GRAPHIC VIDEO: MFA Undercover – Confined, Chained And Abused, Canadian Veal Industry Exposed. Petition To Sign

“I can’t deny shedding tears for these little ones, chained up in tiny boxes, they can’t even turn around in; before their short lives end at the slaughter plant! These sentient beings may be, just a by product, but they still deserve to be treated with kindness & respect…it doesn’t cost anything to show empathy etc. Animals are far more humane than humans are & always will be!

“As with all animals, especially those that are raised for human consumption; at the very least, surely they deserve to have the 5 Freedom acts adhered to. The five freedoms that no animal kept by humans for whatever reason; should ever be without, it’s not much to ask for, is it?

1. freedom from hunger and thirst
2. freedom from discomfort (shelter from heat and rain)
3. freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. freedom to express normal behaviour (without inconveniencing or harming others)
5.  freedom from fear and distress.

Please sign petition: http://www.cratedcruelty.ca/

NONE OF THE ABOVE FREEDOM ACTS APPLY TO THESE CALVES; NOR DO THEY FOR OTHER FARM ANIMALS RAISED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. THE  CONDITIONS THEY ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN, ARE QUITE FRANKLY HORRIFIC, DESPICABLE & APPALLINGLY CRUEL…THIS IS 2014! CRATED CRUELTY….SIMPLY TORTURE CHAMBERS FOR BABIES; WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK AGES….PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION & SHARE WITH ALL…WE MUST JOIN TOGETHER & RAISE OUR VOICES; WE MUST HELP CHANGE THE WAY FARM ANIMALS  ARE KEPT & SLAUGHTERED!!

EXPOSED, CANADIAN VEAL INDUSTRY

Please sign petition: http://www.cratedcruelty.ca/

From December to February 2014, a Mercy For Animals Canada investigator worked at a Délimax veal factory farm in Pont-Rouge, Quebec. Our hidden camera captured horrific animal cruelty and neglect, including:

• Calves crammed into feces-covered wooden boxes barely larger than their own bodies
• Baby animals chained by the neck, unable to even turn around or lie down comfortably for their entire lives
• Animals driven mad from boredom and stress, denied even their most basic natural behaviours
• Workers violently kicking, punching, and tormenting baby animals
• Animals painfully stuck in the wooden slats of their crates
• Sick and injured animals left to suffer and slowly die in their own filth without proper veterinary care

EXPERT OPINIONS

After reviewing the undercover footage, Dr. John Webster, Professor of Animal Husbandry at the University of Bristol, and Europe’s leading expert on dairy cattle welfare, stated: “In all my experience, this is the worst, cruellest system that I have ever seen, in every sense, housing, health and stockmanship. [T]he system as seen on the video is now illegal in Europe, both in regard to individual housing, and denial of access to solid feed containing sufficient digestible fibre.”

Dr. Sara Shields agreed, concluding: “Veal crates are the epitome of a poor animal housing system, and it is almost shocking to see them still being used… Studies have shown that calves tethered in stalls have higher physiological stress responses than those kept in groups or in pairs.”

DITCH VEAL, DITCH DAIRY

Veal is a direct by-product of the dairy industry. Since they will never produce milk, male calves born into the dairy industry are ripped away from their mothers’ sides shortly after birth and end up in veal factory farms like this one.

These calves spend their short, wretched lives languishing in their own waste inside a tiny wooden box. They never get to see the sun, breathe fresh air, feel the grass beneath their feet, walk, run, play, or do anything that makes life worth living. Their short lives are filled with misery, violence, and deprivation.

Although cruelty and violence are standard practice for Canada’s veal industry, caring consumers can help end the needless suffering of calves and other farmed animals by choosing a compassionate vegan diet.

“If you cant go fully vegan then help by trying to be a vegetarian & don’t drink milk (It’s made for animals offspring, not humans) drink soya milk instead. I drink Soya milk, Almond & Hazelnut are my favourites. They taste great to drink when cold & have quite a sweet taste (ditch the sugar) so it’s great in coffee & on cereals. Think about it, do you really want to be a party to the horrific & abusive ways, theses sentient little babies are kept in? Would you deny them the right to be with their mother’s??  Many people think being vegetarian means eating nut cutlets, rice & beans; personally I hate that type of stuff. Whatever recipes that require meat, can be made just as well with Quorn.  Go to my Pinterest site to see recipes made with Quorn & also the pre-made Quorn burgers, mince, chicken etc. The Linda  McCartney range of meat free foods are also delicious, especially the sausages! My daughter isn’t vegan or vegetarian like me; but she eats what I do; with no complaints because she finds it so tasty!

MY Vegan & Vegetarian Pinterest site:-http://www.pinterest.com/presciousjules/vegan-vegetarian/

Please sign petition: http://www.cratedcruelty.ca/

CRATE CRITICS

“In all my experience, this is the worst, cruellest system that I have ever seen, in every sense, housing, health and stockmanship. [T]he system as seen on the video is now illegal in Europe, both in regard to individual housing, and denial of access to solid feed containing sufficient digestible fibre.”

John Webster, PhD

“Cows are highly intelligent and sentient, feeling beings, and it’s clear that the calves in this video are suffering. Deep fear and pain can be seen in their eyes and in their behavior. Calves are just as sentient as dogs – we would never tolerate such abuse inflicted upon a dog.”

Marc Bekoff, PhD

“Psychologically, the isolation and restricted movement [of veal crates] thwarts the calves need to suckle from their dam, prevents social interaction with their mother and with other calves, severely limits mental stimulation and investigative behavior, and disallows any sort of play.”

Debi Zimmermann, DVM

“Veal stalls… we need to get rid of, plain and simple.”

Temple Grandin, PhD

“This video provides clear evidence of deliberate institutionalized animal abuse in Canada’s veal industry. Veal calves are shown imprisoned in narrow stalls on slatted floors. Many animals are chained so tightly that they can barely move or can only perform a few short movements, which they do repeatedly.”

John Sorenson, PhD

“No animal should be so physically limited in its’ movement. The calf can stand or lie in one place only. He can’t turn around, lick his back, or stretch out. The chain around his neck ensures that he can’t lie down flat (something that calves do naturally). Not surprisingly, stereotypies are common. ”

Mary Richardson, DVM

Please sign the petition: http://www.cratedcruelty.ca/

 Please view at your own discretion – WATCH: Baby Calves Kicked, Beaten, and Chained in Crates for Veal

Published on 19 Apr 2014

Sickening cruelty to animals at a veal factory farm was captured on hidden camera by an investigator with Mercy For Animals Canada. Workers violently kick, punch, and torment baby calves who are crammed into filthy wooden crates so small they can’t even turn around or lie down comfortably for nearly their entire lives. Learn more and take action at: http://www.CratedCruelty.ca

Related articles

• Calves killed because of ‘wrong sex’
• Viewers’ outrage over harrowing scenes of day-old calves being lined up and shot DEAD just because they’re male
• Male dairy calves are killed, but why the surprise? People have no right to complain if they don’t inform themselves about food

VIDEO: Horses And Live Export from the UK

“Firstly I must apologise for the lack of posts… I’ve been in a lot of pain….but hope to get posting more news stories again soon; so please bear with me!” (MY sincere apologies if some post are a bit disjointed…drugs play havoc with my brain!!) so I hope all myposts will make sense…if the don’t…you know why!!”

“Please email DEFRA now, and tell Lord De Mauley that laws which are not enforced are not worth the paper on which they’re printed (Email already written) just fill in your details to send:-http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Live-Export-from-the-UK Please also contact your MP (Letter already done) which will pop up after your email to Defra!

On 10th February the BBC’s Inside Out programme revealed the shocking results of World Horse Welfare’s largest ongoing investigation, uncovering evidence that horses and ponies are being exported through Britain’s ports to uncertain fates on the Continent.

Keeping tabs on Live Export of Horses

It will show that an unknown number of horses and ponies are leaving Britain’s shores under the pretence that they are for leisure or sport – but may in fact be sold for slaughter.

We have been investigating the movement of horses into and out of the UK, including reports of possible export for slaughter, for several years and have always passed any information that we have onto the proper authorities at the earliest opportunity.

Unfortunately it has become clear that in many cases, proper preventative action from the authorities and enforcement of the law was simply not taking place despite the information that we were providing, and that horses and ponies were being left very vulnerable to abuse as a result.

Our investigations have found that horses and ponies are leaving our ports without any checks on their welfare or their paperwork. It is impossible to know whether the laws protecting them are being complied with. 

Horses waiting for death!

These movements are not small or insignificant: over just one weekend of monitoring we saw more than 90 horse boxes – a number of which could carry more than 20 equines – leaving and entering the port of Dover.

World Horse Welfare is calling for the legislation meant to protect our most vulnerable horses and ponies from indiscriminate export to be properly enforced as a matter of urgency. We want to help the enforcement agencies to protect horses and ponies, by continuing to provide intelligence and expertise as we have done in the past.

PLEASE WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND HOW HORSES ARE BEING TRANSPORTED.!!

P&O Ferries actually stopped a vehicle carrying horse; after checking the vehicle P&O said the horses were not fit to travel….KUDOS to P&O…without whom the horses could have shipped to slaughter!!

Post from P&O Ferries:Service with a conscience

Can we ship livestock on your vessels?
Yes, we can ship livestock on our Dover-Calais and Irish Sea routes, however animal welfare is an issue that concerns us. Hence on our Dover-Calais route we are only prepared to ship breeding livestock and only if booked via the relevant national associations. These livestock must be transported according to DEFRA requirements and accompanied by the correct DEFRA documentation, clearly showing the animals are being shipped for breeding purposes. A surcharge is applied to livestock movements and they will only be shipped on the European Seaway. Please contact the relevant national association for pricing details.

Can we ship horses on your vessels?
Yes, we can ship horses on all our routes (except Dublin – Liverpool, shipments from Tilbury and freight only shipments from Zeebrugge) under the following conditions.

Horses travelling to France MUST be accompanied by either an Export Licence or an AHA certificate AND an equine passport.  Ponies must also be accompanied by a fitness to travel certificate or Health Certificate.  Horses and ponies travelling with a final destination to countries other than France MUST in addition be accompanied by a Health Certificate. 

Horses or ponies travelling from France to the UK may travel on their equine passports only.  Horses or ponies starting their journey in any country other than France MUST be accompanied in addition by a Health Certificate.

Health Certificates are ONLY valid for 10 days from the date of vets signature (and can only be signed within 48 hrs of departure).  Horses and ponies may return to the originating country on the same health certificate providing it is within 10 days of the vets signature. (day 1 being the day it was signed)

The information detailed above is for guidance only – The responsibility lies with the owner or agent to comply with British and European statutory regulations.

Further information can be obtained by contacting DEFRA.

Find out more by reading our FAQs (Some of which are below), or take action to help these horses today. Or you can make a donation to help keep our teams on the road.

Please email DEFRA now, and tell Lord De Mauley that laws which are not enforced are not worth the paper on which they’re printed….email link here:-http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Live-Export-from-the-UK

Email & News Link:–http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Live-Export-from-the-UK

PLEASE WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO – It Is not graphic!!

Clamping down on UK’s illegal horse traders

Published on 11 Feb 2014

A year after the horsemeat scandal, Inside Out’s David Whiteley investigates the illegal export of live horses from the UK.

The World Horse Welfare charity told Inside Out that it suspects that horses and ponies are being transported freely across Europe as unscrupulous dealers exploit a legal loophole in equine transit.

Under an agreement between France, Ireland and the UK, sports horses can be moved freely but low-value ponies are not covered by the agreement.

David Whiteley joins the World Horse Welfare’s field team as they watch for horse dealers who they suspect are breaking the law. As well as concerns over equine welfare, there are fears the horses could be destined for slaughterhouses in Europe, raising fears about food safety and human health. But P&O Ferries refused some lorries due to unevaluated passports…i.e fakes passports!  P&O also refused some lorries because some of the horses were not fit to travel!  BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE UP TO PORTS TO REFUSE UNFIT HORSES….it’s obvious those trying to take the lorries abroad care nothing about the welfare of its cargo!!! Kudos to P& O Ferries!!

The government says it has agreed to tighten the rules on horse exports from May.

“I won’t believe anything until I see or read new legislation! The Government wonders why horse meat is getting into human food, it’s because the passports are not checked or are faked, horses are being stolen from fields during the night! Read some of the snippets below from News posts, it just doesn’t add up to me!” especially the parts where they say ‘ One of 5 horse slaughter plants’, which includes one  ‘Ashgrove Meats in Newcastle West’ that was responsible for contaminated horse meat! Then in another post it says ‘ THE only approved horse-slaughtering house in Northern Ireland has stopped killing horses, the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has revealed.?????”

Preview of FAQ

Q. What can I do about this?

Please join our calls for proper enforcement! You can email your MPs and Defra Ministers quickly and easily here.

You can also help these horses by sharing any information that you have, anonymously and in complete confidence, via the ‘Tell Us’ pages of our website.

If you would like to make a donation to help keep our teams on the road, you can do so here.

Q. Is live export of horses legal? What are the laws?

A. In some circumstances it can be legal to export horses (for example for breeding or competition). However there is a package of protective legislation in place which should prevent the indiscriminate export of equines for slaughter. Unfortunately it seems that this legislation is not being properly enforced.
The legislation in question includes:

• The Welfare of Animals in Transport Order: Sets out the conditions for transporting animals, including rest periods, fitness for transport, vehicle standards and documentary requirements.

• The Animal Welfare Act 2006: (in Scotland, the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006) Sets out the basic principle that animals should not be allowed to suffer unnecessarily, either through human action or inaction.

• The Equine Identification Regulations: Set out the rules for horse passports.

• The Tripartite Agreement: Allows the free movement of some horses between France, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Recently changed – see below.

• The Animal Health Act 1981 (Minimum Values) Sets out the minimum value that certain types of equine should have if they are to be exported (see below).

Q. I thought exporting horses for slaughter had been banned years ago?

A. There is a package of legislation in place, including an Act which should have limited the export of equines to protect working horses, ponies, mules and donkeys from export for slaughter. This was brought in as a result of the work of our founder, Ada Cole, and has been improved over the years as a result of our subsequent work as a charity. However, it seems likely that a lack of effective enforcement has led to exports for slaughter taking place under the radar of enforcement agencies. We have gathered evidence and passed this on to the relevant authorities.

Q. What happens to the horses while they are being transported and after they leave the UK?

A. We can’t be sure of what will happen to these horses, but we strongly suspect that some of them will be slaughtered. Some of them are taken to markets where they will be sold for various purposes, including slaughter.  We also strongly believe that they will not be transported in good conditions, either when they leave the UK or on subsequent journeys after they arrive in Europe, and that their welfare will not be respected. The animals in question have a low financial value, making it uneconomic to export them unless corners are cut – which will compromise their welfare.

Q. What is the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) and does this affect these horses?

A. The Tripartite Agreement is a long-standing agreement between France, the UK and the Republic of Ireland to allow horses to move freely between these three countries without the need for animal health certification. This meant that horses could move over these borders without health checks, and without any traceability which posed significant welfare and disease risks. Originally applied only to Registered horses (such as a racehorses), it was extended in 2005 to apply to all horses, other than those moving directly to slaughter. We have been calling for it to be changed ever since, to prevent unscrupulous individuals from falsely declaring that they are moving horses for legitimate reasons then transporting the animals to slaughter abroad.

Happily our calls have recently been successful, and the Chief Veterinary Officers of France, Ireland and the UK have signed a new agreement which means that horses moving between France and the UK, and France and Ireland, will no longer be able to move freely unless they are ‘high-health horses’ – meaning registered FEI or race horses. Moreover these movements will be required to be logged, providing much-needed traceability.  Movement of horses between the UK and Ireland will be unaffected, as Ireland and the UK share the same official health status (determining which diseases are present and absent from a country), making a change impractical.

The details are yet to be decided, but we are very pleased that such a positive step has been taken to protect horses. The crucial thing now is that the details must be decided upon and these changes must be enforced when the revised agreement comes into force in May 2014. We will be working alongside Defra and the rest of the equine industry to finalize the details and to communicate the changes to horse owners.

Q. What does ‘Minimum Values’ mean and what does it mean for the export of horses and ponies?

A. By law horses and ponies must have a financial value above a certain amount in order for them to be exported overseas. This helps protect equines of a lower market value from being exported for slaughter, as the price for their meat should be less than the price of the horse or pony. However, with the lack of basic checks of welfare and documentation at ports, there is no way to know whether this law is actually being complied with.

Q. What about horses being imported into the UK?A. There are certainly equal, if not even greater reasons to be concerned about horses being imported into the UK. These horses may well have come from environments where serious diseases are present that we do not currently have in the UK. A lack of enforcement can make it difficult to trace where the horses came from, or where they went, if disease breaks out. In 2010, Britain had its first ever cases of equine infectious anaemia since 1976 when the disease was found in two horses that had been imported from mainland Europe. More cases were reported later the same year and in 2012, all in imported horses. Tracing the other horses that had travelled with the affected animals was a long and complex process.

Equally importantly, the welfare of imported horses may not be respected, with unfit horses being transported over long distances, and little or no enforcement to protect them. Any low-value animal may be vulnerable to this sort of abuse, whether it is entering the UK or leaving it.

The changes to the Tripartite Agreement should help with this issue to some extent, but only so long as they are enforced properly.Take action to help these horses today!

Link for FAQ;-http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/live-export-FAQs

Related Snippets Of Interest:-27/01/2013 Limerick Plant One OF Only 5 Licensed to Slaughter Horses For Meat

A NEWCASTLE West livestock factory is one of only five facilities in Ireland licensed to slaughter horses for meat, it has been confirmed.

The Ashgrove Meats facility in Churchtown has been slaughtering horses and exporting their meat for consumption in mainland Europe for the past three years. It is the only facility licensed to do so in Munster.

Ashgrove Meats is the only plant in Munster which slaughters horses for meat

Link:-http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/meat-from-horses-with-forged-passports-recalled-by-limerick-abattoir-1-4748132

Related Snippets Of Interest:-2/02/2013 Meat From Horses With Forged Passports Recalled By Limerick Abattoir

THE FOOD Safety Authority (FSA) has concluded an investigation after horses with forged passports were slaughtered for meat at a county Limerick abattoir.

It has been confirmed that meat from two Irish horses which had been exported to Italy had to be recalled after officials discovered that the animals had forged documentation.

The horses had been slaughtered at Ashgrove Meats in Newcastle West, one of only five facilities in Ireland licensed to kill horses for meat.

Under regulations, all horses slaughtered for meat in Ireland have to have a verifiable passport to ensure that they have not been in contact with substances which may be harmful to humans.

Link:-http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/meat-from-horses-with-forged-passports-recalled-by-limerick-abattoir-1-4748132

Related Snippets Of Interest:- 14/04/2013 NI’s Only Horse Slaughtering House Stops

THE only approved horse-slaughtering house in Northern Ireland has stopped killing horses, the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has revealed.

She explained that the Armagh plant asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to remove its authorisation and stopped killing horses at the end of January.

“There was one slaughter plant in County Armagh approved by the FSA for equine slaughter,” she explained.

“This establishment is also approved for the slaughter of cattle and sheep. It ceased slaughtering horses completely on 25th January 2013 and has asked the FSA to completely remove their authorisation to slaughter equines.”

She said this was the only establishment approved by the FSA to slaughter horses in Northern Ireland in recent times.

Link:-http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/business/business-news/ni-s-only-horse-slaughtering-house-stops-1-4974741

Related articles

• Graphic content: Slaughter Of Horses Causes Outrage: Petition To Sign
• Tweet Abbott & Bishop, Australians are NOT sorry for Live Export Cruelty!
• How this starving horse shames the middle-class families who dump pet ponies they can’t afford, writes LIZ JONES
• How this starving horse shames the middle-class families who dumped pet ponies they can’t afford, writes LIZ JONES
• Redwings Horse Sanctuary: State of Emergency Appeal
• Fewer horses slaughtered in abattoirs last year
• The European Commission Is Failing European Animals
• Northern Irelands Only Horse Slaughtering House Stops
• Animal Welfare Groups Plan Suit in Response to USDA Decision to Support the Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption
• Graphic Video: Where Do Farm Animals End Up Once They Leave the Eu?

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS FAILING EUROPEAN ANIMALS

When meat is imported into the European Union the law stipulates that the animal must have been slaughtered in line with EU legislation.

However, when EU animals are exported, the same rules are not afforded to them and instead they can face brutal treatment and long drawn out slaughter.

Every year three million European animals are sent on long, stressful journeys to be fattened or slaughtered outside the EU. A vast number of these go to the Middle East where Compassion’s recent investigation, in partnership with Animals Australia, has uncovered immeasurable suffering.

Please take a moment to watch the film and slideshow below to find out more about this deplorable trade. Be warned; some of the film is distressing to watch, but it’s essential concerned citizens find out where European animals are ending their journeys.

Take action against the EU’s cruel live animal export trade

 

Published on 27 Feb 2014

Every year three million European animals are sent on long, stressful journeys to be fattened or slaughtered outside the EU. A vast number of these go to the Middle East where Compassion’s recent investigation, in partnership with Animals Australia, has uncovered immeasurable suffering.

Please take a moment to watch the film and find out more about this deplorable trade. Be warned, some of the film is distressing to watch, but it’s essential that concerned citizens find out where European animals are ending their journeys.

Watch, share and take action here: http://goo.gl/tEQQ2R

Please take a moment to watch and share our investigation. Warning: Due to its upsetting nature, you may need to verify that you are over 18 to watch the film.

When European farm animals are exported to non-EU countries every shred of protection they once received in their place of birth is rendered meaningless.

After enduring long, exhausting journeys by land and sea they may face terrifying ordeals at slaughter.

Animals are dragged by their limbs, bound up with ropes, pinned down by groups of men, beaten with metal rods, suspended upside down for extended periods of time, and eventually slaughtered in unacceptable ways that leave them conscious for many minutes after having their throats cut.

The European Commission has the power to take steps to stop this, but as each day passes without action more and more animals continue to suffer.

• The European Commission must work towards ending the live export trade and if necessary replacing it with a trade in meat.
• While a trade in exporting live animals continues, the European Commission must implement a scheme that will guarantee exported animals are treated in ways that prevent the worst of the suffering.
• The European Commission must provide practical support to countries that import live animals from the EU in order that they can improve transport, handling and slaughter methods. This will not only improve the welfare of EU animals but also of any other animals slaughtered in those countries.

Please take action today. Email the Commission and call for an end to this suffering.

News Link:-http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=25833&ea.tracking.id=7774353c&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=204606&ea.campaigner.email=KmIGskm9q9s8Id8OlpmXxz%2BUx/5a9CUY&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Please sign the petition at the above link Or below

http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=25833&ea.tracking.id=7774353c&utm_campaign=transport&utm_source=actionemail&utm_medium=email&ea.url.id=204606&ea.campaigner.email=KmIGskm9q9s8Id8OlpmXxz%2BUx/5a9CUY&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

Please also take a moment to share the results of this investigation and call on others to take action with you!:-www.ciwf.org/EUliveexports

Media Gallery

Related articles

• Graphic Video: Where Do Farm Animals End Up Once They Leave the Eu?
• Mercy For Animals: Meet Abby; A Cow Abused From Birth To Slaughter
• Very Graphic Video: Cattle tortured in Gaza – Live Export, Cruelty Exposed
• Graphic Videos: Yet More Egypt Cruelty Footage Emerges
• Graphic content: Slaughter Of Horses Causes Outrage: Petition To Sign
• Video: Live Goat Exports Exposed
• GRAPHIC VIDEO: We Must Shut This Slaughterhouse Down: Please Send Email

Very Graphic Video: Cattle tortured in Gaza – Live Export, Cruelty Exposed

“I have never witnessed such horrors, whereby those inflicting the pain & abuse, actually enjoy seeing the poor animals suffer! The crowds including children join in by cheering & laughing whilst the poor bulls are slowly slaughtered, or should I say executed; in front of an audience taking pictures & baying for blood! To end the barbaric cruelty of Australian Livestock, please help to stop Live Export by following the links at the bottom of this post.”

Background briefing. Stories of horrific abuse & torture; captured on video at Gaza!!

TORTURE OF AUSTRALIAN CATTLE IN GAZA

Animals Australia has lodged a significant legal complaint with the Department of Agriculture supported by extensive evidence showing the brutal torture and slaughter of Australian cattle in Gaza in October 2013. Locations and dates of these incidents were verified by translators and contacts in Israel.

The footage was filmed and uploaded to YouTube by civilians. Dozens of individual videos discovered by Animals Australia show the sadistic treatment, torture and slaughter of Australian cattle on the streets and in abattoirs in the Gaza Strip during the Eid al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).

ORIGIN OF ANIMALS

The cattle in the videos have been identified as Australian through their ear tags which are of a type, size and shape that is unique to Australian exporters to Israel, as well as through the presence of NLIS (National Livestock Identification Scheme) RFID tags. Also, a number of ear tags directly correlated with ear tags of Australian cattle arriving in Israel in June 2013 aboard the livestock vessel Bader 3, which is operated by Australian exporter Livestock Shipping Services.

CIVILIAN INJURIES

On an equally serious note, the government reported 125 injuries to people, some critical, during these brutal slaughter practices on the streets of the Gaza Strip. Media reports also relay the concerns of Gazan citizens about the human health risks of blood, bones and skins being left in the streets after what they call the ‘indiscriminate’ and uncontrolled street slaughter of sacrificial animals.

THE EVIDENCE

The videos depict Australian cattle:

• being beaten and dragged by ropes off trucks without unloading ramps;
• being dragged, man-handled and chased along streets to slaughter locations;
• tethered to street poles, tree trunks and trucks and having their legs bound before being forced to the ground and ‘strung out’ for slaughter;
• having their necks stabbed at and slashed to weaken them through blood loss;
• being stabbed in the eyes;
• having their necks ‘sawn’ at with blunt knives;
• being forcefully kicked, pushed/pulled/tripped to the ground using a series of ropes;
• brutally slaughtered by being repeatedly stabbed at and having their necks slashed;
• being strangled by neck ropes whilst ‘bleeding out’; and
• ‘knee-capped’ with an assault rifle.

AUSTRALIAN LIVE EXPORT REGULATIONS

In 2011, the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) was implemented in response to overwhelming community concerns about the treatment of Australian exported animals. ESCAS placed legal responsibility for the welfare of Australian exported animals on exporters and required animals to be retained within approved supply chains that met base level international welfare standards.

The sale and slaughter of animals outside approved supply chains in Gaza represents a major breach of these regulations.

The major Australian exporter into Israel and Palestine is Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), whose parent company is the large Jordanian livestock import/export company, Hijazi & Ghosheh.

LSS is the exporter implicated for live export breaches in Jordan and Lebanon in June 2013 and October 2013. These cases currently under investigation involve the sale and slaughter of Australian sheep outside of approved supply chains, which in October resulted in horrendous street slaughter.

INTERNATIONAL ACTION

Animals Australia is currently working with UK based Compassion in World Farming, the world’s leading farm animal welfare organisation, on an action plan to address welfare issues in the Middle East, including lobbying religious leaders, political representatives, and the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) towards the introduction of animal protection laws. Evidence gathered will also be used to lobby European and South American live exporting countries towards transitioning to a carcass only trade. Animals Australia has also assisted in the drafting of animal protection laws in Jordan which are currently before the Minister of Agriculture.

Written Video Evidence 

Case 1 – 102 Cuts

This bull suffered no less than 102 cuts to his throat. His death, and that of many others during the 2013 Festival of Sacrifice, was filmed and shared on-line. The tags in this bull’s ears were distinctly Australian. But he died halfway around the world, in a makeshift slaughter room in Gaza.

With his legs bound and his body outstretched, the bull was helpless as a slaughterman clumsily cut at his throat with a blunt knife. The terrified animal was conscious throughout the prolonged and agonising ordeal, thrashing his head, blinking constantly and looking up at his tormentors as his throat was sawn open.

Australian regulations failed to prevent the suffering of this animal, and others like him.

Case 2 – Stabbed in the eye

This bull was chased by a mob through the back alleys of Gaza. When he wouldn’t move, he was whipped, punched and had his tail painfully twisted. In a terrified frenzy, he stampeded through the alleyways, with dozens of men fleeing in front of him. When he slipped and fell on the concrete, he was kicked — to force him back to his feet.

This animal constantly struggled as they tied him to a wall, bound his legs and pulled them out from under him. One man stood on his face and pushed a knife into his eye, while another began to cut at his throat. As the bull bellowed, they sawed at his neck with a blunt knife for almost a minute until his bellows became muted, as he choked on his own blood and died a slow and agonising death.

Case 3 – Target Practice

As this bull stood in a fenced off area, a short distance away, a man took aim with his assault rifle. But he wasn’t shooting to kill the bull quickly — he was aiming to ‘knee cap’ him.

A shot rang out, and the bull stumbled to regain his footing, limping away from his shooter. Again, the man took aim and fired. The bull nearly collapsed, but pulled himself up and again limped further away. One more shot rang out, as the bull staggered back, struggling to put weight on his injured legs.

The end fate of this animal and his eventual slaughter was not filmed. In the one and a half minutes of vision filmed by an onlooker, the bull was shot three times.

Case 4 – Beaten, Stabbed

With a crowd surrounding the truck, this Australian bull was repeatedly whipped, until, in a frenzy, he leapt from the back of the vehicle. As he flailed about and thrashed his head desperately against the tight rope around his neck, the mob shouted and chased him back.

When he slipped and fell on the gutter, a slaughterman approached and stabbed him in the neck. He clambered back to his feet and continued to struggle, but the rope around his neck meant his efforts were in vain.

Pulled up against a pole, he was violently stabbed again. With the taut rope still choking him, and blood flowing from his neck, he slumped to the ground.

Case 5 – Wide-Eyed Terror

This animal was tied to a tree. His front legs were bound together. His eyes widened in terror as a young man began to saw at his neck. Still conscious and blinking, he could do nothing but stand on his hind legs, with the weight of his body bearing down on the gaping wound in his neck. He died in a gutter, on the streets of Gaza.

Case 6 – Slipping In Blood

On a slaughter room floor, tied to a pole, this bull cowered from the slaughterman attempting to kill him.

The slaughterman thrust the knife into his neck. As the animal recoiled he slipped in his own blood. Each time he fell, he scrambled back to his feet, pulling frantically against his rope.

After almost a full minute of failed attempts to scramble from the slaughterman, he fell for a final time, too weak from blood loss to get back to his feet. As he landed on the blood soaked tiles, slaughtermen sprayed water into the wounds on his neck. He was not the only Australian animal to suffer and die in this room.

Case 7 –  Vocalising In Pain

This bull’s agonised bellowing, during his ordeal, conveyed his terror far beyond what any words could describe.

For almost two minutes after the first cut to his neck, this animal kept fighting. With each approach of the slaughterman he ducked his head or reared up, trying to avoid the knife stabbing at this neck. On at least a dozen approaches, the slaughterman thrust the knife in and cut deeper, and each time the bull vocalised in pain.

Finally, with blood streaming from his wounds, with one man pulling on his tail, three more pulling on a rope around his neck, and surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, he collapsed and died.

Case 8 – Hit, Kicked, Shoved

As this bull lay in the gutter, his neck half-severed, a stream of blood flowed down the road towards him — seemingly from another dying animal. Mixing with his own blood, the red rivulet flowed under and around him, filling the gutter where he lay.

Moments earlier, he had struggled to remain standing, as two men kicked and shoved him, trying to knock him over. When he had fallen and his throat was sawn open, young boys ran up to kick and hit the helpless animal.

The brutality he and other animals endured wasn’t necessary. It had nothing to do with religion. In fact, when these tragic videos were uploaded to YouTube, the suffering was condemned by Muslim commenter’s. It wasn’t ‘halal’. It was the tragic outcome of a live export industry that had failed to protect them.

Case 9 – Hit In The Face, Dragged From A Truck

This bull stood huddled together with two others on the back of a truck. With all his strength he resisted as a crew of men heaved on the rope around his neck. Even after being hit in the face with a broomstick, he continued to resist.

Moments later, as he lay dying on the slaughter room floor, the slaughterman paused, whilst cutting into his throat, to pose for a photo.

Case 10 – Stomped On

This animal’s death was crude and painful. Before reaching the slaughter room he had fallen heavily from a truck and was stomped on. The slaughterman thrust his knife into the animal’s neck, leaving a gaping hole. He then continued to thrust the knife deeper into the wound, un-phased by the suffering he was inflicting on the bull. With his neck agape, the bull clambered to his feet, pulling in vain against the rope around his head. When he collapsed for a final time it was clear that only his eventual death would bring an end to this animal’s suffering.

Case 11 – Hosed With Water

Already wounded from a stab to the neck, this bull let out a meek bellow as the slaughterman cut into him again. When he had fallen to the ground, the slaughtermen began spraying him with water. As he lay bleeding on the floor, they continued to hose him.

When water sprayed into his wounds he shook his head, trying to avoid it. Clearly weak from blood loss, when the next bull was slaughtered, virtually on top of him, he was too weak to react.

Case 12 – Half-Severed Neck

With his head strung up to a post and his front legs bound, this white bull kicked hopelessly at the air, while they slashed his throat. The crowd around him cheered and whistled as he suffered this agonising slaughter.

Even once his throat was cut, there was no end to his suffering. He was forced to hang there, his head pulled upward and the weight of his upper body stretching his half-severed neck wide open. Only his impending death could bring him relief from his suffering.

10 More Cases Documented – All depicting shocking cruelty. Crowds of people including children, cheered & laughed whilst bulls were tormented & abused; before they had their throats slit whilst still conscious !

To Read Each Individual Case Along With Supporting Video Evidence:–http://banliveexport.com/gaza-files OR Watch clips of all the video evidence on the YouTube video below:-

WARNING:No words adequately describe the carnage in this video and the scale of abuse endured by Australian cattle. While we have edited this video to make it easier to watch, it is still shocking and harrowing to watch.

Viewer Discretion Strongly Advised

Published on 11 Dec 2013

Filmed by civilians during the Festival of Sacrifice in October 2013, this footage shows cattle being terrorised by crowds and tortured in streets and makeshift slaughterhouses — all in breach of Australia’s live export regulations.

Most Australian politicians precondition their support of live export on animals being treated ‘humanely’ and in accordance with regulations. That is why Animals Australia has provided each MP and Senator with this evidence of abuse, and implored them to watch it. They are in the position to ensure that this never occurs again, and that those responsible for this cruelty are called to account.

You can help ensure Australia’s politicians see this evidence.  (Choose your way of contacting your MP) Your political representative exists to serve you — and in four simple steps we’ll help you get this critical evidence into their hands.:-http://banliveexport.com/gaza-files

Tell your senators to Ban Live Export!:-http://www.banliveexport.com/features/senators.php (Sorry, this form is only for Australian residents.) 

For people living outside of Australia, you can still take action! Click here to use our international action page.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS:

• Share this campaign with friends on Facebook,Twitter, or just tell someone.
• Tell your MP. Click here to shoot them an instant message online. Follow up with a phonecall.
• Tell the Prime Minister what you think. Send an instant message here.
• Be prepared to rally. Click here to sign up for SMS alerts from Animals Australia.
• Make a donation to help fund Animals Australia’s next live export investigation.

News Link:-http://banliveexport.com/gaza-files

Two teens charged after shooting, killing livestock

“The little shit’s, how would they like it if a gun man walked around their house killing their beloved dogs or other pets…did these thugs think “oh it’s only cattle & a horse, they mean nothing”? These thugs need to be taught a lesson & although they have given the name of the 18 yr old as  Julian Bliss they should also name the other 15 yr old; if their old enough to do the crime, they are definitely old enough to do some time & especially be named. A kid of 15 knows exactly what he is doing, it’s no excuse, prosecute them both to the fullest degree & make a bloody example out of them!!”

Spruce Grove and Stony Plain RCMP have arrested and charged two teenage boys, after officers were called to an incident where a number of livestock animals were found shot back in June.

Investigators announced Friday that two boys, aged 18 and 15-years-old faced a total of 28 charges, including counts of killing or injuring cattle, careless use of a firearm and mischief.

In addition, two long-barreled shotguns were seized.

“We were able to interview a couple of people of interest,” Insp. Gary Graham said. “We were able to interview them and subsequently both individuals were officially charged today.”

The charges were laid in connection to an investigation that started in June, 2012, when RCMP said officers received three calls on June 20, 2012, complaining that their livestock had been shot.

Investigators found a horse, a calf, and four cows in total suffering from gunshot wounds – and while two of the cows eventually recovered, the rest died.

CTV News covered the shocking deaths when residents reported the shootings in June.

Wade Thordarson said the calf and a cow shot in the incidents belonged to his 13-year-old daughter, who had owned the cattle for a year as part of a 4H project.

On Friday, CTV News learned the older boy facing charges is Julian Bliss.

Thordarson said Bliss and his family live near his home – and he has met the young man.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t be anyone from the area,” Thordarson said. “[I’m] quite surprised to know them, and that they’re from the area.

“That’s very disturbing.”

Read more: http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/two-teens-charged-after-shooting-killing-livestock-1.1129827#ixzz2KYPfAk00

Resa villagers kill predator – Big Cat or Big Dog?

It is not yet confirmed if the animal is a leopard or some other wild cat.

At around six pm last evening villagers of Resa, Saling gewog, put to deathwhat they believe to be the predator that in the past few weeks killed numerous poultry birds, a calf and attacked a man inside the house.

Resa village, Mongar, where the slain cat roamed

It could not be confirmed whether the animal was a leopard but farmers said that under torchlight it looked black in colour and was the size of a big stray dog.

Farmer Sherub Gyaltshen had set two traps around his coop around 5 pm yesterday after he lost eight hens on the night of October 1.

“Around 6 pm I saw the leopard caught in the trap. The noose had gone around the neck and a forelimb,” Sherub who lost more than half of his 80 hens in the past few weeks said.

“It was growling like anything and trying to escape so I quickly informed the neighbours and with the help of a sharp iron rod pierced its stomach,” another farmer said. “It died after 15 minutes.”

Farmers said that they had been living in fear especially after the September 21 incident. At around 7 pm that evening a 45-year old man was mauled by what villagers believe to be the same animal. Three days later it killed a calf.

The incident occurred in the kitchen outside the main house where Sangay was sleeping. “The animal suddenly jumped on my chest. The nearest thing to me was an axe and I hit out,” Sangay recalled. “It knocked the animal down but it tried to pounce on me again and I hit it again. I managed to injure it on the head.”

There were four people in the house including two children who shouted for help. The neighbours came by and helped chase the animal away.

Sangay went to Gyalpoizhing basic health unit in Mongar and did not have to take any stitches. The incident is the first for Resa village.

One of the farmers said that the dead animal had a deep cut on the head, which had become infested with worms confirming that it was the same animal that had attacked Sangay on September 21.

Forest officials will be visiting Resa village today to investigate.

News Link:-http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=37777

“I’m sorry to hear these people have lost livestock & a person was mauled…but I think it’s terrible that they killed the cat they way they did, it took 15 minutes to die, suffocating on it’s own blood, surely they could have made a quick clean kill as it was already trapped by it’s  neck & forelimb & already in serious pain from the head wound, it was hardly going anywhere! Anyhow, snooping around on other pages…I found this interesting….”

The general advice given to farmers is to stop grazing their cattle in areas, where the predator has made a kill.  If it is a kill by a tiger, then some sort of compensation is given, because the tiger needs to be saved, given its importance in the food chain.

But it needs to be known why livestock is being attacked. Maybe there is not much natural prey out in the jungle, which might have been poached for all kinds of things.  The predator could be old or injured, though the one in Punakha, wildlife conservation division officials believe, is a young fellow, at least going by the method of attack.

But what of damage by the leopard, the wild dog and the elephant?  Farmers are not compensated for damage and loss by these animals, nor are they allowed to hunt them down.  In some places, even monkeys and the porcupine do a lot of damage.

As an expert recently pointed out, lending an ear to what farmers and villagers might have to say on dealing with the problem could lead to long term sustainable solutions, rather than cash handouts, which take a long time coming and barely cover the loss

“Well if it was a leopard, were the farmers right to kill it the way they did? I will try to keep updated on this story & post any further news!”

http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=37403#more-37403

Cow Proves Animals Love, Think, And Act

“This just proves that animals, in this case cows; do have similar feelings to our’s. The bond between mother & baby, the instinct to nurture, to keep safe from harm, empathy & the intense feelings of heartache when they are separated. This had me in floods of tears; spread it far & wide to let people know that animals are indeed…cognizant, responsive, perceiving, receptive, aware, sensitive understanding, knowing, conscious & sensitive beings! So think how they feel, when at the slaughter house!!”

(TOUCHING TALE) A dairy cow made the tough choice to hide one of her calves after giving birth to twins. As her fifth birth, the cow remembered her previous agony and knew that both of her babies would be taken away, unless she tried to save one.

The intelligence and care displayed by this mothering cow is both heartbreaking and breathtaking. Read this touching tale, told by a veterinarian, about an amazing display of motherly love that proves animals love and feel. — Global Animal.

By Holly Cheever, DVM, reprinted from Action for Animals

I would like to tell you a story that is as true as it is heartbreaking. When I first graduated from Cornell’s School of Veterinary Medicine, I went into a busy dairy practice in Cortland County. I became a very popular practitioner due to my gentle handling of the dairy cows. One of my clients called me one day with a puzzling mystery: his Brown Swiss cow, having delivered her fifth calf naturally on pasture the night before, brought the new baby to the barn and was put into the milking line, while her calf was once again removed from her. Her udder, though, was completely empty, and remained so for several days.

As a new mother, she would normally be producing close to one hundred pounds (12.5 gallons) of milk daily; yet, despite the fact that she was glowing with health, her udder remained empty. She went out to pasture every morning after the first milking, returned for milking in the evening, and again was let out to pasture for the night — this was back in the days when cattle were permitted a modicum of pleasure and natural behaviors in their lives — but never was her udder swollen with the large quantities of milk that are the hallmark of a recently-calved cow.

I was called to check this mystery cow two times during the first week after her delivery and could find no solution to this puzzle. Finally, on the eleventh day post calving, the farmer called me with the solution: he had followed the cow out to her pasture after her morning milking, and discovered the cause: she had delivered twins, and in a bovine’s “Sophie’s Choice,” she had brought one to the farmer and kept one hidden in the woods at the edge of her pasture, so that every day and every night, she stayed with her baby — the first she had been able to nurture FINALLY—and her calf nursed her dry with gusto. Though I pleaded for the farmer to keep her and her bull calf together, she lost this baby, too—off to the hell of the veal crate.

Think for a moment of the complex reasoning this mama exhibited: first, she had memory — memory of her four previous losses, in which bringing her new calf to the barn resulted in her never seeing him/her again (heartbreaking for any mammalian mother). Second, she could formulate and then execute a plan: if bringing a calf to the farmer meant that she would inevitably lose him/her, then she would keep her calf hidden, as deer do, by keeping her baby in the woods lying still till she returned. Third — and I do not know what to make of this myself — instead of hiding both, which would have aroused the farmer’s suspicion (pregnant cow leaves the barn in the evening, unpregnant cow comes back the next morning without offspring), she gave him one and kept one herself. I cannot tell you how she knew to do this—it would seem more likely that a desperate mother would hide both.

All I know is this: there is a lot more going on behind those beautiful eyes than we humans have ever given them credit for, and as a mother who was able to nurse all four of my babies and did not have to suffer the agonies of losing my beloved offspring, I feel her pain.

Holly Cheever, DVM

Vice President, New York State Humane Association Member

Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association’s Leadership Council

News Link:-http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/04/13/cow-proves-animals-love-think-and-act/71867/

RSPCA – Live transport – Take Action

 

Almost all farm animals will be transported at some point in their lives. Some animals are transported to different areas of the country or to different farms or buildings to fit in with the changing seasons or their stages of growth. Some farm animals are also transported to livestock markets to be sold, and most are eventually transported to an abattoir (slaughterhouse) to be slaughtered/killed.

If animal welfare is not a priority during live transport, there can be a high risk of animal suffering. The handling during loading onto and unloading from vehicles can be stressful, and during transport animals may be faced with strange sights, movements, noises, smells and unfamiliar animals.

Heat stress, lack of good ventilation and long periods without food, water or rest can add to the welfare problems.

Zero tolerance to welfare breaches at the ports

We believe that live transportation must be kept to a minimum. Animals should be slaughtered close to the farms where they were reared and long-distance transportation of livestock for slaughter should be replaced with a ‘meat carcass-only’ trade.

During transport, higher welfare standards should be used and the animals looked after by competent and caring staff.

We are working in a number of different ways to improve the conditions in which all animals are transported.

The Campaign

Every year millions of animals including calves, sheep, dogs and horses are transported all over the EU.

Since the live export trade from Ramsgate re-opened in 2011 many thousands of animals including calves, sheep and horses have suffered being shipped overseas through its port. We’re monitoring the trade from Ramsgate and have concerns on the boat being used. We’re urging the government not to issue licenses if there are concerns that transport times laid down in law will be broken. We want to see:

• An end to long-distance transport of live animals in favour of a ‘carcass-only’ trade
• A maximum eight-hour journey time for all animals travelling for slaughter or ‘further fattening’
• Better enforcement of the current rules on live transport across the EU – including more frequent and thorough checks.

How can I help?

We’re outraged that the European Commission has rejected the ‘8 hours’ petition with over 1 million signatures against long distance live transport. Take action now and urge the Commission to accept the signatures and act on this urgent issue!

Petition Link:-http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/takeaction

News Link:–http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/-/article/CAM_livetransportation

 

 

Republican Congressman – Gloats About Bill To Enable Animal Torture

“Sorry, I’m going to have a real rant about this, so feel free to just ignore me & go straight to the post (in black writing)…I don’t know much about politics, but I know this congressman wants farm animals to go back to their pitiful lives, which will have a knock on effect to the end product, which totally defeats the object of healthy meat.  I know a little about farm animals & meat quality, from courses done at Agricultural College! How can this buffoon, justify farm animals reverting back to living  daily torturous & painful lives in cramped & filthy conditions; conditions that have a knock on effect to the price of the meat, i.e. no profit due to inferior quality of the meat & hides!”

“If he really wants to ‘fix food production’, he should be fighting to ban the cruel treatment of farm animals, not encourage it! I don’t really like talking about consuming meat, as I’m vegetarian/99% vegan (can’t call myself vegan because I do love an egg butti, from my friends pet chickens) but it’s my duty, well in this case it is!”

“Animals that are able to live by the 5 F’s rule (still sometimes referred to as Brambell’s Five Freedoms) are:-1.Freedom from Hunger and Thirst, 2.Freedom from Discomfort, 3.Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease, 4.Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour, 5.Freedom from Fear and Distress:-will, in the end, produce better quality meat; which consumers will pay more for…meaning more profit…think about it..”.

Pink meat – caused by stress or abuse, don’t buy it!

“If animals are given the above, they are likely to produce good quality offspring. As soon as an animal is born, it’s treatment throughout life on the farm will affect the quality of the meat.”

“Keeping animals fit & healthy is paramount to their ultimate value. Farmers must ensure all their workers treat the animals with respect. If you see pork that is light in colour, chances are that animals was severely stressed at the time of slaughter; so if you care for animals don’t buy meat of this colour!!”

“Ill treatment such as kicking, poking, prodding, or any form of abuse, will cause trauma to the animal, that will ultimately cost the farmer in the long run.”  

Dark meat, the cause of most of the meat wastage!

“This causes the greatest amount of meat wastage, money down the drain! If inspected, sometimes whole carcasses are wasted due to bruising of the skin & ultimately dark meat! “

“Take cows, sheep sometimes poultry or pork, if the animal was stressed, injured or diseased before being slaughtered, it will be dark in colour. It has something to do with the muscle glycogen & little lactic acid production, which results in dark coloured meat.

 “If you like steaks, don’t buy dark coloured meat, it won’t be as tasty as it should be & it will be as tough as old boots!.” 

This is healthy meat form a healthy animal!

“It’s simple, farmers must treat livestock well through out their lives on the farm. Once they leave the farm towards slaughter, anyone handling them must ensure there is no abuse, keep stress levels down & all will be rewarded, with everybofdy making a profit!”

“Which is why I can’t believe thist old numb nuts want to change it…I’ve decided he just doesn’t like animals…Period!!”

This isn’t an unintended consequence — King told the Daily Caller that his amendment “fixes the states and their political subdivisions regulating food production everywhere in America.” However, King might want to reconsider that position, as his amendment would legalize several horrific farming and food practices that some states have chosen to do away with:

• Florida, Ohio, and seven other states have banned confining pregnant pigs in cages that prevent them from moving their limbs or walking in a circle. Pigs confined in so-called gestation crates are forced to defecate where they stand, exposed to serious risk of traumatic injury as a consequence of immobility, and develop sores as a consequence of attempting to move against or bite the bars the bars that confine them. They live their whole lives like this.
• Seven states have banned similar confinement for baby calves. So-called veal creates are designed to atrophy muscles to improve the taste of meat, creating what the ASPCA calls“lives of agony and frustration” for the cows until they are slaughtered at four or five months.
• Three states have banned tail-docking, wherein parts of cows tails are lopped off, occasionally without anesthetic. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes tail docking as unnecessary and highly painful.
• Maryland prohibits adding arsenic to chicken feed, which – besides the obvious problems – also spreads the poison into the surrounding soil.

King, though, brags that his legislation “wipes out everything they’ve [animal rights advocates] done with pork and veal.” Indeed, King has a long record of opposing animal welfare law — he has, for example, been Congress’ leading advocate against anti-dogfighting legislation.

He also believes that the Humane Society and other animal rights advocates are attempting to ban “production agriculture” and has fantasized about exposing vegetarians with “an agenda for our diets” on the House floor.

News Link:–http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/07/18/540441/republican-bill-animal-torture/?mobile=nc

Record Heat Wave Kills Over 830,000 Farm Animals

 

SOUTH KOREA – Hundreds of thousands of animals have died in South Korea, the government said Wednesday, due to a heat wave that is heading for a three-week streak.

Over 830,000 farm animals, including 786,512 chickens, have been killed since 20 July, when midday temperatures began hovering above 33 C in most parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, reports YonhapNewsAgency.

The dead animals include 40,780 ducks and 336 pigs. Such damages are often caused by power outages that can halt the ventilation and cooling systems at farms.

The country was forced to issue power shortage warnings for two consecutive days this week as the sweltering weather pushed up its energy consumption to new highs, driving down its electricity levels to what officials called “dangerous levels” of less than three million kilowatts.

“The number of animals killed may actually be greater, pending on a more thorough survey,” a ministry official said, noting damages may also grow from the continuing heat wave.

The country is also experiencing its longest streak of so-called tropical nights, where overnight temperatures stay above 25 C.

NewsLink:-http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/26494/record-heat-wave-kills-over-830000-farm-animals