Statement of The HSUS on USDA Proposal to Close Loophole Allowing Slaughter of Downed Cattle

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to initiate a complete ban on the slaughter of downed cattle:

Fifty years ago this week, the U.S. Congress passed the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and set a national policy that aimed to reduce the suffering of animals raised and killed for food. Now, our country has taken another step toward ending unacceptable abuses of animals at slaughter — like those we documented at the Hallmark slaughter plant, leading to the nation's largest meat recall in history and affecting schoolchildren in 47 states.

We commend Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer for moving forward on the pledge he made in May to close the downer loophole and to implement a ban on the slaughter of any downed cattle for human consumption. This is long-awaited but welcomed news. For too long, sick and crippled cattle have been allowed into the food supply, putting consumers at risk and subjecting injured and ill animals to needless torment.

We urge USDA to finalize this rule quickly and provide adequate training for FSIS inspectors on the ground, so they will ensure that workers humanely handle any cattle unable to walk or stand unassisted. USDA and Congress should also take further action adopting regulations or legislation to extend the downer ban to include auction houses, to require immediate humane euthanasia of downers, and to apply the rule to pigs and other farm animals, not just cattle.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.