NM: New Downer Cow HSUS Video Shows Abused Cattle at Livestock Auction

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FOR YOUR INFORMATIONPLEASE CROSSPOSTNAVARRO SENTENCING DATE:AUG. 25, 2008 Google News AlertVia: The Capital PressSalem, Oregonhttp://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67 & SubSectionID=619 & ArticleID=42569 & TM=39988.61---New downer cow video releasedHumane Society of U.S. alleges more abuse in New Mexico BY MATEUSZ PERKOWSKICapital PressThe Humane Society of the United States has released new video allegedlydepicting downer cattle being abused at a livestock auction in NewMexico.The video allegedly depicts downer cattle being subjected to electricalshock, dragged by a chain and otherwise mistreated at the PortalesLivestock Auction in Portales, N.M., according to the HSUS."These repeated and systemic problems turn my stomach and they shouldturn the stomach of every American," said Wayne Pacelle, president andCEO of the organization.The Portales Livestock Auction previously supplied cattle to theWestland/Hallmark Meat Company in Chino, Calif., which was closed afterthe HSUS documented abuse at the plant in January, he said."We were told this was an aberration," said Pacelle, noting that HSUSalso documented abuse at five auction facilities this year. "I think we've put that to rest."Pacelle said the beef industry should object to practices in the dairyindustry, which sells culled milk cows for processing into ground beef."It is really the dairies that are responsible for the inhumanetreatment of these animals," he said.The National Milk Producers Federation objected to Pacelle'scharacterization.The HSUS video offers "a brief snapshot of worst-case scenarios" thatdoes not put the situation in context, said Chris Galen, thefederation's senior vice president of communications.It's unclear exactly what caused the cows depicted in the video tobecome non- ambulatory, or unable to stand, Galen said. Heat and transportation may have played a role, rather than poortreatment at dairies, he said."Were they trucked in from 50 miles away, or 500 miles away?" Galensaid. "You really don't know the back story to any of this."The HSUS video does not accurately represent livestock auctions, either,said John McBride, director of communications for the LivestockMarketing Association. Of the 36 million head of livestock that move through markets annually,the vast majority are treated humanely, he said."It's unfortunate, but it's isolated incidents," McBride said. McBride also said he was disturbed by the "willingness" of HSUSinvestigators to witness animal abuse but apparently not do anything tostop it as it was happening. "Why didn't they do anything except photograph it?" he said.The USDA announced in May that it would propose a ban on slaughter ofall downer cattle, even those that became non-ambulatory after federalinspection.HSUS wants the agency to immediately adopt an interim rule - rather thancomplete the entire public rule-making process, Pacelle said."Obviously, our patience has its limits," he said.The USDA urged the beef industry to voluntarily abide by the ban onslaughtering downer cattle until the rule was officially complete.Galen said the dairy industry has supported a ban on downer cattleslaughter, so the animal rights activist organization is unfairlytargeting the industry as part of a larger effort to end animalagriculture."They're just looking at pitting different sectors of the livestockindustry against each other," he said.A former Southern California slaughterhouse worker pleaded no contest toanimal cruelty charges last week after being caught on undercover videoabusing sick and injured cows. The footage prompted the largest beef recall in U.S. history. Daniel Ugarte Navarro entered the plea Friday, June 20, in SanBernardino County Superior Court in Chino to two felony counts of animalcruelty and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to downed animals. He could get up to a year in jail. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 25, but details werenot available as of press time. Another worker, Rafael Sanchez Herrera, pleaded guilty in March to threemisdemeanor counts of illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal andwas sentenced to six months in jail.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Staff writer Mateusz Perkowski is based in Salem, Ore. E-mail: mperkowski===========================Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.