I knew the production of meat wasn't the cleanest or most environmentally friendly process out there, and I had heard of the horrifying ways cows used to be treated at the slaughterhouse. I had nievely thought it was put to an end years ago... I guess whenever I read about it I thought someone had done something so it wouldn't happen any more. Duh... I guess I'm just dumb! Did any of you see the report on ABC last night about the 'Slaughterhouse Horror' in California? There was video of people ramming forklifts into cows that couldn't get up because they were either too sick or already physically injured. People were repeatedly shocking the cows, on their head, with the electric prods, even when it was obvious the cow couldn't get up and move. That's just mean! There was one cow which looked like it's hamstrings or tendons in the ankle was broken because it couldn't walk with it's hind feet on the ground, it had to drag them behind itself with them folded up like skis. These cows were dairy cows, apparently no longer able to be used for their milk (even though some of them had udders that were obviously very full and swollen with milk), and they were stuck in the back of semi trailers and were to be taken to be slaughtered for meat. The meat from these cows (from this beef processing company) is purchased by the federal government to be used in the public school lunch system. SO - these cows who are being brutalized, and may be sick, are being tortured so they will go into the slaughterhouse to be fed to our kids. Who else do you think it's being sent to?
Please check out THIS link at ABCNews.com. ***WARNING - it is disturbing to watch***
A hidden camera investigation by the Humane Society of the United States found a California slaughterhouse used banned animals for meat destined for school lunch programs. (ABCNEWS.com)
OK, so in the report it was stated that the people on tape were fired from the company, but the thing that is most awful about all of this - it's normal for the industry! There are animals all over the US which are treated in this manner... sure, some will say 'they're going to die anyway - that's why they were raised, right?' Well, even so - I feel they should be treated with some respect, dignity, some form of compassion should be afforded these beings which help sustain us! And for goodness sakes, don't use sick animals in our food supply!
I am done with beef... I love hamburgers, meatloaf, good meatballs, lasagna... but I cannot in good concious eat without knowing FOR SURE where it came from, if the animal was healthy, and if the animal was treated properly. What am I going to eat now? This is appalling to me, I'm glad I didn't let my kids watch it. It would have traumatized them.
4 comments:
Thanks for your note! And thank you for the condolences, I truly appreciate it! You have an amazing talent, I will have to show my Mom your link. She used to make quilts, and she LOVES stopping at any sort of craft/quilt store.
It is nutty the things people get away with, isn't it? I am glad those workers were fired, but unfortunately there are plenty other cruel people out there.
I know what you mean, Em. I really don't like to buy any meat from the supermarket and the meat going to our schools? Gross! It's just horrible to treat animals that way.
Luckily, I've got a good resource for healthy, grass and grain fed cows and pigs from an Amish couple who frequent our farmer's market. Very healthy, natural and humane. You should check and see if there are any local farmers like that in your area. You pay a little more, but it's worth it. Happy animals make tastier dishes (yeah, that sounds weird, all typed out like that, but it's true).
Isn't it horrible what they do at modern slaughterhouses? I agree with Jenny that you should look into any local small farmers as meat sources. Also if you're near a kosher butcher shop then you can rest assured that the meat sold there comes from animals who were humanely treated. It worries me immensely that these cows were being slaughtered to feed children. Definitely not the best meat to be nourishing our young.
I have no problems at all in eating meat and understand and know that cows are being raised for that purpose. But that doesn't give us the right to tease or torture the animals as they're giving their lives to feed us.
Growing up, my brother and I would visit my grandparents' house. They always had one cow and studded her out every year for a calf. They were always named (Blackie, Red, etc) and fattened up during the year before they'd be butchered for meat. I can tell you that it, and the fresh vegetables from the garden, was the best tasting food! And no, we didn't feel bad for the cows. The two of them always had over an acre to roam around by themselves until it was time to slaughter them.
Okay, off the soap box now. Time to get back to my quilt. :-)
Um, if you have problems with cattle -- you really shouldn't ever look into what they do to chickens. Or the way they're raised. It's actually worse than some of the cattle processing.
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