Media Contact:
Melissa Tessitore
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
mtessitore@beef.org
303-850-3390 (direct)

  BEEF CHECKOFF MEDIA STATEMENT

In response to video released by the Humane Society of the United States

Proper Animal Care and Handling at Livestock Markets

Chuck Adami, Livestock Market Owner and Beef Industry Producer Leader

June 25, 2008

“As a livestock market owner, I know that giving animals proper treatment while they are in my care is an obligation, not an option. It’s also just good business. Unfortunately, we continue to see rare cases of improper care and treatment in video shot by anti-animal agriculture activists at auction markets.

Regardless of the source, the treatment shown in these videos is clearly unacceptable and must be stopped. The persons responsible for mistreatment must be held accountable and we must work harder to educate every single employee who works with cattle about proper handling and treatment.

The beef industry strongly supports strict compliance with, and enforcement of, all state and federal animal welfare laws and we are actively working with every livestock auction market in the country to ensure that all livestock are treated humanely.

To date, the industry has distributed more than 2,000 cattle care and handling training videos to the nation’s 1,250 livestock markets and other cattle sales locations, as well as to veterinarians who work with these operations. Additionally, we are in the process of conducting hands-on staff training sessions at livestock markets led by cattle handling experts.

For more information on the beef industry’s commitment to animal care and handling, visit www.BeefFromPastureToPlate.org.”

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This information provided by The Beef Checkoff