Dairy Farmers and Cattle Ranchers Call for Ban on ``Downer'' Cattle.Business Editors/Legal Writers OLYMPIA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2004 The livestock livestock Farm animals, with the exception of poultry. In Western countries the category encompasses primarily cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, donkeys, and mules; other animals (e.g., buffalo, oxen, or camels) may predominate in other areas. industry in Washington is calling for a permanent, legislative ban on the sale of non-ambulatory or so-called "downer down·er n. A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer. " cattle in the state. The proposed ban was unveiled today in testimony to the Washington State Joint Senate and House Agriculture Committee by Jay Gordon Jay Paul Gordon (born January 30, 1967) is a musician and producer. Originally from the Excelsior District of San Francisco, California, Gordon is the vocalist in the synth-industrial band Orgy, which rose to prominence through their signing to Korn's fledgeling label, , executive director of the Washington State Dairy Federation. The Federation -- a membership organization composed of dairy farmers Dairy Farmers is one of Australia's largest and oldest dairy manufacturers, established in 1900, supplying products to local and international markets such as eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. -- is the Washington dairy industry's policy making and legislative awareness arm. The proposed ban is also supported by the Washington Cattlemen's Association, which represents cattle ranchers in a similar capacity. The proposed ban would effectively stop the commercial movement of all "downers" within Washington. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA USDA, n.pr See United States Department of Agriculture. ) recently enacted a ban on the processing of "downers" for their meat. The proposed legislation that would implement the ban reads in part, "A person commits the crime of trading in non-ambulatory livestock if the person knowingly delivers or accepts delivery of a non-ambulatory livestock animal." Violations of the proposed law would be punishable pun·ish v. pun·ished, pun·ish·ing, pun·ish·es v.tr. 1. To subject to a penalty for an offense, sin, or fault. 2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense). 3. by a fine of up to $1,000.00 per incident. If enacted, the proposed ban would be similar to legislation passed in Oregon and California with the support of those states' dairy and beef industries. "This proposed ban will help to reinforce the American consumer's continuing faith in the safety of our food supply," Gordon commented. Gordon added that before recent action by USDA stopped the processing of non-ambulatory animals for their meat, "downers" accounted for less than one percent of all animals arriving at U.S. beef processing plants. "While 'downers' have always represented a small portion of the food supply, we believe that this proposed ban will effectively address public concern over this issue," Gordon said. Gordon said that the proposed ban will be contained in a draft bill to be placed before the state legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: |
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