This is why I buy local, pasture-raised beef whenever possible.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/30/un...tml#cnnSTCVideo

what do you expect from people that can't read or write and are probably inbred

I expect American-owned business to take responsibility for the actions of its workers - be they "inbred" or ignorant, or just plain doing what they are told. I expect them to have integrity and to respect for what it should mean to do business in this country and feed it's people.

But I don't expect people to stop blaming victims (in this case, the cattle and the workers). That's human nature, if not a modern repressive defense mechanism.

I only saw the first three seconds before I had to turn it off--the cow laying there with someone with a stick poking was already too much for me. Sorry, I am just too sensitive sometimes! I was already starting to cry!

Could you just please give me the jist of what this was about? Does it discuss pesticides or feed or conditions as well? Also, are all the cows everywhere treated like the one I saw in the first three seconds, or is this just a particularly bad place? Thanks

Welcome to the meat industry, Those cows are called downers and are usually shot before being removed from the truck. They normally don't don't go into the human food cause the stress that caused them go down render the meat dark to black and very acidic. The term in meat industry is a "dark cutter". In Canada we have the Humane Animal act and the abattoirs have an inspector checking every truck for abuse. The stick is an cattle prod and is electrified.

I live near Brisbane, Australia (about the size of San Diego etc) and in common with most Western countries we now have large Muslim and Asian populations. One benefit of this is the start-up of some Halal butchers stores. As I understand it the animal isn't allowed to see the knife coming and I'ts all over quickly. The meat isn't always more expensive than at the Supermarket and I have picked up some interesting cuts that you can't get elsewhere such as goat and camel.

I realise of course that in some countries which practice Halal (for example Egypt which has had some bad press recently) there are big issues about how the animals are treated prior to slaughter - especially the live sheep export trade from here in Australia - but I get the impression that local Halal slaughter in the West is far less traumatic to the animals than modern abbatoir practice.

BTW if you eat real mutton you never want to go back to lamb again!!!

I don't know about the "benefit", they also aren't allowed to be stunned or unconscious. Give me the choice between a captive bolt gun and lights out or having my throat slit while I'm very conscious; I know which way I'll go. There are people who feel kosher/halal is more cruel; it's a contentious issue.

I'm sorry if I upset anyone. It's an emotional issue. I believe very strongly in two things: 1) The basic tenants of humanism, and 2) If you are in control of an animal, you treat it with respect and kindness, let it live a life, and kill it humanely - from pets to cattle.

Unfortunately I've been witness to animal cruelty beyond compare, almost as bad as in the video. It is sickening and disgusting, and only the lowest form of human life can condone it.

However, as for the workers in the video, I believe that $hit rolls downhill. How are they being treated? What kind of example have they seen?

Mutton? My Mom always talked about mutton with utter disgust, like it was horrible meat. I've never tried it. What is it like?

Here in Oregon there has been a big deal about this because the meat from these cows has been what they have been serving in school lunches. Parents are irritate as they should be...sickening

I really don't understand how human beings can be so disrespectful of life, it just doesn't make sense...I get shivers watching this

I did not watch the video either, I am kinda squeamish. I do not eat beef, because I am allergic to it. It gives me a tummy ache. I am not sure if it is the grain that the beef are eating... I have been wanting to try some all grass fed organic beef, but I have not had any yet...

Cattle that are abused are also less resistant to disease. Animals with mad cow disease were probably treated in this manner. There was an article in todays paper where beef was pulled from the school menu because it was discovered that a local supplier was abusing its animals. Grain fed beef is fattier and any chemicals given to these animals are stored in the fat.

Ok, try this to take away the bad imagines