[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by old timer

'Downer' cows entered food supply, company admits - CNN.com

Guess they haven't watched the cows at local excel, huh. Sad looking animals, barely walking. Skin looks like it is going to fall off. Doesn't USDA have people at that plant?

OT,

The animals you depict as barely walking are very young and very fat! How you come to the conclusion that the skin looks like it is going to fall off is beyond me.

Yes, there are USDA employees at that plant and I am one of them. And I am not speaking as an official spokes-person or in any official capacity.

Although I do not perform ante-mortem inspection I have shadowed the SPHV's numerous times. Let me re-assure you that there is no indication of any inhumane handling of animals at Cargill. Hot shots are not even allowed to be used, not by company employees or by the truck drivers. Animals are not driven or pushed any faster than they normally walk and they have access to water while being held in the pens. And pre-ante-mortem inspected, non-ambulatory, animals are not slaughtered for human food.

Rest assured, USDA is doing thier job and the US enjoys the safest food in the world!