In July an amendment that would have banned the sale of “downed” livestock was once again narrowly defeated, this time around on a 202-199 vote in the U.S. House.
In 2002 a similar amendment was passed by both chambers of Congress, but was subsequently removed in a conference committee to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill.
The amendment would make it illegal to sell livestock that cannot stand and walk on their own. The debate over the bill centered largely on whether the sale of such livestock to slaughter poses any health risks to human beings.
On one side were those like Rep. Mary Kaptur (D-Ohio) who complained that few downed animals were tested for mad cow disease saying, “We shouldn’t be sending these animals to slaughterhouses.”
On the other side were like Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) who argued that banning the sale of downed animals would simply send the practice underground where U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors would be unable to monitor food safety. “You will drive this whole process literally underground,’ Goodlatte said, “The animals will be buried on the farm, and perhaps put in the food chain illegitimately.” Goodlatte said USDA inspectors should decided whether an animal is genuinely sick, or simply unable to walk but otherwise healthy, rather than create a blanket ban on the practice of slaughtering “downed” animals.
According to the Associated Press, the USDA estimates that about 130,000 “downed” animals are slaughtered for food every year.
Farm Sanctuary has been pushing for a “downed” animal bill for 15 years, and its president Gene Bauston was dismayed at the latest rejection of the amendment, telling the Associated Press,
It’s just depressing. Animals are going to be suffering, and people will be put at risk for mad cow disease.
The full text of the Downed Animal Protection Act is available here.
Source:
House narrowly defeats ban on sale of ‘downed animals’. Frederic J. Frommer, Associated Press, July 14, 2003.