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USDA Bans Downer Cow Slaughter

Action follows huge beef recall, Mad Cow fears

May 21, 2008

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a total ban on so-called "downer" cattle from entering the U.S. food supply, saying the change is needed to uphold food safety standards.

The proposal comes a few weeks after one of the nation's largest meat recalls, in which USDA was presented with evidence that downer cows were forced into the slaughter line. Most downer cows are already banned from slaughter, but the rules allow some animals to be killed if they have passed earlier inspection.

"We found clear evidence that rules weren't being followed which resulted in USDA calling for the largest beef recall in American history – a clear sign that we took these inhumane violations seriously," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. "Rules have purpose, and when you violate them, there are consequences."

Schafer said that one day after he was sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture, he learned of the illegal acts of inhumane handling that took place at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company in Chino, California. He said he ordered an investigation, and the new rules are a result of that probe.

"Last year, of the nearly 34 million cattle that were slaughtered, under 1,000 cattle that were re-inspected were actually approved by the veterinarian for slaughter," Schafer said. "The 60-day enhanced surveillance period concluded on May 6 and while we are still analyzing those results, today I am announcing that USDA will begin working on a proposed rule to prohibit the slaughter of all disabled non-ambulatory cattle, also know as downer cattle.

"In other words, I am calling for the end of the exceptions in the so called downer rule," he said.

Schafer said the current rule, which focuses on cattle that went down after they have already passed pre-slaughter inspection, has been challenging to communicate and has, at times, been confusing to consumers.

"To maintain consumer confidence in the food supply, eliminate further misunderstanding of the rule and, ultimately, to make a positive impact on the humane handling of cattle, I believe it is sound policy to simplify this matter by initiating a complete ban on the slaughter of downer cattle that go down after initial inspection," Schafer said.

FSIS will draft a proposed rule to remove the exception that allows certain injured cattle to proceed to slaughter. Schafer said this action is expected to provide additional efficiencies to food safety inspection by removing the step that requires inspection workforce to determine when non-ambulatory cattle are safe to slaughter.

Read more about the downer cow scandal ...

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