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  • FEDERAL LANDS GRAZING
  • FEEDLOTS
  • MEAT PACKING
Winning Issue » MEAT PACKING


Our beef industry slaughters at least 35 million animals each year. Most are herded through a processing line. However, cattle that are unable to stand or walk to slaughter are called “downed animals.” Some of these animals are just scared, tired, suffering from old age or have been injured during transport to the processing plant. Slaughterhouses often assume that these causes, not illness or disease, are the reasons these animals are immobile. It is illegal to process animals that are ill or diseased. Downed animals are usually pushed or pulled, often by tractor and chain, to their inevitable destination. It is estimated there are about 130,000 downed animals slaughtered for food every year.

Animal welfare advocates say there is no way to humanely move downed cattle without causing injury. Health advocates say downed animals should not be used for human consumption since they may be diseased.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.3704 - Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act (112th Congress 2011-2012)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX)



Options


  • I oppose reforming current downed animal usage policy, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA).
  • I support prohibiting slaughterhouse inspectors from approving any nonambulatory livestock, carcass, or carcass parts and requiring these inspectors to label such material as "inspected and condemned," and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.


Winning Option
  • I support prohibiting slaughterhouse inspectors from approving any nonambulatory livestock, carcass, or carcass parts and requiring these inspectors to label such material as "inspected and condemned," and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
There has been $0.00 pledged in support of this issue
Trustee Candidates

If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider either reintroducing H.R.3704 - Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act (112th Congress 2011-2012), or a similar version thereof.

If elected as a trustee, Farm Sanctuary will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for reducing or eliminating the number of downed animals processed for food.

Mission: We pursue bold solutions to end animal agriculture and foster just and compassionate vegan living. Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of factory farming, advocate for institutional reforms, and encourage a new awareness and understanding of farm animals and the benefits of cruelty-free, plant-based living. Farm Sanctuary fights the disastrous effects of animal agriculture on animals, the environment, social justice, and public health through rescue, education, and advocacy. As the founding farm animal Sanctuary in the U.S., Farm Sanctuary has rescued and provided refuge for countless survivors of the animal agriculture system.
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Trustee Election - Opening Date
June 14, 2021
Trustee Election - Closing Date
June 21, 2021