From: Anil K. Subramani [] Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 9:09 PM To: Subject: Re: Docket Number 98P-0151/CP1 I am writing to urge you to grant petition 98P-0151/CP1, prohibiting the slaughter of downed animals. Here are three grounds you may want to consider: (1) I understand that the meat and dairy industries have a term for animals diseased or injured so badly that they can barely walk -- "downers." What I don't understand is, how animals so incapacitated may still be seen as being fit (i.e., safe) for human consumption. (2) Evidently, I am not alone in reasoning as I just did. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated, last year, that it will not accept (for federal programs) "ground beef that includes product from non-ambulatory cattle." Doubtless, the inclusion of even a small fraction of downed animals poses increased health risks---through disease and bacterial contamination---to the consumer. (3) Prohibiting the slaughter of downed animals will cause no undue economic hardship. Not only that, industry experts have estimated that most incidences (about 90%) of downed animals can be prevented through better care and handling. Removing the market for downed animals will provide an incentive for minimizing the number of downers. Please do something about this. I look to you to protect the interests of the average consumer. Sincerely, Anil K. Subramani, Ph.D. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online!