However, the attempt by Farm Sanctuary to encourage stockyards to refuse to accept downer livestock is sound and one that farmers should support. It is indeed a bad image to agriculture to see video tape footage of downed animals being dragged from trucks by chains. Surely, animal welfare is an issue that all farmers can support. Here clearly is a justified case for either the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, or the Legislature to address either with rules or laws that forbid the sale of downer livestock. If Farm Sanctuary succeeds in attracting major publicity from its Memorial Day demonstration and rally at the South St. Paul stockyards, it is sure to gain some support from the consuming public.
Farmers have a great deal at stake in keeping ammunition from the guns of animal rights groups.
Helping them resolve the downer livestock issue would be a good place to start.