Meat & Poultry -- December 2013 - 76

From the Corral
By Dr. Temple GranDin
meatpoultry@sosland.com

OVerCOminG
the disconnect
quick, painless death. Croney warns

lems. Large plants do not use gun-

that purely scientific responses will

shots. Both electric stunning and CO2

not work on ethical issues. She asks,

stunning had fewer enforcement ac-

"Is what we are doing right? Does

tions than either gunshot or captive

a standard practice make it right?"

bolt. When suspensions were sorted

She is worried that a perfect storm is

by species, the number of enforce-

brewing due to concern about a loss

ment actions for beef and pork were

of animal husbandry and the ethical

the same. When suspensions were

food movement. If the industry fails

sorted by district, Chicago, Dallas

to address ethical issues, the follow-

and Des Moines had the most sus-

ing things may happen:

pensions. Out of the 14 districts, seven

1. Animal agriculture may move
"offshore." This would be under-

level of suspensions in three districts

standable because when it is outside

and zero suspensions in other districts

the country, the conditions may be

indicates there is still a problem with

worse;

D

districts had no suspensions. The high

consistent enforcement.

2. The industry may become more
uring the Reciprocal Meat Con-

integrated, which is what the public

Assessing stress

ference held earlier this year,

does not want; or

Kurt Vogel, Ph.D., assistant profes-

presentations from Nicole Widmar,

3. More federal regulation.

sor of animal and food science at the
Univ. of Wisconsin, River Falls, dis-

Ph.D., and Candace Croney, Ph.D.,

cussed physiological measures for as-

disconnect between consumers and

Humane Slaughter
violations

agriculture is getting wider. According

During the RMC, Janet Riley, vice

well for short-term stresses, such as

to Widmar, 31 percent of Americans

president of public affairs with the

assessing a painful procedure or a

have never been on a farm and many

American Meat Institute, shared re-

handling method, but cortisol works

consumers are very concerned about

cent data on plant suspensions and

poorly for assessing long-term stresses

how pigs are housed. During the last

NOIE's for Humane Slaughter vio-

from housing. Blood lactate and glu-

three years, 14 percent of consum-

lations with members of the Animal

cose measures are very useful for as-

ers have reduced eating pork due to

Welfare Committee. One of the most

sessing short-term handling stress.

concern about the gestation crate is-

interesting findings was that the high-

They also have the advantage of being

sue. The millennial generation is more

est number of enforcement actions

economical and easy to do. ■

concerned about social activism and

from Jan. 1, 2012, to June 10, 2013,

environmental issues, according to

was for failure to stun animals with

Croney. Today's young people define

gunshot. This is an indicator that very

animal welfare as a natural life and a

small plants were having more prob-

from Purdue Univ., indicated that the

76

* Meat&Poultry * December 2013 * www.MeatPoultry.com

sessing stress. Cortisol measures work

Dr. Temple Grandin operates Grandin Livestock
Systems Inc., Fort Collins, Colo., and is a faculty
member in the animal science department at
Colorado State Univ.
http://www.MeatPoultry.com
Meat & Poultry -- December 2013

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