La viande bon marché...

[Animal 0]

Low-cost meat a hazard to both humans and animals


The Daily News (Truro)
Wed 02 Nov 2005
Page: A4
Section: Central Nova Scotia
Byline: Lynn Curwin
Source:

The determination to have low-cost meat, without concern for the welfare of
animals, is a threat not only to those animals but also to humans.

Large factory farms provide an ideal situation for the spread of disease,
such as the avian flu. When thousands of birds are confined in close
quarters a virus can easily spread. The stress from intensive confinement
can weaken the immune system, making the spread of disease even easier.

If you were forced to live in a room with hundreds of other people you would
be much more likely to become ill. You would also be under a great deal of
stress.

If more animals were raised on family farms, as they were for many years,
disease would be less of a problem. Animals on small farms usually have
access to fresh air and are not overcrowded, making them much healthier.

The World Animal Health Organization blames shorter production cycles and
greater animal densities for the increased risk of epidemics. The World
Health Organization also blames the avian flu outbreak in southeast Asia on
intensive poultry production.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's Director of Animal Production
and Health, Dr. Samuel Jutzi, stated that with many animals in one spot you
are likely to get into trouble with disease.

The spread of disease is made easier when livestock is shipped long
distances, as is often the case today.

When outbreaks of avian flu appeared, many birds were killed; but they were
often killed through inhumane and dangerous methods.

Millions of birds were killed following the latest outbreak. These birds
were often killed by panicked people, who did not consider the pain the
animals would suffer and were not aware of the danger in which they were
putting themselves.

Workers without proper protective gear were seen stuffing chickens into
plastic bags and burying them alive, beating them to death with sticks, or
dumping them into rivers.

A South Korean professor told the Korea Herald the methods of killing were
in clear violation of the animal protection law and the law to prevent
livestock epidemics. The Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals received many complaints about birds being buried alive.

Slaughtering poultry in a careful and humane manner would have been better
for all creatures.

Another activity which could spread bird flu is the trade in wild birds. In
October, Britain confirmed its first case of bird flu since 1992. The bird
was a South American parrot which died while in quarantine.

The British environment agency's chief veterinarian said the bird probably
contracted the disease while being held in Britain with birds from Taiwan.

Almost all of the human deaths from the flu so far have involved people who
lived or worked with poultry, meat or eggs.

Lynn Curwin Is A Truro Freelance Writer.