In change, industry groups back downer cow ban

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I am totally "down" with this ban! I hope it includes humane euthanasia for the languishing downed cattle. WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant reversal, major meat and dairyindustry groups on Tuesday backed a total ban on so-called downercattle from entering the food supply.Calls for such a ban have come from watchdog groups and some lawmakersin the wake of the massive beef recall from a Southern Californiaslaughterhouse in February, but industry had resisted.Current law bans slaughter of most cows that are unable to stand, butthey're allowed in if they fall down after passing a veterinarian'sinspection and then are re-inspected.Advocacy groups called that a loophole, but the Agriculture Departmentand the meat industry opposed changing it.Now, under pressure from Congress and outside groups, the industry hasreconsidered.The American Meat

Institute, the National Meat Association and theNational Milk Producers Federation announced Tuesday that they havepetitioned the Agriculture Department to enact a total ban.-- full story:http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ib5V7z9A-ocCTOvoaRCq9Ohbl9SAD907840O0 http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join