Morton bill creates civil violation for transporting nonambulatory cattle to feedlots, slaughter facilities

February 23, 2009

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, has introduced a measure that would make it a civil infraction to knowingly transport nonambulatory cattle to feedlots and slaughter facilities. Senate Bill 5974 is intended to make the effort to stop “downer cows” from getting into the food chain more practical. 

In the wake of the December 2003 discovery at an eastern Washington slaughterhouse of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy – commonly known as “mad cow disease” – the 2004 Legislature made it a criminal violation to transport or accept a downer cow.  

That law is still in place, but it is a lengthy and costly legal process involving both county sheriffs and county prosecutors. 

Morton’s measure keeps the vigil without the costs to the judicial system. It provides for a fine of up to $1,000 for transporting or accepting downer cows. 

“The livestock industry wants to assure the public that it is concerned,” Morton said. “Keeping a watch is important, but we need a more practical enforcement tool.” 

More than 90 percent of Washington’s beef goes to export markets. After the 2003 incident, those markets were closed, leaving a large quantity of beef stranded and eventually costing the industry millions of dollars. Japan was the first to lift its ban, but not until June 2006. 

Officials from the state Department of Agriculture are at livestock sites frequently to monitor animals brought in as part of the effort to ensure sick or injured cattle do not get into the food chain. The federal government also increased its efforts to protect consumers after the 2003 incident. 

SB 5974 was approved by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee today. The measure is now in the Senate Rules Committee where it becomes eligible for a full Senate vote. 

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov