Got a link?
Good to see you posting, Lis.

Yes, it is utterly sickening. The two workers shown abusing the cows are facing criminal charges. I started a thread re. this issue on Hot Topics a while back, here's the link if you want to have a look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cow abuse thread

It is absolutely horrifying. I saw it on the Today Show this morning, took about 20 seconds till I was crying. I only wish I had a cattle prod and those men in a room for about 15 minutes.

I could not stomach watching any of it and have been surrpised at how little reaction this story has received in the news. of course now that there's a hint of the possibility of mad cow disease and this meat went to schools and fast food chains there will be a bit more notice i'm sure.

for my entire 20's i was vegetarian (not very strict, ate a bit of fish) and always felt this was how animals were treated in slaughterhouses, it helped my resolve to stay committed to that eating lifestyle. now my family will be going back to as little meat as possible. ~ liz

I think that this sort of thing is a lot more commonplace than we'd like to imagine. When I read this story a few days ago, I thought the same thing - I couldn't believe how little emphasis they were putting on the treatment of the animals.

I watched a video online about a year ago about the treatment of animals in slaughterhouses, hatcheries, dairy farms, etc., and I haven't been able to eat meat since. When I first came across the link to it, I kind of just rolled my eyes and thought that it was just a very biased quack video made by a bunch of nutty vegetarian fanatics, but I started to watch it anyhow. Then I couldn't turn it off. I bawled. It's VERY hard to watch. I researched it afterward, and it seemed to be very accurate and reputable. There are some things they say about animals and humans being equal that I don't entirely agree with, but all in all, the video is very informative. I also realize that these horrible things don't happen everywhere, or all the time, but like I said - it happens way too often.

Anyhow, if anyone is interested in watching it, here's the link. It's about an hour and a half long, but I think it's worth the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Earthlings

It's been on the local news for days here. I can't watch it, either.
JoanMN/FL

It's been on the news here a few times and it breaks my heart every time. I can hardly watch it. How can people be so cruel.

I didn't watch.
I don't need to to get upset.

WHY were those downer cows on the kill floor to begin with?
What A-hole in California bought those cows hauled them to the packer?
What A-hole SOLD those cows to the middle guy?
WHERE do I find those A-holes and how quick can I get to them. I have a hotshot and two bitin' dogs with their names engraved on them.

Boy, this chaps my butt and I'd like to go the rounds with someone over it.

MY Downer Cows (cows that are too sick to walk by themselves without wobbling, shaking or falling down) are condemned and have been for years. Our cows don't GET to that point because we either ship them while they are healthy or shoot them if they are too sick. We don't even SEND questionable cows to slaughter because it's a waste of frieght as they will not meet the USDA standards and we don't get a dime for them.

If I have to comply with the USDA rules EVERYBODY should have to. Those kind of cows have no business being NEAR a slaughter house let alone that close to entering the food process. Yeah, it's not fair to those poor cows and it's also not fair to those of us who DO NOT TREAT THEIR ANIMALS in that way or try to introduce CRAP into the food chain.
Now everybody in the world thinks we ALL do this.....

GRRR!
AM I STEAMED.

I have no doubt those cows were abused.
What I would like to do is get hold of the cow's owner and do something similar to them.

Ticks me off...let me at 'em....

Lori

I wish you could go for them Lori!
We have cattle too. Cow/calf, but we are always on the up and up with our business.
I didn't watch the video though. No need to see idiots. These slaughter houses hire everyone. They could be city dwellers getting their sick jollies out on defenseless animals or stupid country hicks with morals so low they have to dig a trench to sleep. Whoever they are,, I truly hate these type of people and it wouldn't hurt me to see them get what they are doing right back at them.

I can't watch; I cry just thinking about it. For years, I've eaten very little meat because I hate the thought of animals being killed or mistreated. Although I'm a very nonviolent person, I'd have no trouble personally hurting people who can do something like this.

When it came on the news this morning I started to watch it but couldn't...it was too awful. They should all be charged.

This is so terrible. About a year ago, there was a video taken inside Tyson foods showing a worker with boots stepping on chickens. Horrible! My two daughters are vegetarians, they both stopped eating meat after watching the anti-McDomalds movie "Super Size Me." I am very proud of my girls!

Most small-time/family farmers treat their animals with respect and care for them well.

When they get into the food chain ... that's where the mainly huge corporations take over ...

... and flesh and blood take second place to the Dollar signs.

A high proportion of the meat produced in our part of the world is produced by a small number of corporations.

Who lack much of a vestige of a reputation of having soft hearts.

They screw the farmer.

They screw the consumer.

They get rich.

Best remedy? Buy your food from a local small producer/slaughterhouse. Almost all of them treat animals decently.

Do you think that problem is confined to corporations in the food business?

Think again.

Have you given consideration recently to how much it costs to run for just the nomination for one party, seeking high political office?

Who do you think pays those costs?

With no expectation of compensation, later?

ole joyful

I am embarrased to say that I live in this city. I am so disgusted.
I cannot watch the video, I have seen parts of it on the news, that was more than enough.
Sad to say that I am sure that this goes on more places, and more often than we would like to think. Along with other atrocities against animals.
These people will rot in hell for sure.
Rita

I think this is probably more common that we know, as Nicole said.

There has been a huge beef recall because of this event.

It's just sickening to treat animals that way. I'm glad someone had the guts to be there and video it.

About 140 million pounds, I think ...

... going back, what, 5 years or something??

Lot o' luck in catching a lot of that meat!

Won't know where a lot of it went, quite likely.

ole joyful

This has been going on for years all over the US, it is not right, but why did the Humane Society wait for 2 months before releasing the films--and how did they get inside with cameras==pretty good films for being under cover...
Another thing, I noticed, these were Holsteins, possibly from different Dairy's, not the usual beef cattle==and do you wonder where the calves that die, from the Dairy go?
Just a thought

I have only seen a tiny bit by accident and it made me cry. I was ridiculed on Hot Topics for being emotional. How can anyone not be? These are living breathing animals with feelings. I have not eaten any kind of meat for 25-30 years now and both my kids and their families don't either. You need to be a sick idiot to work in a place like that where all you do all day is kill poor defenseless animals. You'd have to be amoral in my opinion and have no soul.

What about the folks who strap bombs to their bodies and kill many strangers ...

... and themselves in the process?

Or those who operate artillery to fire shells or fly aircraft to drop bombs to kill large numbers of strangers ...

... and survive.

How humane should we consider that to be?

ole joyful

I read about 6 months ago how they kill animals for our consumption. I NEVER ATE MEAT AGAIN!!! It is horrible.
Donna

I don't know about now, but 25 years ago or so when my uncle was a dairy farmer, the downed cows were sold to a rendering company to make into pet food. Yuck! If it was a healthy milking cow with a pulled ham string muscle, they butchered it for home use.

I saw it last night for the first time and was in tears immediately. I dont know if I will eat meat again. Those poor pitiful animals!!! I hope the perps rot in hell!!!I put them in the same category as child molestors,,,I have NO SYMPATHY for either.

L.A. Times had a front page article this morning about the investigation. It was an undercover agent from the Humane Society of the U.S. He worked 12-hour days, wearing a secret camera. He returned to his motel at night, filthy and exhausted, to make notes and prepare himself for the next day. He's a vegan. It must have been a horrible experience for him. He would not give the interviewer any information at all about himself (name, marital status, etc.).

Most of the animals are former dairy cattle, many arriving weak and emaciated, so it's not surprising some fall.

Criminal charges have been filed against two workers. Don't know about the company owners.

It's disgusting and exactly why I haven't had meat in 8 years or so. I know there are some good people out there doing the right thing, but I tend to believe it's the minority since so much meat comes from these giant places that are all just out to line their pockets and not give a hoot what people are eating. It's no wonder to me why we have all these illnesses, etc., we eat fruit and veggies sprayed with poisons and eat sick and diseased animals. It makes me sick.

I'm so glad I happened to read this b4 catching a little of the news last night. Since being warned, I avoided watching it, due to the probable upset....just do not handle things like that well any more.

Sue

I am still shaken to the core from watching that video, and now, also very angry. I didn't sleep well last night. I guess I must live a very sheltered life, not to have had a real reason to think about this before now. I hate to think that farmers like Lori and Toni are in the minority, but as most of you are saying, they probably are, and that is horrible!
OJ is suggesting that we seek out products coming from small producers. I wish I knew how to do just that! If not, I think there will have to be some huge food-choice changes around here.

Elisabeth

Good point about why the humane society waited so long to come forward with the tape and charges.
THAT is abuse in another form.

This should have been released IMMEDIATELY.
The SAME DAY the abuse occurred.

Grr....now I have somebody else I want to hotshot and set my dogs on.....

*fume*

We really aren't in the minority.
Just because we don't have several hundred cows to market and ten percent to cull doesn't mean anything.
What is wrong is the USDA employees who ALLOW these cows to even be UNLOADED on the packing house property.
There's always going to be some scumbum looking to make an extra couple of bucks who'll try to sneak a sick cow through the system. That's life...as ugly as it is. Those at fault are GOVERNMENT employees who LET THOSE COWS IN and on the KILLING FLOOR. The guys working the poor sick cows too weak to walk by themselves are in their own class of cruelness. I'm not sticking up for them (god knows I'm not!) but their job is to slaughter whatever the USDA GOVERNMENT MAN sends to the killing floor. If there isn't, a STOP WORK policy needs to be implemented at killing plants (which can't exist without the USDA Approval and USDA inspector ON SITE) so workers can say 'no. I won't kill this cow' and hold up the line if owners don't comply and pull the animal in question out and the situation is investigation...much like government safety standards in the mining industry.

This whole things stinks....

Lori

FWIW, the HSUS is NOT a humane society, they are an animal rights organization on par with PETA. Their stated goal is to destroy the livestock industry and any animal breeding whatsoever. So I would take any "investigation" done by they with a grain of salt.

Secondly, I'm with Lori. Why were these downer cows on the truck to begin with? Our sale barn will not take weak or downed cattle. It is against the law for a slaughter plant to take downed cattle.

These were dairy cows. About 20 years ago, dairy prices were at an all time low and dairy farmers were going broke right and left. So the feds instigated a buy out program for dairy farmers where they paid the farmers a bonus for getting out of the business. Since many family dairy farmers were getting on in years and their children didn't want to take on the farm (dairy farming is hard 24/7, 365 days a year work), the small family dairy farm all but disappeared. This paved the way for large, corporate dairies where the cows are kept in feed lots, never see a pasture, are shot full of hormones to produce more milk than nature intended, even with improved genetics, and are taken care of by people who make little more than minimum wage. These are the cows that break down early and the cows that were in the video. Those happy California cow commercials are just so much BS.

By contrast, there are still many beef cow/calf operations that are family owned. Large corporations may control the feedlots and slaughter end but the calves are for the most part produced by family run operations. Beef cows still run on pastures and have pretty good cow lives. Calves spend around 60 to 90 days in a feed lot prior to slaughter. While the slaughter process isn't pretty, I do believe it is for the most part humane. If you want more information on the slaughter industry, look for articles by Temple Grandin who is the premier designer of humane livestock handling and slaughter facilities.

I do believe that overall our meat supply in the US is very safe. Just because those cows went down in the shipping process doesn't mean there was anything wrong with the meat itself. For those of you who don't eat meat, that's your decision but you are missing out on a delicious source of protien, including several essential amino acids that plant sources don't supply.
Mary Helen, proud beef producer and consumer. I raise 'em, I eat 'em.

I think that most people have no clue about slaughterhouses. It really sad and cruel.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: slaughterhouse abuse

Let's see wireweiners..I am 5 '6"' weigh 108 , have good cholesterol at 106,,yes, that's right..Normal is above 35 and my triglicerides are 45..My doctor never had a patient with the HDL over 100. Of course I haven't eaten any kind of meat in 25-30 years(don't remember the exact year),but I gag at the smell of meat cooking.. No animal is ever killed for me..And no I don't wear leather either.

lily316,
I applaud you!
Donna

lily316,
Glad to know that you think so highly of my husband and most of our friends.
and I quote.
"Posted by lily316 (My Page) on Tue, Feb 19, 08 at 3:47

You need to be a sick idiot to work in a place like that where all you do all day is kill poor defenseless animals. You'd have to be amoral in my opinion and have no soul."

Guess he better quit his job. We can live on welfare and take money out of your pocket for the rest of our lives.

He isn't on the kill floor, but he still works in a warehouse of one of those places..
But I bet all the dogs and cats that he has helped in the local humane society over the past year would say that he does have a soul and a very loving one at that!

littlebit

littlebit,
I'm sure as you say your husband is a good person and yes he has to make a living. I myself could not slaughter an animal or work in a slaughterhouse, it would haunt me to the depths of my soul. I feel bad that this is what he has to experience everyday.
Donna

A well run slaughterhouse with well trained staff is not cruel to the animals. The people that work there are not cruel or amoral, they do a job and a hard, dirty job at that. Cattle, hogs, and sheep are prey animals. They are meant to be eaten by predators. Humans are at the top of the food chain. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors decided instead of going out and hunting for meat it would be easier to keep them close by and care for them. The livestock industry was born.

Lily316, at 5'6" and 108, unless you are a model, you are underweight. Your cholestrol might be good but what's your red blood count? Many vegans are anemic or have to take iron supplements. Moderate amounts of lean red meat are part of a healthy diet.

I'm a meat eater, I confess.

I am surrounded by 2 Ranches. I love looking out of my window and seeing the cattle graze. I love to hear the Mama Cow mow for her Baby.

I wouldn't dare watch a "Slaughter House Video".

Gayle

Lily, the issue people had with your post was not your emotional reaction, that's to be understood. It was with your self righteous attitude towards the people working in the meat industry which you have carried over here. The majority of those people are not cruel animal abusers. They are just working (hard) for a living and people come before animals with me.

"No animal is ever killed for me."

If you've ever taken your animals to the vet, an animal was killed for you.

If you've ever gone to the doctor, had surgery, taken any medicines approved by the FDA - an animal was killed for you.

Since 3/4 of the nation is obese or overweight, I guess I'm flattered to be called underweight. I have never weighed more than 112 in my life(except for 2 pregnancies) and that number was when I was a teenager eating meat. I am small boned and both parents,four grandparents,two kids, all aunts and uncles and cousins are thin to skinny. Not an over weight one in the whole group. GS is 10 and weighs 62..Meat has nothing to do with being healthy. It is unhealthy for you causing many cancers, esp. colon cancer. Why are doctors recommending not eating red meat or very little?.For a few decades I weighed between 99 and 105 and never saw a doctor in all that time. ..MAMA..what does taking my animal to the vet means an animal was killed for me? I had some put to sleep from sickness there. And littlebit..If I was given the choice of slaughtering animals all day or scrubbing city sidewalks with a tooth brush, I'd do the latter and have a clean conscience. Cows are warm blooded, sentient mammals with the same emotions..fear, terror, sadness and pain that the dogs and cats have at the animal shelter where your husband helps. I love animals..all of them, not just cute puppies and kittens. Animals feel!

I have to agree with lily. I think it's cruel to slaughter so many helpless animals. We can argue this over and over and you won't feel any different and neither will we. We all have to live with our choices in this life. I just wish people ate a lot less meat than they do. Too many people eat several serving of meat each day. It should be a small amount of your daily food allotment.
Donna