Undercover Footage: Abuse Story Still Rolling

US - A new undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States reveals that sick and crippled dairy cows continue to be abused in the livestock industry, even in the wake of high-profile exposés.

26 June 2008

2 minute read

North America

Photo: The Humane Society of the United States

HSUS has revealed that investigators have gone undercover at six locations in five states, including the now-shuttered Hallmark/Westland slaughter plant, and uncovered abuses at every location. The latest investigation occurred at the Portales Livestock Auction in Portales, New Mexico.

"No longer can anyone in government or industry reasonably claim that the abuses we documented at Hallmark were an aberration or an isolated case," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "This gross mistreatment of spent dairy cows should turn your stomach, and they have been uncovered in location after location."

Yesterday, at a briefing for Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer about the latest abuses, The HSUS renewed its request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture act immediately to implement a bright-line prohibition on processing any downed cattle for food. The HSUS also urged USDA to extend the prohibition on downers to the 1,200-plus livestock markets and auctions that operate around the nation, and require that operators of those facilities and slaughter plants immediately humanely euthanize downer cattle upon identifying them in that non-ambulatory state.

In May, an HSUS investigator worked at the Portales Livestock Auction and documented cows and calves being mistreated and tormented in order to get them to stand and walk into the auction ring. During the time covered by the investigation, New Mexico brand inspectors were present at the auctions and apparently saw much of the abuse. In advance of today's public release, The HSUS also provided information on the investigation to the New Mexico Livestock Board and the USDA, as well as to national industry leaders.