Ban on slaughter of downer cows announced

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on Tuesday announced a total ban on the slaughter at meat plants of cows too sick or weak to stand.

The planned change comes after the nation's largest beef recall. It would shut down an exception — which critics call a loophole — that allows a small number of so-called downer cows into the food supply if they pass veterinary inspection.

Downer cattle pose increased risk for mad-cow disease, E. coli and other infections, partly because they typically wallow in feces. They are mostly banned from slaughter, but under current rules can be allowed in if they fall down after passing an initial veterinary inspection and are reinspected and pass that second inspection.

Some lawmakers and the Humane Society of the United States lobbied Schafer to eliminate that exception, and the meat and dairy industry last month reversed its opposition and endorsed the change.

Schafer announced the planned rule after a 60-day review of conditions at the nation's slaughterhouses. The department hopes to finalize the rule within several months.

The review was prompted by a 143 million-pound beef recall in February, ordered after the Humane Society released undercover video showing employees abusing downer cows at Westland/Hallmark Meat in Chino, Calif.

Downer cattle at the plant were forced to slaughter without the required second veterinary inspection, which is why the recall was ordered. Included in the recall were 37 million pounds of beef that had gone to school-lunch and other public-nutrition programs. The plant has since closed.

Agriculture officials have insisted there was minimal health risk.

Schafer said no such violations have been found at other slaughterhouses. He said the rule change was not being done for public-health reasons but should increase consumer confidence by eliminating confusion about the handling of downers.

"I don't think we can justify the confusion that takes place in the consumer's mind," Schafer said.

He also said the change should improve handling of cows by cattle producers and slaughterhouses "as there will no longer be any market for cattle that are too weak to rise or walk on their own."

The change would affect a small number of cows. Of 34 million cows slaughtered in 2007, about 2,700 fell down after the initial veterinary inspection and were reinspected, Schafer said.

Of those, less than 1,000 were approved to go to slaughter, he said.

In 2004, the USDA tightened regulations to prohibit the slaughter of downer cows after a case of mad-cow disease in Washington state.

Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president and chief executive, praised the decision but said the rule should take effect immediately and cover other livestock and intermediate markets, such as auction sites where the Humane Society has documented abuse.

He disputed Schafer's claim that there was not a public-health concern with the downer exception, noting that most mad-cow cases in North America have been from downers.

Material from The Washington Post is included in this report.