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1.
"Natural" Animal Products Drive Demand for Small Processors, Mobile Slaughter
According to some farmers, increased consumer demand for "natural" animal products such as grass-fed beef and free-range poultry flesh has resulted in a need for more small meat processors. Sales of so-called natural or "organic" meat totaled $75 million in the US in 2003, growing rapidly but still representing less than 1% of all meat sales. There are about 12,000 small meat processing companies in the US, down approximately 10% from 1995. The increased interest in natural animal products coming at the same time as a decline in small meat processing has created a "bottleneck suppressing possible growth of this emerging industry." Fewer small processors are currently operating due in part to market pressures, including waning interest in previously profitable byproducts such as leather and waste for rendering. Some animal farmers have to travel up to 300 miles to find a federally inspected processing plant, which also increases costs for smaller processors.
One response to the dearth of small meat processors
is the concept of mobile or on-farm slaughter, used
most frequently for poultry and other small animals.
Mobile slaughter units, including some models approved
by the US Department of Agriculture, have advantages
and disadvantages from a welfare perspective. Most
notably, animals do not have to be loaded onto a truck
and transported to a processing facility; according
to one processor, "It's less stress on the animals
because they are not loaded onto a truck, driven two
to three hours, waiting in a pen, smelling the odor
of death." However, some raise concerns that mobile
slaughter units are more difficult for federal inspectors
to monitor. The Montana legislature recently passed
a bill authorizing the state inspection of mobile
slaughter units, thus permitting sale of those products
within the state (but not to other states). Mobile
slaughter is a growing trend due to lack of federally
inspected processing plants in some states and meat
processors' interest in specialty products.
1. "The Beef of Small Meat Processors," The Roanoke Times, 5/1/05
http://www.roanoke.com/business/22819.html
2. "New Law Legalizes Mobile Slaughter," Billings
Gazette / Associated Press, 5/5/05
http://tinyurl.com/7of4m
(Billings Gazette website)
2.
Welfare Experts Resign from KFC Advisory Committee,
Refuse Confidentiality
Two prominent animal welfare experts
resigned as advisors to fast food company KFC after
being asked to sign a far-reaching confidentiality
agreement. Drs. Temple Grandin (Colorado State University)
and Ian Duncan (University of Guelph) announced their
resignations after seeing the document they say could
preclude them from speaking to the media or talking
in general about farmed animal welfare. Under the
agreement, KFC's advisors are required to refer all
questions or media inquiries to the company for a
response. The move suggests KFC's parent company,
Yum Brands, may be increasingly concerned about pressure
from animal activists. KFC has been under consistent
attack lately from animal protection groups, mostly
notably PETA, claiming the company and its suppliers
are responsible for inhumanely slaughtering billions
of birds. Dr. Duncan underscored this concern by stating,
"I've not been happy with the progress that's been
made in setting standards (for animal welfare)," although
KFC is working to keep Duncan as a technical advisor.
Dr. Grandin spoke less pointedly, saying that KFC
"needs to be strengthening some things," but also
confirming that she is willing to continue working
with the company in an advisory capacity if the confidentiality
issues can be resolved.
1. "Animal Experts Quit KFC Over Confidentiality Pact," Reuters, 5/5/05
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8402665
2. "Two Animal Welfare Experts Resign from KFC," Meatingplace.com, 5/9/05
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14209
(Registration)
3.
USDA Drafts National Animal ID and Tracking Plan and Establishes Timeline
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
released a new "draft strategic plan" detailing the
National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and suggesting
a timeline leading to mandatory participation by January
2009. The draft plan would require that all states
be capable of registering premises with farmed animals
by July 2006. It would also call for a shift from
a voluntary identification system to a mandatory one
in early 2009, requiring registration of all farmed
animal premises and tracking of all animals. However,
despite proposing it in the strategic plan, the USDA
is not committed to a mandatory system and has made
the plan available for public comment through June
6, 2005 (see link to full document below). The NAIS,
designed primarily to monitor and track the spread
of diseases, is based on three main components, including
"premises identification, animal identification, and
animal tracking." The goal of the NAIS is to track
all farmed animals from birth to death, allowing inspectors
to identify all at-risk farms and animals within 48
hours of a disease outbreak. Funded with just over
$50 million in federal money, the NAIS is intended
to "encompass the tracking of all animal species that
could directly or indirectly impact the animal health
status of our nation's food animal system." Working
groups have been established to study the identification
and tracking of cows, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep,
pigs, equines, and other animals.
1. "USDA Unveils Multi-Year Draft Strategic Plan for the NAIS," USDA, 5/5/05
http://tinyurl.com/brjb4
(usda.gov website)
2. Full Report (PDF file, 731k): "National Animal Identification System," 4/25/05
http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/about/pdf/NAIS_Draft_Strategic_Plan_42505.pdf
3. "USDA Unveils Draft National Animal ID System," Meatingplace.com, 5/6/05
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14204
(Registration)
4. Australia to Resume Live Exports to Saudi Arabia as Activists Prepare to Respond
Nearly two years ago, Saudi Arabian
officials refused shipment of 58,000 live Australian
sheep aboard the Cormo Express, resulting in the animals
being subjected to an extended sea voyage, significant
heat stress, and starvation. However, on May 4 the
two countries signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) that will permit the resumption of the live
sheep trade. Included in the MOU is an important provision
allowing vessels to offload animals into quarantine
holding facilities rather than being sent back out
to sea if trade issues or other concerns arise. Historically,
Saudi Arabia has accounted for almost 30% of Australia's
live sheep exports, including 1.8 million live sheep
transported in 2002, the last full year of trade between
the two countries. In response to the seemingly imminent
resumption of trade with Saudi Arabia, Australian
animal advocates have vowed to continue fighting the
practice. The activists were bolstered recently by
the somewhat surprising acquittal of an Adelaide activist
who contaminated the food and water supplies of a
shipload of 70,000 sheep. The action delayed transport
of those animals and, according to the industry, cost
the Australian live exporters tens of thousands of
dollars. Activists throughout Australia are said to
be planning concerted efforts to renew the fight against
the country's resumed trade in live sheep.
1. "Australia, Saudi Put 'Sheep at Sea' Row Behind Them," Planet Ark / Reuters, 5/5/05
http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=30691
2. "Red Meat Industry Welcomes Trade MOU with Saudi Arabia," Meat and Livestock Industry, 5/5/05
http://www.mla.com.au/content.cfm?sid=25&newsid=3690
3. "Activists Warn of Renewed Live Export Campaign," ABC/AU, 5/9/05
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1363193.htm
5. Consumer Issues: Urban Farming; Ohio Survey; USDA Statement on Veg*n Diets
URBAN FARMING: A new
report describing global consumer trends details products
designed for "urban farming," including small-scale
henhouses and cows available for lease. Home-based
gardens are viewed as the basis of urban farming,
but many companies are offering animal products as
well. UK-based company Omlet sells consumers organically-raised
chickens along with a portable henhouse. Switzerland-based
Kuhleasing will "lease" cows to people and guarantee
a certain quantity of cheese every year. A US-based
company called Rent Mother Nature will lease urbanites
"everything from beehives to fruit trees, lobster
traps to sheep," although the animals remain on the
farm until slaughtered (or milked). Generally, urban
farming is viewed as a growth market as people seek
to become more knowledgeable and active in their own
food production.
OHIO SURVEY: A recent survey of Ohio
residents found a very strong willingness to pay more
for products from animals raised and treated humanely.
More than 3 out of 4 Ohioans agreed that quality of
life for farmed animals is important (85%), that well-being
of farmed animals is as important as that of companion
animals (81%), and that farmed animals should be protected
from feeling physical pain (75%). Translating opinion
into intended action, more than half of Ohioans also
said they are willing to pay up to 25% more for products
from humanely treated animals. The survey, conducted
by researchers at Ohio State University, found more
concern for farmed animal welfare among urban dwellers
compared to rural residents.
USDA STATEMENT: The US Department
of Agriculture, in accordance with the new MyPyramid
system of dietary recommendations, issued a set of
"tips and resources" regarding vegetarian diets. The
USDA states that "vegetarian diets can meet all the
recommendations for nutrients" and suggests that vegetarian
consumers try soy-based meat and dairy alternatives.
"A variety of vegetarian products look (and may taste)
like their non-vegetarian counterparts, but are usually
lower in saturated fat and contain no cholesterol,"
according to the USDA website. MyPyramid, which has
received stark criticism from some nutritionists,
is also being parodied in a new website designed to
show how the USDA's policies are guided by business
interests. The spoof site, www.mypyramid.org, is intended
to "represent USDA more accurately than they represent
themselves," according to its designer. The site provides
tongue-in-cheek recommendations for consumers as well
as links to articles connecting the USDA to corporate
agribusiness.
1. "Farming Without a Farm," Edmonton Journal, 5/6/05
http://tinyurl.com/alg7z
(Canada.com website)
2. "Urban Farming," Springwise.com, May 2005
http://www.springwise.com/newbusinessideas/urbanFarming.htm
3. "Midwesterners Would Pay More for Meat from Humanely Raised Animals," Agriculture.com, 5/9/05
http://tinyurl.com/blaff
(Agriculture.com website)
4. "Tips and Resources: Vegetarian Diets," USDA's MyPyramid.com
http://www.mypyramid.gov/tips_resources/vegetarian_diets.html
5. "A Sly Spoof on New USDA Food Pyramid," Sun Sentinel, 5/8/05
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-mockpyramidmay08,0,2754197.story
6. Other Items of Interest
"Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis
for the Development of Sustainable Monitoring Systems
for Farm Animal Welfare," Journal of Agricultural
and Environmental Ethics," May 2005
A trio of Dutch researchers has authored an article
providing recommendations and a proposed structure
for sustainable monitoring of farmed animal welfare.
The abstract (link below) identifies numerous stakeholders
interested in animal welfare (absent animal advocates)
and suggests balancing the needs of those stakeholders
to create a viable, long-term system for monitoring
welfare issues on farms.
http://www.springerlink.com/link.asp?id=v3jq9v6q72355137
"Budget's Pork Aids Former Pig Farms," Sun
Sentinel, 5/7/05
The Florida state legislature passed a new budget
that includes compensation to two pig farmers whose
businesses were allegedly impacted by the constitutional
ban on gestation crates passed by voters in 2002.
Each farm is eligible for a grant of up to $275,000
unless Florida governor Jeb Bush vetoes it from the
budget.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fpigs07may07,0,3731220.story
"Voluntary COOL Bill Introduced in House,"
Meatingplace.com, 5/5/05
A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill
in the US House of Representatives called the "Meat
Promotion Act of 2005" (HR 2068). The bill is strongly
supported by several meat industry groups because
it would overrule a mandatory labeling program currently
planned to go into effect in September 2006 and viewed
as too expensive by producers.
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14196
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