U.S. closes abusive slaughterhouses

WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. food safety inspectors ordered a brief closure of 34 U.S. livestock slaughterhouses because of inhumane treatment of animals, officials said Wednesday.

Alfred Almanza with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said more uniform enforcement practices prompted the temporary closures following a January incident involved downed cattle entering the food chain.

The closed plants across the United States, which represent a small fraction of the 800 U.S. slaughterhouses, resumed operations when they remedied the violations, USA Today said.

The Humane Society, using undercover cameras, found workers at the Westland/Hallmark slaughterhouse in California used forklifts to "roll" cattle that were too ill to stand. Westland/Hallmark, the largest beef supplier to U.S. school lunch programs, recalled 143 million pounds of beef following the allegations and later closed operations.

Federal agriculture officials said Tuesday it would enact a ban on downed cattle from slaughter, USA Today reported.

The ban affects around 1,000 cattle but U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said the move would boost consumer confidence while ensuring downed cattle are treated more humanely.