Current Press Releases

Farm Sanctuary Calls for Ban on Slaughter
of Downed Animals to Reduce
Threat of Mad Cow Disease

Watkins Glen, NY - December 24, 2003 - Following the first U.S. case of the deadly mad cow disease, and worldwide fear concerning the country's beef supply, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is facing intense pressure to ban the slaughter of downed animals, animals too sick to stand. The Washington state cow that tested positive for mad cow disease was a downed animal.

Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit humane organization, is currently suing the USDA to prohibit the slaughter of downed animals. "Rather than preventing high risk animals from being used for food, the USDA has been encouraging the slaughter of sick animals for food. Perhaps the reason it took so long to find mad cow disease in the U.S. is that we have been eating the evidence," states Gene Baur (formerly Bauston), Farm Sanctuary president.

Earlier this month, a federal court reinstated a Farm Sanctuary lawsuit against the USDA, aimed at stopping the sale of downed animals for human food, due to the fear of mad cow disease.

Even before the December 23 announcement that mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state, the USDA was aware that downed animals could have mad cow disease, and, further, that infected animals could pass USDA inspections and enter the human food supply, according to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2003.

"Thus, if BSE were present in the United States, downer cattle infected with BSE could potentially be offered for slaughter and, if the clinical disease were not detected, pass antemortem inspection. These cattle could then be slaughtered for human or animal food," states the Federal Register.

"It has been widely accepted that downed animals are at increased risk of mad cow disease and many other diseases. There is no reason or excuse for the USDA to permit these animals into the human food supply, and we are calling on USDA to immediately ban the slaughter of downed animals," says Bauston.

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has pushed for legislation to stop the marketing and slaughter of downed animals, and has obtained extensive documentation of downed animal marketing. Video footage, photographs and information are available on the website www.nodowners.org.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.