The Humane Society of the United States expressed thanks to President Barack Obama for personally announcing a ban on slaughtering downed cattle -- those unable even to stand or walk -- in the United States. The closing of the loophole improves the welfare of animals and strengthens the safety of our nation's food supply.

The announcement comes within the first 50 days of the new administration, and more than a year after The Humane Society of the United States released undercover video revealing the abuse of dairy cows at a Chino, Calif. slaughter plant -- where sick and crippled animals were grossly mistreated in attempts to get them into the food system. The investigation led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history, riots in South Korea over American beef imports and eight congressional hearings.

"Finally, the federal government is putting a stop to the inhumane and reckless practice of dragging and otherwise abusing downer cows in order to slaughter them for human consumption," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "We commend President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for taking quick action to protect animals and public health, especially after the foot dragging on the issue by the previous administration."

The HSUS undercover investigation of the Hallmark/Westland slaughter plant resulted in a series of hearings as Congress demanded answers about the treatment of animals and food safety procedures at what was then one of the largest suppliers to the National School Lunch Program, affecting students in 47 states. School systems across the country pulled beef products from their menus even before the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall of 143 million pounds of beef produced at the plant. The recall certainly cost the meat industry and the federal government more than $1 billion, and perhaps significantly more.

The HSUS has also documented the abuse of downer cows at livestock auctions and stockyards in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas and videotaped downed cattle at each stop. Animals had been left to suffer for hours and in one instance overnight.

Former Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced last May that the agency would ban the slaughter of all downed animals. However, USDA never finalized the policy before President George W. Bush left office. After the HSUS investigation at Hallmark/Westland, several meat industry groups, including the American Meat Institute, reversed their long-standing opposition to a downer ban and called on the Bush administration to act.

The HSUS has pressed for a comprehensive ban on slaughtering downed cattle since before the discovery of the first cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, in the United States in 2003. That discovery led the Bush administration to ban the slaughter of most downed cattle, but the policy later included a major loophole that led to the abuses and food safety risks The HSUS documented at the Hallmark/Westland plant.

The link between downed cattle and BSE is well established. Of the 19 known cases of BSE-infected animals discovered in North America, at least 15 involved downed animals.

Source and photo: The Humane Society of the United States