The Danger of Increased Slaughterhouse Line-Speeds
Facing pressure from the meat industry, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to allow slaughterhouses to operate at faster and faster line speeds. This will result in increased incidences of improper stunning and rougher handling of animals by slaughterhouse employees.
Spare farmed animals this additional suffering – tell your elected officials: Stop the USDA from pulling a fast one!
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Transcript (English — en)
animal equality recently filed suit
against the usda
in an effort to push back against the
increase of slaughterhouse line speeds
this increase would allow facilities to
ramp up production
by killing animals at an even faster
pace
increased line speeds put farmed animals
at a greater risk of cruel treatment and
abuse
and add to the many ways they suffer
within the food chain
when animals are moved quickly through
slaughterhouse lines
they are more likely to receive
ineffective stunning
this results in animals being killed
while still fully conscious
for example increased speeds in chicken
and turkey slaughterhouses
result in rougher handling of the birds
with workers slamming them into shackles
breaking their delicate legs and wings
and improperly stunning and bleeding
them so they are boiled alive
some of these acts are violations of
federal law but enforcement
is sorely lacking
new usda rules also shift certain
responsibilities from
federal inspectors to the
slaughterhouse's own employees
this allows the companies to police
themselves when it comes to the welfare
of the animals they slaughter
as line speeds increase it also becomes
more likely that food safety mandates
will be violated
food safety inspectors receive limited
time per animal to inspect for signs of
disease that could impact
human health and have less time to
implement sanitation measures
the impact of faster speeds is felt up
and down the supply chain
more farmed animals will be raised on
factory farms to supply slaughterhouses
increased processing capacity
crowded living conditions are made even
more unbearable
and animals wallow in their own waste
pollution also
increases with expanded animal
agriculture further contributing to
harmful greenhouse
gas emissions the usda has ignored
warnings from its own
office of inspector general who has
consistently raised concerns about
high-speed slaughter
and notes current enforcement policies
do not deter repeat violations
these shortcomings will only worsen when
line speeds are increased
and farmed animals will ultimately pay
the price
please stand with us as we ask our
government to prevent the abuse of these
animals
and improve their protections let your
voice be heard
urge your federal elected officials to
take a stand
against increased slaughter speeds
you