Consumer groups point to holes in US cattle feed rules

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2004/01/02/rtr1196612.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. food safety regulators should widen a 1997 ban on feeding cattle parts to other cattle to include blood, gelatin and other exempted materials which could spread mad cow disease, consumer groups said on Friday.

The discovery of mad cow disease in a Holstein dairy cow in Washington state has focused new attention on how cattle are raised and slaughtered.

Since the Dec. 23 diagnosis of the nation's first case, officials have repeatedly touted the fact that the infected cow was born in April 1997, about four months before the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of cattle remains as an ingredient in feed for other cows.

However, in industry guidance documents issued in 1997, the FDA exempted from the ban cattle blood, blood products and gelatin, derived from cattle hoofs. The exemptions thus allow some cattle byproducts to be fed back to cattle.

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[JPace]

1. Blood products are used in the formula

that they feed to baby calves. It is
still forced cannibalism.

[cliss]

2. Yes, I have read that they feed blood

to baby calves, who should be drinking milk, not blood like vampires.

Also, I have posted on another thread that I believe it's inherently wrong to feed calves and grown cows protein from slaughtered cows in "cannibal pellets".

The reason is that cows have 8 stomachs, and the grain probably moves pretty slowly through their digestive system. The hay is probably difficult to break down, so more time is needed to digest it. The meat could get rancid or putrify in the cow's intestines, causing the cow to get sick.

Carnivores have very short digestive tracts. The meat goes through quickly. This is also one of the reasons why it's argued that people are not suited for eating meat; we have long digestive tracts too.

Herbivores have long digestive tracts. They should not be eating meat.

[Zhade]

3. What does this mean for cheese, milk, etc?

I had heard and read about the dried-blood sprayings on feed, and other horrific details - enough to start me back on the path of veggie-ism.

What affect does BSE have on milk/cheese/cream/butter/etc? Anyone have a good source for info? Also, what about cows being fed chicken shit and vice versa?

God, the whole thing is so disturbing. Forced cannibalism, indeed. This is horrible stuff.