HSUS Slips Up -- Slams Packer With No Proof

Agribusiness Freedom Foundation
by Steve Dittmer
June 30, 2008

The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) has implied that a packer violated national school lunch meat supply rules apparently just because the packer sometimes bought cattle at an auction market at which an alleged HSUS video showed downer cattle being mistreated.

Akin to branding everyone who drives down a certain street as wrongdoers just because some people commit crimes on that street, HSUS could easily find itself the target of a lawsuit for their stunt at a news conference last week.

HSUS has evidently decided that kids and the national school lunch program is an emotional key they can use in attacking America's beef production system. But after months of undercover surveillance, unable to establish links between its auction videos and the school lunch program, HSUS concocted an elaborately contrived propaganda stunt at a media conference to suggest a "link," even after admitting that is has no evidence.

In true tabloid-style, sensationalist fudging, HSUS referenced its video clips allegedly obtained at a livestock market in Portales, N.M. showing sick and/or injured animals - "downers" -- being improperly handled at the market. Then it recounted the Hallmark/Westland case of a slaughter facility mishandling animals and allegations that downer animals entered the supply chain of Hallmark's school lunch contract. HSUS then mentioned that Caviness Packing of Hereford, Tx. sometimes buys cattle from Portales and that Caviness' Palo Duro division is now the largest school lunch ground beef provider since Hallmark is out of business -- for which HSUS takes credit.

All this under a subheadline reading, "Offenders Include Suppliers to the National School Lunch Program."

Of course, HSUS does not mention that even in the Hallmark case, the recall was based on the potential that some downer cattle that had passed initial inspection were slaughtered for the school lunch program -- not proof made public that any did. HSUS also referred incorrectly to Palo Duro as the top school lunch program supplier.

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No one cares more about cattle than beef producers

Kansas City Star
By DAN THOMSON
June 10, 2008

Animal welfare and husbandry are cornerstones of raising efficient, healthy cattle. Today we have often confused animal welfare with animal abuse. Distinction between the two is imperative for the beef industry and beef consumers.

Kansas State University is improving the communication among producers, regulatory officials, veterinarians, nutritionists and consumers with the International Beef Cattle Welfare Symposium that took place from May 28 to 30.

We are excited that more than 250 people from around the world attended, with even more people signed for a live Webcast.

Strong interest demonstrates that people in the beef cattle industry are interested in understanding more about cattle welfare and how these practices will improve our industry biologically and economically.

We are fortunate that they came to Kansas to discuss the future directions for best practices and the future of cattle health and well-being.

No one cares more about cattle than beef producers. The health and well-being of their animals impacts profitability and is part of providing safe, wholesome food. Anybody who has been associated with raising livestock understands firsthand the connection ranchers and beef producers have with the cattle they care for daily.

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