smirk wants you to eat those "downer" cows (Mad Cow)

[donsu]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050415/hl_nm/madcow_usa_dc


Bush Administration May Ease 'Downer Cattle' Ban


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.

(it wasn't the first case)

-snip-

The ban was part of a package of tighter USDA regulations to prevent mad cow disease, whose symptoms can include an inability to walk.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns suggested that the ban on downer cattle may be eased after the USDA completes an enhanced surveillance program of U.S. cattle later this year.

(enhanced surveillance means they stood at the fence and looked over the cattle pen. they only actually check a tiny amount of cows)

-snip-

The ban on downer cattle being slaughtered for human food represents a sizable financial loss to cattle ranchers. For example, a 1,110-pound steer is worth around $1,000 if slaughtered for steaks and ground beef, but brings less than $200 if condemned as a downer and used for pet food.
-snip-
------------------------------


an aside: have often wondered if veterinarians are seeing more dogs and cats with brain, motor problems?

[tanyev]

1. Hey, he eats them, and just look at him.

No worries.

[unhappycamper]

5. I'll bet the evil bastards import their beef from Japan or another

country that actually pays attention to their food supply.

[tanyev]

9. You are probably right.

Meat industry executives, too.

[fighttotheend]

2. Just another reason why the BUSH KLAN are a$$holes!!

[Selteri]

3. I think this is a reason for a revolution.

I haven't advocated revolting against the government in any form, but if they really do decide to put downer cows back into our food chain I say that we need to get rid of this government since they want to kill us.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Add another outrage to the list! nt

[Kali]

6. flame bait comment and question here:

Not all downers are diseased - accidents happen - broken legs etc, what would you do with the meat?

[donsu]

7. what I wondered was why all the broken legs?

other reports I've read talk about the broken legs.

it's like its almost routine to have a lot of broken legs.

are the legs really broken or can't the cattle stand because of mad cow.

[Kali]

10. it happens a lot

we've bred most of the intelligence out of these creatures so they do stupid things. Ever seen a cattleguard? Sometimes they try to walk across those. They get hit by cars. They step through fences and injure themselves.

They also get old and weak, they have trouble calving and dislocate hips. They fall on concrete and break things that way too. Sometimes they injure each other fighting.

Not saying there is no diseases/poisonings or other ways for them to become "downers" but for you to assume some vast numbers of BSE infected cattle are entering the food supply is a bit unrealistic. There are a lot more likely ways for you to be harmed than by "mad cow" disease. For instance getting into a car.

[donsu]

11. mad cow does more than harm you, it slowly kills you

and it can sit in your body for a long time before it activates.

vast amount or small amount is too much - no amount is just right.

[Kali]

12. using scare tactics and unrealistic

probablilties to frighten people is probably more harmful than the odds of getting vcjd. Even in England the ratio of people with the disease to those exposed is remarkably small.

The scare is the horrible effects of the disease, not the actual likelyhood of ever aquiring it.

People are easily frightened by things they don't understand and/or can't control. Yet daily drive around in a flimsy piece of metal at 75 mph. or walk out the door! Odds are better you will fall and hit your head and loose brain function that way than from eating infected meat. Even if you ate the infected meat!

[laugle]

15. Then why are many countries still

not excepting imports of beef from the U.S.????? Get real....you don't really trust those profit motivated SOB's. I believe PR WATCH.org keeps a check on the latest info on BSE. I'm going to check it out, haven't been there in awhile. I know the CDC never has any truth.

[Kali]

16. oh come on!

could there POSSIBLY be any other reasons for not importing US beef? Like for instance protecting your own beef/farming economy? Do you really think our not importing Canadian beef is only because of BSE?

CDC never has any truth? Well I guess the vast conspiracy and huge numbers of infected victims that they are covering up will come to light eventually. :tinfoilhat: :eyes:

[laugle]

17. I just went on prwatch.org

there is some info, check it out. I still would rather error on the side of caution. I think mad cow has an 8 year incubation. I don't think our country does enough inspecting. It always seems to come down to profit. As for conspiracies I'm really not into that, but I am 52 years old and a realist. Your points are interesting but you really should be more caution. Thanks for the reply.

[Kali]

18. of course

but besides being driven by profit, consumers drive things by demanding cheap food - hence the use of downers and older animals for hamburger and other more proccessed products. The BEST way is to buy local and get to know your producers if you can't grow it yourself. And that costs more than the megafactoryproducers can do it for. Even given all that is wrong with the way we produce food, its still pretty freaking safe compared to a good part of the rest of the world and god knows we have an abundance. Lots could be improved, but it IS amazingly safe and available.

here is a good source for finding a local farmer: http://www.eatwild.com/index.html

[laugle]

20. I totally agree and do most of what you said

However, still think lots of improvement could and should be made. I do commend your optimism, you probably have a very full life with family and friends. Frankly, it is nice to chat with an optimistic person for a change. There is an awful lot of doom and gloom going around. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.

[Kali]

19. oh

and do you have a link for that? I went to their site and did a search for mad cow and it said no results....

[laugle]

21. I just went to first page and scrolled down

I haven't been on the site in awhile. It may not still be the best site for current info on this subject but they seem to still be covering the subject somewhat. Check first page and scroll down.

[Selteri]

8. IUt can be processed into fuel - BioDeisel and a Gas substitute. NT

[baldguy]

13. Bush sez: "EAT THIS!"

The cattle idustry invested thousands of dollars in it, and it was gonna die anyway.

[Generic Other]

14. They make "peeps" out of downer cows

I want my meat clearly labeled!

[ClassWarrior]

22. TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW... MAIL IT TO THE PRESS...

DRIVE DOWN THE PRICE OF BEEF - IT'S THE ONLY THING THESE CORPORATE FUCKS WILL UNDERSTAND!!!

NGU.

[unhappycamper]

23. Avg Rating: 4.75, 69 votes n/t