of cruelty to animals and they use their jobs to enact their outrageous acts against living creatures. Big business cares nothing for these living creatures except to make their profits! And that's the truth! Help the animals!! Please!!...

Comment by Christy Mattingly (January 5, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

Every living animal should be protected from suffering. Every animal. They suffer pain and illness the same way people do and to expect anything less is inhumane. Why don't people realize this? Please pass this bill for the voiceless animals....

Comment by Joan Mueller (August 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Pleas pass this bill that will stop the horrible inhumane way of dragging poor creatures to slaughter in pain and agony. Many are diseased, and/or so terrified, they would be unfit for meat anyway. Please, let's be guardians to poor creatures and pass H.R.661...

Comment by Dee Urban (August 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

PLEASE PASS H.R. 661, the reasons should be obvious. We need to be humane, and protect the public as well as the animals, before big business, that often cares for neither!! PLEASE...

Revision by webmaster (July 13, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Revision by JayDeuce (July 13, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 661 would amend the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane slaughter of nonambulatory livestock.

Detailed Summary

Defines "covered entity," "nonambulatory livestock," and "humanely euthanize."

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

Status as of February 2, 2007

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.