" Downer cows" :+(

Oh my gosh, I just saw a clip on abc Goodmorning America showing footage of how people treat some of these cows.

It broke my heart and physically made me Ill, seriously turned my stomach.  they showed kicking, dragging, pushing with a tractor to get them into the slaughter house.  Poor things.  Then the main part of the story wasn't how inhumane these animals were treated but concern that they have more of a chance of getting people sick due to a higher risk of e-coli. 

I am not a vegan, however don't eat red meat or pork.  I eat chicken (and egg whites), turkey and fish only.  Are all animals mistreated like this?

Really I don't know how anyone could eat a burger or steak after seeing this.  I am tempted to also post this in the "lounge" perhaps to make people more aware.

Thoughts? 

Not all animals are treated so harshly.  There are some very good commercial reasons why they wouldn't be.   Animals are expensive to feed and rear so good farmers will look after them and not abuse them.  And because a stressed animal results in tough, poor quality meat, good quality meat producers prefer to keep animals calm before slaughter.  Remember .... if something's made the news it's generally because it's unusual, rather than the norm.  

I think the answer is to get to know your food sources.  If you have local producers of meat, milk or eggs go and talk to them.  Farmers' markets are a good place to start.  Some restaurants are very supportive of good farming practices and only procure local produce.  Many supermarket chains (here in the UK at least) are upping their standards and only buying from RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) approved sources.  Again, here in the UK, there has been a lot of publicity about the poor conditions of battery hens.  As a result, the growth in demand for free-range and organic eggs/chickens has massively oustripped supply.  Good practice is being rewarded, battery farmers are going to the wall.... Democracy in action via the cash-tills.

The more of us that stop buying cheap meat & eggs from dodgy sources, vote with our money and support good animal welfare practice, the quicker poor farmers will go out of business.