Humane Group Sues USDA Over Slaughter Practices
Group claims that 'non-livestock' slaughter methods don't follow agency's rules concerning humane treatment.
Compiled by staff
Published: Dec 26, 2005
A lawsuit filed Friday in San Francisco against USDA claims the agency fails to apply a federal humane slaughter law to commercial killing of reindeer, buffalo and certain other animals for meat. The holiday-timed suit was brought by reindeer and American bison groups, and the Humane Farming Association, which is a farm animal protection group based in San Rafael, Calif.
The lawsuit contents that the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 requires humane slaughter techniques for all livestock. Plaintiffs allege that USDA enforces the law by requiring slaughter inspections only for certain types of animals, including cattle, calves, pigs, sheep and horses.
The plaintiffs also say the agency offers optional slaughter inspection for a fee, but does not require scrutiny for the commercial slaughter of other animals including reindeer, bison, antelope, North American elk, ostrich and rabbit.
In the lawsuit, plaintiffs say they want USDA to revise applicable government regulations to extend the slaughter requirements to this extended list of species.
Permalink: Click here
Tagged: usda, farm, farming
|