Current Press Releases

Farm Sanctuary Renews Call for Ban on Downed Animal Slaughter

Lawsuit Reinstated Against USDA to Protect Against Mad Cow Disease

Watkins Glen, NY - December 26, 2003 - Following the first U.S. case of mad cow disease and amid growing concerns about the country’s food supply, Farm Sanctuary is again calling upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ban the slaughter of downed animals, animals too sick to stand, for human food. The Washington state cow that recently tested positive for mad cow disease was a downed animal.

Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit humane organization, petitioned the Food and Drug Administration and the USDA to ban downed animal slaughter in 1998. While the FDA has not yet formally responded, the USDA officially denied the petition in 1999. Farm Sanctuary responded by filing a lawsuit against USDA to prevent the slaughter of downed animals for food. While the lawsuit was originally dismissed, it was reinstated by a federal appellate court on December 16, 2003.

“Rather than protecting consumers by preventing high risk animals from entering the food supply, the USDA encourages the slaughter of sick animals for human food. Most downed animals brought to USDA facilities are slaughtered for food, and they are not tested for mad cow disease. We are calling upon the USDA to immediately ban the slaughter of downed animals and to serve the public’s interest, rather than the interest of agribusiness" states Gene Baur (formerly Bauston), Farm Sanctuary president.

Even before the December 23, 2003 announcement that mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state, the USDA was aware that downed animals could have mad cow disease, and 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.”

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has pushed for a ban on the marketing and slaughter of downed animals, and has obtained extensive documentation of the issue. 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.