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Montpelier, VT - Organic Slaughterhouse Closed For Inhumane Treatment |
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The video shows days-old male calves culled from dairy herds being dragged, kicked
U.S. Department of Agriculture records show Bushway Packing Inc. of Grand Isle was shut down for a day in May, again in June and again in July after an inspector cited it for inhumane treatment of animals.
The revelation came Monday as the Humane Society of the United States 
released more video footage taken with a hidden camera this summer. The video shows days-old male calves culled from dairy herds being dragged, kicked, repeatedly shocked with electric prods and apparently cut while still conscious.
"We found even two calves who appeared to be skinned alive while they were still conscious," said Michael Markarian, the Humane Society's chief operating officer.
Warning: graphic and foul language.
The video also appeared to back up a Friday statement in which U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack described the conduct of a USDA inspector at the slaughterhouse as "inexcusable."
It showed an unidentified inspector appearing to coach a plant worker on how to avoid being shut down by another inspector and failing to stop an animal being cut while awake.
A call to the slaughterhouse on Monday was not immediately returned, nor was a call to a Ronald Bushway listed in Grand Isle.
USDA spokesman Caleb Weaver said Monday he could not comment on the inspector's conduct because it was a personnel matter.
Markarian said it appeared several calves were abused because they would not or could not stand up to be prepared for slaughter. The slaughterhouse specialized in "bob veal" — meat from days-old calves that ends up in hot dogs and lunch meats. Meat sold as veal usually come from animals raised to about 4 months old.
Some in the Vermont dairy industry said they worried the revelations would give an enterprise generally viewed as wholesome a black eye. Bushway Packing was certified as an organic processor, raising extra concern in that sector.
"That's not right, that's really nasty," said Paul Stecker, an organic dairy farmer from Cabot, after watching the video on the Humane Society's Web site. "I wouldn't be in this business if that's the way it was. That's not the norm, I can tell you that."
Stecker said the slaughterhouse's problems also would bring attention to an aspect of dairying most farmers don't like or talk about much: The vast majority of male calves born on dairy farms face very short lives.
"That kind of thing hurts us all, like our industry really needed that," he said.
Dairy farmers nationwide have been struggling as a global milk glut has resulted in dramatically lower prices for their milk.
The Humane Society said it would propose tighter rules for the meatpacking and related industries, including a requirement that male calves born on dairy farms be kept there until they are 10 days old to ensure they are strong enough to travel.
Kelly Loftus, a spokeswoman for the state Agency of Agriculture, said she expected there would be strong opposition to such a measure.
"There are labor costs involved. There are feeding costs involved," she said. With the current crisis in dairy farming, "any extra expense could mean that a farm has to close."
Nicole Dehne of Vermont Organic Farmers, a group that certifies Vermont farms as organic under an agreement with the USDA, said the group's national counterpart is meeting in Washington this week and will discuss humane treatment of farm animals.
Organic rules now are geared mainly toward ensuring meat labeled organic comes from animals raised without hormones or chemicals.
"I think consumers expect organic regulations to cover all aspects of animal welfare, including slaughter and transportation," Dehne said. "If we need to tighten the regulations in regard to processing facilities, and come up with guidelines to address more humane transportation, I think we would respond to the expectations of the organic consumer."
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Read Comments (36) — Post Yours »
1
Nov 03, 2009 at 08:56 AM No way! Says:
I'm so shocked! I thought only shechita was inhumane. Who would have thought real acts of inhumanity and animal cruelty go on? Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?
2
Nov 03, 2009 at 09:47 AM Anonymous Says:
Is "bob-veal" Kosher? Doesn't an animal have to be at least eight days old prior to shechito?
3
Nov 03, 2009 at 09:46 AM Yankel Says:
“ I'm so shocked! I thought only shechita was inhumane. Who would have thought real acts of inhumanity and animal cruelty go on? Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews? ”
You ask, "Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?”
Hey, genius -- this raid resulted from an undecover video by an animal rights group. So whether you're talking about PETA ot like-minded groups (and I am not a PETA supporter), it's obvious they don't just go after Jews. Calling them Nazis reveals your ignorance - -this story actually disproves all the dumb allegations made by pro-Rubashkin posters these past several months.
4
Nov 03, 2009 at 09:49 AM Anonymous Says:
Peta has shut down a number of non-Jewish animal operations including one that was run by a Monastery. Let go of your paranoid idiocy. They may be extremist nuts, but they aren't targeting Jews.
5
Nov 03, 2009 at 09:34 AM Jimmy37 Says:
I don't eat veal because of the inhumane way the animals are treated.
6
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:04 AM Babishka Says:
During Eid Al Adha when Muslims are slaughtering goats, cows and sheep out in the streets, and blood and guts is running everywhere, PETA is nowhere to be found.
7
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:02 AM They value animals over people Says:
“ You ask, "Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?”
Hey, genius -- this raid resulted from an undecover video by an animal rights group. So whether you're talking about PETA ot like-minded groups (and I am not a PETA supporter), it's obvious they don't just go after Jews. Calling them Nazis reveals your ignorance - -this story actually disproves all the dumb allegations made by pro-Rubashkin posters these past several months. ”
They have an agenda of hate. They can't go after jews all day and the reality is that they are against all animal slaughter. They want a world of vegetarians. The problem is that all too often they pick on jewish places when they are a small miniscule percentage of the meat production industry.
8
Nov 03, 2009 at 08:40 AM Anonymous Says:
Sick. These toevos should be thrown in jail.
9
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:19 AM Yankel Says:
“ They have an agenda of hate. They can't go after jews all day and the reality is that they are against all animal slaughter. They want a world of vegetarians. The problem is that all too often they pick on jewish places when they are a small miniscule percentage of the meat production industry. ”
Yes, groups like PETA want, as you say, a "world of vegetarians." That doesn't make them Nazis or anti-Semites. Ribboneh Shel Olam, do we realize how shrill and ignorant we sound when we say such nonsense?
10
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:23 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I don't eat veal because of the inhumane way the animals are treated. ”
I stopped eating veal many years ago too when I learned what goes into rasing an animal for veal. I don't see how veal can even be kosher.
11
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:52 AM Charlie Hall Says:
“ I stopped eating veal many years ago too when I learned what goes into rasing an animal for veal. I don't see how veal can even be kosher. ”
The OU addresses this:
http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/faqs/
It may well be asur to treat animals the way veal calves are treated, but that mistreatment may not affect the kashrut of the meat after shechita. Nevertheless I'm unaware of anything in Judaism that would suggest that we should avoid benefiting from something that was produced in a halachically questionable manner even if doing so is mutar. I would imagine the same consideration would apply if you bought meat from a merchant who is a theif; the meat is kosher, but do you want to do business with such a person?
12
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:34 AM Jimmy38 Says:
I don't eat meat, because of the way animals are treated.
I don't eat fish, because of the way fish are treated.
I don't wear anything with wool because of the way sheep are treated.
I don't eat anything from the South American because of the way South Americans are treated.
I don't have health insurance because of the way the insurance companies treat people.
I dont drive a car because of the way cars kill the ozone layer.
I dont use deoderant because of the way the cfc's damage the ozone layer.
Go Obama, Go Liberals, Boo the USA
(written in sarcasm)
13
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:39 AM Anonymous Says:
“ During Eid Al Adha when Muslims are slaughtering goats, cows and sheep out in the streets, and blood and guts is running everywhere, PETA is nowhere to be found. ”
Where does this happen in the U.S.?
14
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:43 AM Charlie Hall Says:
“ They have an agenda of hate. They can't go after jews all day and the reality is that they are against all animal slaughter. They want a world of vegetarians. The problem is that all too often they pick on jewish places when they are a small miniscule percentage of the meat production industry. ”
This is not true. From the Humane Society of the United States' web site:
"While religious practices and beliefs should be respected, this must not lead to disregard for the welfare of animals in our care. In situations where there is a perceived conflict between religious practices and modern public health standards, it has sometimes been the practice to shackle and hoist conscious animals for ritual slaughter. This procedure causes immense animal suffering, but it forms no part of the requirements of any religious faith. Rather, it is a high-speed packinghouse technique invented by packers to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's sanitary requirements and to expedite production.
The HSUS opposes preparation of animals for slaughter by means of this procedure. It is our position that animals can be prepared for slaughter consistent with ritual requirements by humane alternatives such as the use of humane restraining pens. Ritual sacrifice of animals performed outside of regulated slaughterhouses is invariably cruel and should be prosecuted as such."
http://www.hsus.org/about_us/statements/statement_on_farm_animals_eating.html
Please avoid unjust accusations of hate.
15
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:44 AM Anonymous Says:
I hate to break this to you all, but almost all kosher meat comes from factory farming operations which abuse the animals in the same manner. A typical cow on in industrial feedlot or dairy is subjected to abuse from the day they are born until the day they are slaughtered. Most cows are fed a diet they are incapable of naturally digesting, pumped up with growth hormones, steroids, and antibiotics, shocked with electric prods when they are uncooperative, and made to slog around in their own excrement while awaiting their imminent death.
The whole notion that an animal can be subjected to a life of Tzar Baali Chaim while we look the other way, and deemed kosher because of Shechita alone, is absurd and antithetical to basic Torah values.
16
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:45 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I'm so shocked! I thought only shechita was inhumane. Who would have thought real acts of inhumanity and animal cruelty go on? Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews? ”
"I thought only shechita was inhumane."
Shechita is not inhumane.
17
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:15 AM Anonymous Says:
This is such a tragedy. The yiddeshe hashkofah of tikun olam would not have allowed this to happen. We need to combine the best elements of chassideshe hashgacha with humane treatment of animals and a living wage for the shochtim.
18
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:13 AM Anonymous Says:
“ The OU addresses this:
http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/faqs/
It may well be asur to treat animals the way veal calves are treated, but that mistreatment may not affect the kashrut of the meat after shechita. Nevertheless I'm unaware of anything in Judaism that would suggest that we should avoid benefiting from something that was produced in a halachically questionable manner even if doing so is mutar. I would imagine the same consideration would apply if you bought meat from a merchant who is a theif; the meat is kosher, but do you want to do business with such a person?
”
Just because something is permitted does not make it right. Rules about Kashrut predate factory farming.
19
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:10 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Is "bob-veal" Kosher? Doesn't an animal have to be at least eight days old prior to shechito? ”
Only for a Korbon.
20
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:10 AM Anonymous Says:
“ This is not true. From the Humane Society of the United States' web site:
"While religious practices and beliefs should be respected, this must not lead to disregard for the welfare of animals in our care. In situations where there is a perceived conflict between religious practices and modern public health standards, it has sometimes been the practice to shackle and hoist conscious animals for ritual slaughter. This procedure causes immense animal suffering, but it forms no part of the requirements of any religious faith. Rather, it is a high-speed packinghouse technique invented by packers to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's sanitary requirements and to expedite production.
The HSUS opposes preparation of animals for slaughter by means of this procedure. It is our position that animals can be prepared for slaughter consistent with ritual requirements by humane alternatives such as the use of humane restraining pens. Ritual sacrifice of animals performed outside of regulated slaughterhouses is invariably cruel and should be prosecuted as such."
http://www.hsus.org/about_us/statements/statement_on_farm_animals_eating.html
Please avoid unjust accusations of hate. ”
What do the rabbis and ou say about shackle and hoist? Is it permitted? It sounds horrible.
21
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:06 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Is "bob-veal" Kosher? Doesn't an animal have to be at least eight days old prior to shechito? ”
I believe that 8 days is only in regard to Kodoshim, not Chillun.
22
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:29 AM Anonymous Says:
“ This is such a tragedy. The yiddeshe hashkofah of tikun olam would not have allowed this to happen. We need to combine the best elements of chassideshe hashgacha with humane treatment of animals and a living wage for the shochtim. ”
A living wage not just for the shochtim, but for all the people who work at the slaughterhouses and packaging plants.
23
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:30 AM Anonymous Says:
“ During Eid Al Adha when Muslims are slaughtering goats, cows and sheep out in the streets, and blood and guts is running everywhere, PETA is nowhere to be found. ”
Where are they when you are doing kapures
24
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:49 AM Anonymous Says:
“ I don't eat veal because of the inhumane way the animals are treated. ”
kosher veal is not produced the way you think. you could not possibly treat a calf that way w/o creating a triefe in some way or another. kosher veal isnt even real veal unless maybe its not glatt. its just the name b/c its made from a calf.
25
Nov 03, 2009 at 12:12 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:
“ What do the rabbis and ou say about shackle and hoist? Is it permitted? It sounds horrible. ”
Shackle and hoist used to be the standard procedure in kosher shlachthouses until about the mid 1960s when the restraining box was introduced. It's still faster and cheaper than the box, but an old time shlachhouse in ful operation was like something from Dante or an Hironymous Bosch painting.
26
Nov 03, 2009 at 12:39 PM Anonymous Says:
“ You ask, "Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?”
Hey, genius -- this raid resulted from an undecover video by an animal rights group. So whether you're talking about PETA ot like-minded groups (and I am not a PETA supporter), it's obvious they don't just go after Jews. Calling them Nazis reveals your ignorance - -this story actually disproves all the dumb allegations made by pro-Rubashkin posters these past several months. ”
The world doesn't revolve around you and people like you should learn to realize that no one is "after the Jews." In fact, you should be happy that there are outside organizations like this who will expose animal cruelty in these slaughter industries because FDA inspectors or a company hired moshgiah can cover up a lot of stuff. (Even if groups like PETA, ELF, ALF are crazy with animal rights)
This video investigation was done by Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) which is similar to mission goals as American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) founded in 1866. Both of these organizations have nothing to do with PETA's agenda.
27
Nov 03, 2009 at 01:23 PM Yankel Says:
“ The world doesn't revolve around you and people like you should learn to realize that no one is "after the Jews." In fact, you should be happy that there are outside organizations like this who will expose animal cruelty in these slaughter industries because FDA inspectors or a company hired moshgiah can cover up a lot of stuff. (Even if groups like PETA, ELF, ALF are crazy with animal rights)
This video investigation was done by Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) which is similar to mission goals as American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) founded in 1866. Both of these organizations have nothing to do with PETA's agenda. ”
Why are you responding to ME? I agree with you!! Sheesh, people really need to improve their reading skills.
28
Nov 03, 2009 at 03:25 PM formally Says:
“ This is such a tragedy. The yiddeshe hashkofah of tikun olam would not have allowed this to happen. We need to combine the best elements of chassideshe hashgacha with humane treatment of animals and a living wage for the shochtim. ”
yes is does
Did you Peta and Rubashkin and the reports
29
Nov 03, 2009 at 10:14 PM michali Says:
“ You ask, "Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?”
Hey, genius -- this raid resulted from an undecover video by an animal rights group. So whether you're talking about PETA ot like-minded groups (and I am not a PETA supporter), it's obvious they don't just go after Jews. Calling them Nazis reveals your ignorance - -this story actually disproves all the dumb allegations made by pro-Rubashkin posters these past several months. ”
Yankel, think before you write, because your ignorance shows right through your writing. The Rubashkins kept a very tight ship and a very clean plant. Their plant was state of the art and the animals were treated humanely. Do your research before you make stupid comments.
30
Nov 03, 2009 at 11:54 PM joe shmoe Says:
“ You ask, "Where's PETA? Where are those Nazis? Or do they only go against jews?”
Hey, genius -- this raid resulted from an undecover video by an animal rights group. So whether you're talking about PETA ot like-minded groups (and I am not a PETA supporter), it's obvious they don't just go after Jews. Calling them Nazis reveals your ignorance - -this story actually disproves all the dumb allegations made by pro-Rubashkin posters these past several months. ”
again you smart hateful biased distorted views. Halacha is against tsaar balei chayim. what you are comparing is totally not what happened by rubashkin! you are just trying to get even with your bitter emotions against orthodox jews.! I did watch the videos by Rubashkin and its totally non-comparable! they say that by slitting the throat the animal still has pain, that some cows didn't get killed or slipped out of the machine UNINTENTIONALLY! etc. are you really trying to say that you in a big way side with the nazis just you are not as anti semitic as them! Fact: YOU CAN TRY FEEDING AND HELPING AS MANY POOR PEOPLE AND YOU'LL NEVER COME CLOSE TO THE RUBASHKINS! May you wake up and see that nobody is against you in the orthodox community, it's just a guilty conscious that causes you to interpret things that way. once you realize that you can start thinking out of the box, and judge an unbiased mind.
31
Nov 04, 2009 at 02:32 AM john649 Says:
“ During Eid Al Adha when Muslims are slaughtering goats, cows and sheep out in the streets, and blood and guts is running everywhere, PETA is nowhere to be found. ”
so then why don't YOU do something about it if your so outraged???
instead of posting stupid faux comments like you really care anyway!
32
Nov 04, 2009 at 04:08 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I don't eat veal because of the inhumane way the animals are treated. ”
Well if you read the article carefully, you would not drink milk either. The vast majority of male calves in dairy farms are turned into veal.
33
Nov 04, 2009 at 09:06 PM Milhouse Says:
“ Is "bob-veal" Kosher? Doesn't an animal have to be at least eight days old prior to shechito? ”
No, it doesn't.
34
Nov 04, 2009 at 09:14 PM Milhouse Says:
“ kosher veal is not produced the way you think. you could not possibly treat a calf that way w/o creating a triefe in some way or another. kosher veal isnt even real veal unless maybe its not glatt. its just the name b/c its made from a calf. ”
That isn't actually true. There's no reason a veal calf shouldn't be glatt kosher. "Kelbn glatt" is actually how one says extremely glatt, which proves that a kalb can be glatt.
35
Nov 04, 2009 at 09:12 PM Milhouse Says:
“ This is such a tragedy. The yiddeshe hashkofah of tikun olam would not have allowed this to happen. We need to combine the best elements of chassideshe hashgacha with humane treatment of animals and a living wage for the shochtim. ”
There is no "yiddeshe hashkofah of tikun olam". The term "tikun olam" was invented by the reformers lemineihem and has no connection to Torah. What we have is "lesaken olom bemalchus Shin Dalet Yud", which is the exact opposite of what Michael Lerner and his fellows mean by "tikun olam".
36
Nov 04, 2009 at 09:10 PM Milhouse Says:
“ I hate to break this to you all, but almost all kosher meat comes from factory farming operations which abuse the animals in the same manner. A typical cow on in industrial feedlot or dairy is subjected to abuse from the day they are born until the day they are slaughtered. Most cows are fed a diet they are incapable of naturally digesting, pumped up with growth hormones, steroids, and antibiotics, shocked with electric prods when they are uncooperative, and made to slog around in their own excrement while awaiting their imminent death.
The whole notion that an animal can be subjected to a life of Tzar Baali Chaim while we look the other way, and deemed kosher because of Shechita alone, is absurd and antithetical to basic Torah values. ”
You wouldn't know a basic Torah value if it bit you in the face. ALL standard agricultural practises that are done for efficiency's sake are by definition not tzaar baalei chayim. Tzaar baalei chayim is ONLY when an animal is tortured for no reason but sadism. And regardless of this, kashrus has NO connection to tzaar baalei chayim; what the farmer did is irrelevant to us. We are not areivim for the farmer.