Don't Allow Agriculture Secretary Johanns to Backpedal on the USDA Downer Ban

	Compassion Over Killing

"The Bush administration said on Friday it may allow some injured cattle to be slaughtered for human food, easing a regulation that the Agriculture Department adopted 15 months ago after the nation’s first case of mad cow disease."

So read the first sentence of an April 15 Reuters article. It was one of the first public signs that those responsible for setting agriculture policy are thinking about allowing certain "downed" animals—specifically, those too injured to walk—back into the American food supply, a disturbing weakening of current policy that will compromise animal welfare and possibly jeopardize consumer health.

In December 2003, the first "mad cow"—one infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)—was discovered in the United States. Shortly after, then Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman announced that downed cattle—those too sick or injured to walk on their own—will no longer be slaughtered for human consumption. Humane organizations, including The HSUS, welcomed this decision, noting that refusing to allow such “downers” into the human food supply increases the incentive to provide better handling to prevent these animals from becoming “downed” in the first place. It also means animals who are already immobile and suffering will not be dragged with chains or pushed by bulldozers to move them to slaughter. What's more, such a ban serves to protect public health by keeping animals at high risk for BSE and other transmissible diseases such as Salmonella and E. coli out of the human food supply.

During his confirmation hearing in January 2005, the current Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns testified:

“As Governor, I supported Secretary Veneman’s decision to take the emergency measure to ban non-ambulatory disabled cattle from the human food supply after finding the BSE-infected cow in Washington state. From the European experience with BSE, we have learned that certain high-risk cattle, such as those that are non-ambulatory disabled, have a higher probability of testing positive for BSE than other cattle.”

Yet despite his support for the administration’s “downer” ban, Secretary Johanns appears now to be backpedaling. His public comments suggest he is considering allowing animals too injured to walk to be slaughtered for food again.

What You Can Do

Phone or e-mail Secretary Johanns and urge him not to undermine the USDA’s policy prohibiting the slaughter of downed animals, those too sick or injured to walk.

Contact:
Mike Johanns
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Phone: 202-720-3631
Click here to e-mail Secretary Johanns.

See the Video

Downed Animals

Related Links

Industry Backpedals on Mad Cow but Public Support for Downer Ban Is Clear

Testing Alone Can't Protect Us from Mad Cow Disease; Urge the USDA to Make the Downer Ban Permanent

U.S. Government Has Yet to Put Proper Mad Cow Disease Safeguards in Place

USDA Bans Slaughter of Downers After Mad Cow Finding