FDA to rethink animal feed rule due to mad cow

Sherry, don't you think that cattle producers care about their product (could
mean more profit)? I read in a newstory elsewhere that it is a common
practice
to feed meat to cattle from other animals because it fattens them up.

Yes, it's common practice because it's a cheap additive to the feed. This is
just my opinion, but I don't think the big feedlot producers care about
anything except the dollars. And the feed mills are right behind them, putting
all kinds of chemicals and drugs and additives in the feed to *help* put those
pounds on. Putting more pounds on the animal at the highest profit is the name
of the game, not necessarily what's good for the animal or good for the person
who consumes the meat. Cattle are herbivores. Feeding them meat products is a
practice designed for the good of the seller, not the consumer or the animal.
I'd be interested in hearing what your dairy farm friend says. The family farm
- type operations are a different ball game altogether, IMO. The cattle are
usually treated much better altogether, and although they still are fed the
same feed, at least it's supplemented by hay or pasture grazing.
Cattle will eat anything, BTW. If you don't take the feed sack away from them,
they'll eat that too.
On the other hand, there are cattle ranchers who don't supplement feed at all
during the winter, and they justify the normal winter weight loss
(pounds=dollars, remember) by the money they've saved on feed. Cattle are
really dumb creatures, but even cows deserve a better shake than some of them
get, IMO.

Sherry

Sherry

Apparently, (according to the story) there is nothing wrong w/ that? Again,
it
would be interesting to hear from people w/ actual experience in this
industry.
I do have a friend that I haven't talked to in a few months that grew up on
a
dairy farm--I'll have to see what she says.