TSCRA Daily News Update, May 7, 2008

TSCRA, National groups respond to HSUS criticism of auction market cattle handling

At noon today, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a long-time critic of animal agriculture in this country, released a video and news release calling attention to the alleged mishandling of downer cattle at livestock auction markets in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Texas.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), responded to the report on the incidents in the four auction markets, putting these cases into the larger national perspective.

LMA President Jim Santomaso points out, "America's 1,200 livestock marketing businesses annually handle an astounding number of livestock. In 2006, according to government figures, 35.6 million head of cattle and calves moved through those markets. The overwhelming majority of those markets practice appropriate handling of all livestock moving through their businesses – because proper handling is both a humane, and economic necessity."

In Texas alone, TSCRA market inspectors check the brands and ownership of 4 to 6 million head of cattle sold through auction markets each year. TSCRA First Vice President Dave Scott, who is affiliated with livestock auction markets in Sealy and Brenham, says, "We have more than 80 men and women working in more than 100 livestock auction markets each week in Texas. It is regrettable that four isolated incidents have been highlighted by HSUS, but our experience tells us that with upwards of 4 million head marketed each year in Texas, mishandling of cattle at auction markets is not a widespread problem."

TSCRA, working with the Texas Beef Council and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, offers free training in livestock handling procedures to all interested parties in Texas through the Texas Beef Quality Producer (TBQP) program.

Ashby Green, DVM, vice president of producer education, NCBA, says, "To date, in cooperation with the nation's livestock markets, we have distributed more than 2,000 cattle care and handling training videos to the nation's 1,250 livestock markets and other cattle sales locations, as well as veterinarians who work with these operations. Additionally, we are in the process of conducting hands-on staff training sessions at livestock markets led by cattle handling experts."

To view the HSUS press release, click on the following link: go

To view the letter the HSUS sent to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, click on the following link: go

For more information on the beef industry's commitment to animal care and handling, visit www.BeefFromPastureToPlate.org

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