Undercover investigators for the Humane Society of the United States are alleging the Clovis Livestock Auction mistreated two ill cows and exposed healthy cattle to disease.

The owner of the auction is denying the abuse charge and saying the "downer" cattle did not enter the food chain.

The Humane Society said it is investigating four livestock auctions and has gone undercover at the businesses to show what it calls cruel practices and animal abuse. The Clovis downer cows were mistreated in April or earlier this month, according to the group.

The undercover video showed one cow struggling to stay up and another breathing heavily and in pain. Investigators also alleged both cows struggled in a pen for hours without help and were spewing waste.

  (Photo courtesy of KRQE)  A downer cow is one that is too frail to stand on its own and has to be dragged and prodded. They have an increased threat of passing disease.

Auction owner Charlie Rogers said the cow seen was euthanized and never entered the food chain.

"Apparently that cow came in with some healthy cows and somehow deteriorated to that point," he said. "Our policy when they do deteriorate to that point is to euthanize.

"We don't unload animals that aren't strong enough to make it through the auction."

Rogers also said in 22 years of business he has never had a complaint like this made against him.

Animal Protection of New Mexico said those cows were still too close to healthy ones that were auctioned to become food sources. The group said animal cruelty charges could be pursued.

"I think all the public would view this as a situation of animal cruelty," Heather Ferguson of Animal Protection of New Mexico said. "From the industry standard they should view what the HSUS documented as an unacceptable practice."

According to the Humane Society laws aren't tough enough to protect the animals and keep sick cows from being sold at market. HSUS is urging congress to take action.

Update 5/8/08:  The Humane Society of the United States says it videotaped two sick cows at the Clovis Livestock Auction during an investigation.

Two ill cows were filmed for five hours. One "was suffering from obvious pain, flailing her legs as she expelled watery feces into the pen where other cows were held for auction," according to a news release from HSUS.

During April and May, humane society investigators visited livestock auctions in four states as part of an expanding undercover investigation into livestock auctions and stockyards around the country, the release said.

Charlie Rogers , owner-manager of the Clovis Livestock Auction, said his facility handles about 2,000 animals a week and has a no-downer policy, which means nonambulatory animals are not accepted.

Animals that are not fit are euthanized, he said.

"We do not unload cows that we think won't be strong enough to go through the sale," he said.

The animal that was filmed likely deteriorated after she arrived, he said. "Who knows why. As human beings we can get sick suddenly; so can animals," he said.

Rogers said as soon as he learned the animal was ill, she was euthanized.

In 22 years of business, Rogers said he has never before had a complaint about his treatment of animals.

"I'm just as concerned with handling animals properly or more concerned than anybody," he said. "My job is to see that these cows are handled properly for the consignors. If I don't, the consignors won't be back."

The Humane Society said in the release it brought preliminary evidence of the alleged abuse to the attention of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week, and that Schafer promised to examine the issue.

Downed cattle may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak.

The humane society investigation into downer cows follows January's undercover video of animals being tortured at the Westland/Hallmark slaughter plant in Chino, Calif., the release said.

The investigation of that plant, a major supplier to the National School Lunch Program, resulted in the recall of 143 million pounds of meat and the shuttering of the plant.

The Livestock Exchange (LSX) in Hereford, Texas, was also cited in the investigation for mistreatment of downer cows.

According to the release, two downed cows left in the parking lot at the Livestock Exchange in Hereford were filmed for four hours. The animals were so sick they could not lift their heads, the release said.

Randy Bouldin, owner of LSX, which processes around 800 dairy cattle a week, said he is concerned about the allegations and works hard to ensure diligent, humane treatment of cows at the auction. It is not uncommon for a nonambulatory animal to be discovered following transport, he said.

Policy dictates a downed animal be humanely euthanized in a timely manner, he said. Carcasses are placed in a specific location where they are picked up daily from the facility by a rendering plant, Bouldin said.

Wayne Pacelle, the humane society's president and chief executive, said his organization had received a complaint about the Texas facility. He said the New Mexico facility was chosen because it was close to Hereford.

Reference:

KRQE

Clovis News Journal