Statement by USDA Secretary Ed Schafer on HSUS animal cruelty video
May. 08, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Statement by USDA Secretary Ed Schafer on HSUS animal cruelty video:
"Late last week, the Humane Society of the United States notified me that they were in the early stages of an investigation into the mistreatment of farm animals transported to livestock auctions and stockyards.
The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable.
"USDA's authority to regulate the treatment of animals includes the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Animal Welfare Act. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act protects animals when they are presented for slaughter at federally inspected establishments. The Animal Welfare Act allows us to ensure the proper care of live animals when used in biomedical research, testing, and exhibition. When animals fall within our authorities, USDA has acted to prevent animal cruelty such as this.
Policies for humane handling of animals, however, consist of a combined effort of federal, state, and local authorities, as well as private industry. Since learning about this investigation, we are reaching out to states and industry groups to address this issue.
"In my conversation with the Humane Society last week, I expressed my sincere desire to work with them to resolve these atrocities, and I trust USDA was given all the information HSUS has on this issue so we can thoroughly address it. It is essential that we work together in good faith to address these issues, and ensure that animals are treated with care and dignity."
In a separate statement, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association responded, also:
Proper Animal Care and Handling
By Ashby Green, DVM, Vice President, Producer Education
"We are committed to working with every segment of the food production chain to ensure all livestock are treated humanely, and we strongly support strict compliance with and enforcement of all state and federal animal welfare laws. Appropriate cattle care includes close supervision of cattle health and wellbeing. We believe it's important to promptly attend to animals that appear non-ambulatory.
To date, in cooperation with the nation's livestock markets, we have distributed more than 2,000 cattle care and handling training videos to the nation's 1,250 livestock markets and other cattle sales locations, as well as veterinarians who work with these operations. Additionally, we are in the process of conducting hands-on staff training sessions at livestock markets led by cattle handling experts.
Beef producers and livestock market owners understand that animal care and raising cattle go hand-in-hand. We know that giving animals the proper care and supervision they deserve is an obligation, not an option, and also is smart business.
For more information on the beef industry's commitment to animal care and handling, visit www.BeefFromPastureToPlate.org."
This information provided by The Beef Checkoff.
SOURCE: USDA, National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
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