Tell the USDA Not to Speed Up Pig Slaughter Lines
Dear John,
No animal should be made to suffer at the slaughterhouse. Federal law dictates that animals such as pigs be handled humanely at slaughter. But a 2019 rule adopted by the US Department of Agriculture allowed increased line speeds at pig slaughter facilities. Such increases are inextricably linked to poor animal welfare and threats to worker safety, as workers hurry animals through the line. Rushed, truncated procedures can even cause the pigs to fail to be stunned properly and regain consciousness during butchering--a horrific outcome that is simply unacceptable.
A federal court recently rejected this line speed increase, stating that the USDA failed to consider the impact on worker safety in crafting the rule. This is good news, and the USDA is enforcing the ruling for now. But the department could very well take steps in the future to increase line speeds, and do so in a manner that would be approved by the courts. Before that can happen, the USDA needs to receive a strong message from the public that it adamantly opposes any such increase.
What You Can Do
Please send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that he keep slaughter lines at safe, manageable speeds. Then share our alert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact Secretary Vilsack too.
As always, thank you very much for your help!
Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President
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Photo by Nadia Levinskaya
Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org
The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.
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