Excerpts from letter by J. W. Wilson D.V.M.

I received my D.V.M. degree in 1942 and engaged in a predominantly dairy practice for 25 years. I then worked for Wisconsin meat inspection for 7 years. I feel that I am familiar with the down cattle phase from both sides. I am aware that down cows which do not readily respond to treatment are for the most part dying cows. They may die in a few hours but for the most part they are in the way and are disposed of to get rid of them.

These down cows are dragged out of the barn or pasture on to a truck and hauled to a slaughter plant where they are dragged from the truck to the kill floor. These cows live in a state of suspended animation, do not eat and do not get better. If in lateral recumbency will stay that way and if helped up on their belly the head will flop down to the side. When slaughtered the lymph nodes do not usually show involvement.

During my work with Wisconsin meat inspection I spent quite some time working on the kill floor of two plants which more or less specialized in the slaughter and processing of down cattle. I concluded as a result of my working with this class of cattle that if these diseased and dying cattle were to be kept out of the food chain it would have to be on the basis of ante mortem inspection. The post mortem inspection is based on the response of the immune system to infection. It seems as though these cows have their own version of AIDS.