Idaho ranchers cheer ban on 'downer' cows

TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The federal government on Tuesday banned the slaughter for human consumption of so-called downer cows, giving politician-rancher Bruce Newcomb exactly what he wanted.

The government ban followed last week's discovery of mad cow disease in a Washington dairy cow that found its way into the food chain.

"Ranchers would never do that," said Newcomb, the speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives who runs a cattle ranch in south-central Idaho. "When I get a downer cow, I put a bullet in her."

Typically, downer cows that can no longer walk are old dairy cows whose meat can bring dairy farmers a little extra revenue. The USDA estimates 130,000 are brought to slaughterhouses nationwide every year and those showing symptoms of mad cow disease are tested.

State statistics were not available on the number of Idaho dairies sending downer cows to slaughter for human consumption. But veterinarian Bill Stouder of Wendell said the number is minimal and a ban would have little impact on dairy income in the state.

Newcomb believes the ban should extend to cows with high temperatures or other symptoms of illness.

Idaho Cattle Association President Cevin Jones said his group supports the ban, calling it "an aggressive response that complements an already superior system that safeguards human and animal health."

Members of the congressional delegation had been uncertain about a ban on slaughter of all downer cows. Republican Reps. Mike Simpson and Butch Otter both were in the narrow majority that defeated a ban last July. The ban was approved by the Senate on an unrecorded voice vote but then dropped during negotiations on the federal budget.

Opponents like Otter and U.S. Sen. Larry Craig believed an across-the-board ban on slaughtering downer cattle for human consumption would eliminate stock that is suitable for consumption — animals with broken legs, for example.

But retired Twin Falls veterinarian Charles Lenkner supported the unequivocal ban.

"Those who have not had the opportunity to do a post-mortem on a Holstein that has lain around, flopped around, crawled around on hard dirt or concrete or even mud for a few days may not appreciate the tissue damage done just by weight and pressure," Lenkner said.