Beef
No one cares more about cattle than beef producers
By DAN THOMSON
Special to The Star
Animal welfare and husbandry are cornerstones of raising efficient, healthy cattle. Today we have often confused animal welfare with animal abuse. Distinction between the two is imperative for the beef industry and beef consumers.
Kansas State University is improving the communication among producers, regulatory officials, veterinarians, nutritionists and consumers with the International Beef Cattle Welfare Symposium that took place from May 28 to 30.
We are excited that more than 250 people from around the world attended, with even more people signed for a live Webcast.
Strong interest demonstrates that people in the beef cattle industry are interested in understanding more about cattle welfare and how these practices will improve our industry biologically and economically.
We are fortunate that they came to Kansas to discuss the future directions for best practices and the future of cattle health and well-being.
Cattleman can be an animal rights activist
By DAN L. GRALIAN - President of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association
As a livestock producer, I am not an “animal rights activist.” But, I am an advocate for proper care and handling of livestock - and for that matter all animals in general.
When the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released a film they had taken with a hidden camera of a “downer” cow being abused by employees of the Hallmark/Westland packing plant in California, we all said it was deplorable but an “isolated” incident.
As it turns out, we were wrong.
As part of the organization’s ongoing investigation, the HSUS sent camera carrying undercover investigators to four livestock auction barns in four states - Maryland, New Mexico, Texas and Pennsylvania.
They selected the Texas auction barn because they had received a complaint. They had long-standing concerns about the Pennsylvania facility and the New Mexico auction barn was chosen for its close proximity to the feedlots. Maryland was selected because it was close to Washington, D.C.
The HSUS claims it found cases of downer cow abuses at all four locations. And I believe the HSUS. I saw the photographs it posted on its Web page. In one case in Westminster, Md., a downer cow was left lying unattended outside a sale barn area even after they closed for the night. The next day the HSUS investigator called the local humane society to dispatch the animal with a firearm and put her out of her misery.
You can see this footage and more on the Web site www.hsus.org.
I am embarrassed! I am ashamed! And I am outraged!
Now we ranchers can say, “That’s not us, we are livestock producers. We make our living caring for the livestock we raise. It’s the packing plants, the auction barns and dairy guys. They’re the guilty ones.”
Well like it or not, they are still a part of our industry. Besides that, somebody had to send that weakened animal to the auction barn or packing plant in the first place. We had better clean up our act, and we had better do it fast.
I can understand how a cow being shipped to auction or slaughter may become a “downer.” She could become ill or injured on the truck. These things happen. But it should not be commonplace. Not unless crippled or weakened cattle are being shipped. In these cases, they should be humanely put down (euthanized) at home and not loaded on a truck.
At home, we need to take a look at our own operations and see what we may need to do to improve our livestock handling facilities. We need to sit down and talk with our family members and employees about proper livestock care and humane handling practices. Maybe some of us should re-evaluate the parameters we set on qualifying cull cattle for salvage through sale or harvest. Perhaps we need to add a few pages to the Nevada Beef Quality Assurance Handbook on proper animal treatment and welfare.