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From: TSS ()
Subject: Humane Society releases new video of mistreated livestock downed cows "Every place that we looked, we found downed animals,"
Date: May 7, 2008 at 2:33 pm PST

Link: http://www.usda.gov/2008/05/0121.xml

Release No. 0121.08 Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202)720-4623

Statement by USDA Secretary Ed Schafer on HSUS Animal Cruelty Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 7, 2008 "Late last week, the Humane Society of the United States notified me that they were in the early stages of an investigation into the mistreatment of farm animals transported to livestock auctions and stockyards. The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable.

"USDA's authority to regulate the treatment of animals includes the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Animal Welfare Act. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act protects animals when they are presented for slaughter at federally inspected establishments. The Animal Welfare Act allows us to ensure the proper care of live animals when used in biomedical research, testing, and exhibition. When animals fall within our authorities, USDA has acted to prevent animal cruelty such as this.

Policies for humane handling of animals, however, consist of a combined effort of federal, state, and local authorities, as well as private industry. Since learning about this investigation, we are reaching out to states and industry groups to address this issue.

"In my conversation with the Humane Society last week, I expressed my sincere desire to work with them to resolve these atrocities, and I trust USDA was given all the information HSUS has on this issue so we can thoroughly address it. It is essential that we work together in good faith to address these issues, and ensure that animals are treated with care and dignity."

# USDA News oc.news@usda.gov 202 720-4623

======================================

May 7, 2008, 2:44PM Humane Society releases new video of mistreated
livestock

By NATASHA T. METZLER Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States released video footage
Wednesday of sick and injured livestock the group says were mistreated at
auction sites and stockyards where cattle are sold for slaughter.

The group released videos shot during April and May showing downed cows
abandoned for hours at facilities in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and
Texas. The video was posted on the group's Web site.

"We found downed cows in a state of ill health, with no relief provided to
the animals," said Wayne Pacelle, the organization's president and chief
executive.

Downed cattle may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli,
salmonella or mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and
their immune systems are often weak.

Pacelle said there is no indication the downed cows his group filmed entered
the food supply. But he added that the videos point out that auction sites
fall between regulatory cracks, raising concern that a downed cow could
potentially leave a facility and enter the food supply.

"Every place that we looked, we found downed animals," he said. "No one is
watching. No one is taking responsibility for these animals."

The footage shows two downed cows at a site in Hereford, Texas; a downed cow
that was left overnight outside an auction facility's barn in Westminster,
Md.; two downed cows in at a site Clovis, N.M.; and a downed calf in
Greencastle, Pa. In the Maryland case, investigators called the local Humane
Society the next morning to euthanize the cow that spent the night behind
the barn.

Pacelle said his organization had received a complaint about the Texas
facility and had long-standing concerns about the Pennsylvania site. He said
the New Mexico facility was chosen because it was close to Hereford and the
Maryland auction because it was close to Washington.

"We intend to work immediately with the businesses where the improper
handling reportedly occurred," Jim Santomaso, president of industry trade
group the Livestock Marketing Association, said in a statement. "LMA shares
everyone's interest in promoting the proper care and handling of all
livestock, at all stages of their life."

A graphic videotape made inside a California slaughterhouse released by the
same group in January led to the nation's largest beef recall.

The United States Department of Agriculture did not immediately respond to
requests for comment.

___

On the Net: http://video.hsus.org/

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/5761660.html

IF you think that the USDA et al ordered the largest beef recall in history
(some 143 million pounds), just over a couple abused animals, and that it
was not a public health issue, i am hear to tell you, that is incorrect.

USDA DEAD STOCK DOWNER COW SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM i.e. non-ambulatory, the
most high risk cow for BSE typical or atypical TSE (last two cows that were
documented in the USA i.e. Texas and Alabama both were of the atypical BSE.
please note ;

"Atypical forms of BSE have emerged which, although rare, appear to be more
virulent than the classical BSE that causes vCJD."

Progress Report from the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance
Center An Update from Stephen M. Sergay, MB, BCh & Pierluigi Gambetti, MD
April 3, 2008

please see full text with additional comments and links @ ;

http://prionunitusaupdate2008.blogspot.com/

Sunday, March 16, 2008

MAD COW DISEASE terminology UK c-BSE (typical), atypical BSE H or L, and or
Italian L-BASE

http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/03/mad-cow-disease-terminology-uk-c-bse.html

IS THERE A SCRAPIE-LIKE DISEASE IN CATTLE ?

In April of 1985, a mink rancher in Wisconsin reported a debilitating
neurologic disease in his herd which we diagnosed as TME by histopathologic
findings confirmed by experimental transmission to mink and squirrel
monkeys. The rancher was a ''dead stock'' feeder using mostly (>95%) downer
or dead dairy cattle and a few horses. She had never been fed.

We believe that these findings may indicate the presence of a previously
unrecognized scrapie-like disease in cattle and wish to alert dairy
practitioners to this possibility.

snip...

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH ANNUAL WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR FOOD ANIMAL
VETERINARY MEDICINE, University of Arizona, March 17-19, 1986

http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09a/tab01.pdf

http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09/tab05.pdf

USDA DEAD STOCK DOWNER COW SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/04/gao-report-on-humane-methods-of.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/usda-certified-dead-stock-downer-cow.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/usda-still-pandering-to-industry-still_27.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/usda-still-pandering-to-industry-still.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/recalled-beef-from-chino-slaughterhouse.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/mad-cow-disease-typical-vs-atypical.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/downer-cow-blues-senators-want.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/mr-will-hueston-dvm-on-school-lunch.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/california-downer-cow-meat-worker-i-was.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/usda-questions-and-answers.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/usda-to-hallmark-we-want-our-plaque.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/house-committee-subpoenas.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/california-lists-possible-recipients-of.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/to-hard-working-employees-of-usda-and.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/beef-recall-nationwide-school-lunch.html

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/transcript-technical-briefing.html

[Docket No. 03-025IFA] FSIS Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk
Materials for Human Food and Requirement for the Disposition of
Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle

03-025IFA 03-025IFA-2 Terry S. Singeltary

9/13/2005

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/03-025IFA/03-025IFA-2.pdf

[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf

second line of lies... i mean defense i.e. fda mad cow feed ban ;

Friday, April 25, 2008

Substances Prohibited From Use in Animal Food or Feed [Docket No.
2002N-0273] (Formerly Docket No. 02N-0273) RIN 0910-AF46

http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2008/04/substances-prohibited-from-use-in.html

Thursday, May 1, 2008

DEAD STOCK DOWNER COW BAN i.e. non-ambulatory policy still not changed by
USDA May 1, 2008

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/05/dead-stock-downer-cow-ban-ie-non.html

Monday, May 5, 2008

STATEMENT OF DR. RICHARD RAYMOND USDA UNDERSECRETARY FOR FOOD SAFETY
Regarding the Safety of the U.S. Food Supply

May 4, 2008

“Good evening. I am Dr. Richard Raymond, Under Secretary for Food Safety at
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss
with you the safety of the U.S. beef supply. I want to be sure that you are
aware that I will be discussing food safety issues only, and I am not here
this evening to discuss negotiations. “The U.S. Government believes the
current agreement well addresses the health and food safety concerns of
Korean consumers. It provides for Korea's sovereign right to conduct an
audit of our facilities and to work with USDA inspection authorities if any
food safety concerns are identified. When the OIE gave the United States
"controlled risk" status a year ago, it was after the world's BSE experts
reviewed the preventative and food safety measures in the United States.
“Since the requirements to export to Korea are consistent with science, U.S.
requirements as well as those of the OIE require that if any food safety
concern is found, it would be fully investigated and immediately corrected
by USDA. “I want to assure all consumers – both domestic and abroad – that
the U.S. beef supply is among the safest in the world. ...

please see full text with some additional information the good Dr. Raymond
seems to have forgotten about ;

http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/2008/05/statement-of-dr-richard-raymond-usda.html

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Interference at the EPA - Science and Politics at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency

please see full text ;

http://sciencebushwhacked.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Health group urges overhaul of US food safety system Calling the US food
safety system antiquated and disjointed, a public health advocacy group
today urged a major overhaul to make the system stronger, more coherent, and
better attuned to today's major threats.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/fs/food-disease/news/apr3008tfah.html

Thu Dec 6, 2007 11:38

FDA IN CRISIS MODE, AMERICAN LIVES AT RISK

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/fs/food-disease/news/dec0407fda.html

FDA SCIENCE AND MISSION AT RISK

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/07/briefing/2007-4329b_02_01_FDA%20Report%20on%20Science%20and%20Technology.pdf

CJD USA RISING

*Acquired in UK ** Acquired in Saudi Arabia *** Includes 17 inconclusive and
9 pending (1 from 2006, 8 from 2007. **** Includes 17 non-vCJD type unknown
(2 from 1996, 2 from 1997, 1 from 2001, 1 from 2003, 4 from 2004, 3 from
2005, 4 from 2006) and 36 type pending (2 from 2005, 8 from 2006, 26 from
2007).

Notes:

-- Cases are listed based on the year of death when available. If the year
of death is not available, the year of sample receipt is used.

-- Referrals: Cases with possible or probable prion disease from which brain
tissue or blood in the case of familial disease were submitted.

-- Inconclusive: Cases in which the samples were not sufficient to make a
diagnosis.

-- Non-vCJD type unknown are cases in which the tissue submitted was
adequate to establish the presence but not the type; in all cases, vCJD
could be excluded.

-- Communicated by: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

[In submitting these data, Terry S. Singeltary Sr. draws attention to the
steady increase in the "type unknown" category, which, according to their
definition, comprises cases in which vCJD could be excluded. The total of 26
cases for the current year (2007) is disturbing, possibly symptomatic of the
circulation of novel agents. Characterization of these agents should be
given a high priority. - Mod.CP]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1001:6833194127530602005::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1010,39963

There is a growing number of human CJD cases, and they were presented last
week in San Francisco by Luigi Gambatti(?) from his CJD surveillance
collection.

He estimates that it may be up to 14 or 15 persons which display selectively
SPRPSC and practically no detected RPRPSC proteins.

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/06/transcripts/1006-4240t1.htm

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/06/transcripts/2006-4240t1.pdf

JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY

MARCH 26, 2003

RE-Monitoring the occurrence of emerging forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob

disease in the United States

Email Terry S. Singeltary:

flounder@wt.net

I lost my mother to hvCJD (Heidenhain Variant CJD). I would like to comment
on the CDC's attempts to monitor the occurrence of emerging forms of CJD.
Asante, Collinge et al [1] have reported that BSE transmission to the
129-methionine genotype can lead to an alternate phenotype that is
indistinguishable from type 2 PrPSc, the commonest sporadic CJD. However,
CJD and all human TSEs are not reportable nationally. CJD and all human TSEs
must be made reportable in every state and internationally. I hope that the
CDC does not continue to expect us to still believe that the 85%+ of all CJD
cases which are sporadic are all spontaneous, without route/source. We have
many TSEs in the USA in both animal and man. CWD in deer/elk is spreading
rapidly and CWD does transmit to mink, ferret, cattle, and squirrel monkey
by intracerebral inoculation. With the known incubation periods in other
TSEs, oral transmission studies of CWD may take much longer. Every
victim/family of CJD/TSEs should be asked about route and source of this
agent. To prolong this will only spread the agent and needlessly expose
others. In light of the findings of Asante and Collinge et al, there should
be drastic measures to safeguard the medical and surgical arena from
sporadic CJDs and all human TSEs. I only ponder how many sporadic CJDs in
the USA are type 2 PrPSc?

http://www.neurology.org/cgi/eletters/60/2/176#535

THE PATHOLOGICAL PROTEIN

Hardcover, 304 pages plus photos and illustrations. ISBN 0-387-95508-9

June 2003

BY Philip Yam

CHAPTER 14 LAYING ODDS

Answering critics like Terry Singeltary, who feels that the U.S. under-
counts CJD, Schonberger conceded that the current surveillance system has
errors but stated that most of the errors will be confined to the older
population.

http://www.thepathologicalprotein.com/

2007-2008

The statistical incidence of CJD cases in the United States has been revised
to reflect that there is one case per 9000 in adults age 55 and older.
Eighty-five percent of the cases are sporadic, meaning there is no known
cause at present.

http://www.cjdfoundation.org/fact.html

In this context, a word is in order about the US testing program. After the
discovery of the first (imported) cow in 2003, the magnitude of testing was
much increased, reaching a level of >400,000 tests in 2005 (Figure 4).
Neither of the 2 more recently indigenously infected older animals with
nonspecific clinical features would have been detected without such testing,
and neither would have been identified as atypical without confirmatory
Western blots. Despite these facts, surveillance has now been decimated to
40,000 annual tests (USDA news release no. 0255.06, July 20, 2006) and
invites the accusation that the United States will never know the true
status of its involvement with BSE.

In short, a great deal of further work will need to be done before the
phenotypic features and prevalence of atypical BSE are understood. More than
a single strain may have been present from the beginning of the epidemic,
but this possibility has been overlooked by virtue of the absence of
widespread Western blot confirmatory testing of positive screening test
results; or these new phenotypes may be found, at least in part, to result
from infections at an older age by a typical BSE agent, rather than neonatal
infections with new "strains" of BSE. Neither alternative has yet been
investigated.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no12/06-0965.htm

CDC DR. PAUL BROWN TSE EXPERT COMMENTS 2006

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was quick to assure the public earlier
this week that the third case of mad cow disease did not pose a risk to
them, but what federal officials have not acknowledged is that this latest
case indicates the deadly disease has been circulating in U.S. herds for at
least a decade.

The second case, which was detected last year in a Texas cow and which USDA
officials were reluctant to verify, was approximately 12 years old.

These two cases (the latest was detected in an Alabama cow) present a
picture of the disease having been here for 10 years or so, since it is
thought that cows usually contract the disease from contaminated feed they
consume as calves. The concern is that humans can contract a fatal,
incurable, brain-wasting illness from consuming beef products contaminated
with the mad cow pathogen.

"The fact the Texas cow showed up fairly clearly implied the existence of
other undetected cases," Dr. Paul Brown, former medical director of the
National Institutes of Health's Laboratory for Central Nervous System
Studies and an expert on mad cow-like diseases, told United Press
International. "The question was, 'How many?' and we still can't answer
that."

Brown, who is preparing a scientific paper based on the latest two mad cow
cases to estimate the maximum number of infected cows that occurred in the
United States, said he has "absolutely no confidence in USDA tests before
one year ago" because of the agency's reluctance to retest the Texas cow
that initially tested positive.

USDA officials finally retested the cow and confirmed it was infected seven
months later, but only at the insistence of the agency's inspector general.

"Everything they did on the Texas cow makes everything USDA did before 2005
suspect," Brown said. ...snip...end

http://www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily/view.php?StoryID=20060315-055557-1284r

CDC - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Variant Creutzfeldt ... Dr. Paul
Brown is Senior Research Scientist in the Laboratory of Central Nervous
System ... Address for correspondence: Paul Brown, Building 36, Room 4A-05,
...

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no1/brown.htm

PAUL BROWN COMMENT TO ME ON THIS ISSUE

Tuesday, September 12, 2006 11:10 AM

"Actually, Terry, I have been critical of the USDA handling of the mad cow
issue for some years, and with Linda Detwiler and others sent lengthy
detailed critiques and recommendations to both the USDA and the Canadian
Food Agency."

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0703&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=8125

Thursday, April 24, 2008

RE-FOIA OF DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL
T.S.E. OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES [Docket No. 00-072-1]

http://foiamadsheepmadrivervalley.blogspot.com/2008/04/re-foia-of-declaration-of-extraordinary.html

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Humane Society releases new video of mistreated livestock downed cows "Every place that we looked, we found downed animals,"

http://downercattle.blogspot.com/2008/05/humane-society-releases-new-video-of.html

Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518

• Humane Society releases new video of mistreated livestock downed cows "Every place that we looked, we found downed animals,"

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