Livestock Industry Voices Supporting "No Downer" Policy

"Nonambulatory animals: Injury to the central nervous system is a typical cause, and response to treatment is poor. The condemnation rate for these animals is more than 95 percent, and euthanasia often is the most humane and economical option." (Drover's Journal, August, 2000)

"The National Cattlemen's Association recommends that producers never market a severely lame or disabled animal. Instead, keep it at home and humanely euthanize it. The reason: to avoid further suffering of the animal and industry embarrassment." (Dairy Today, January, 1993)

"Good animal husbandry is good business in the dairy industry. Preventing down cows and keeping them milking is cearly better from both humane and economic statdpoints. Most, seventy-five precent or more, of the down cows on dairies can be prevented through simple management and veterinary practices... This winter the slaughter houses in this area stopped accepting down cows... not selling cows as downers has not hurt my clients but has re- focussed attention in the right direction -- prevention and rehabilitation." (statement of dairy veterinarian, Dr. Jim Reynolds, April 17, 1993, before the Judiciary Committee of the California State Senate)

"...don't send downed animals to market. Take the loss of one animal at home rather than create a situation that opponents of agriculture can use to destroy the livestock industry." (Lancaster Farming, editorial, August 22, 1993)

"...it is near impossible to unload and/or move downed and severely distressed animals in a humane manner without first euthanizing them" (memorandum to livestock markets from the Minnesota Livestock Marketing Associaton, January 25, 1991)

"As a matter of perception (and principle) the sale of downer animals to any place but a rendering company should be forbidden." (Tom Lawin, editor, The Country Today, February 27, 1991)

"Crippled swine unable to walk, or sick swine that will not recover, should be humanely euthanized on the farm and not transported to market." (letter to hog markets from David Meeker, Vice President, National Pork Producers Council, May 17, 1991)

"There's no excuse for shipping animals which cannot walk." (Hoard's Dairyman, July, 1991)

"Producers should not 'push their problems' on trucks and hope to receive some salvage value for the animal or use stockyards as a disposal system for this type of animal." (Pork Report, July/August, 1991)

"Ninety percent of downers are preventable... the industry can eliminate downers by euthanizing them." (Meat & Poultry, August, 1991)