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Farmed Animal Death Toll Levels Off

The total number of land-based animals killed for food in the U.S. this year is projected to reach 10.45 billion, according to extrapolation of data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS). This represents only a 0.6% increase over the 2005 figure of 10.39 billion – well under the 0.9% annual U.S. population growth.

The number of fishes and other aquatic organisms killed is not reported by any agency, but is likely to exceed that number.

The 2006 total of 10,452 million includes 40 million cattle and calves (up 7% from 37.5 million in 2005), 123 million pigs (up 1% from 122 million), 4 million sheep and goats, 290 million turkeys (up 5% from 276), 31 million ducks (up 4% from 30 million), 9,575 million "broilers" (up 1% from 9,480 million) and 389 million laying hens (down 11% from $437 million).

The total number of mammals and birds killed for food in 2005 reflects both the 9,417 million animals slaughtered under federal inspection and another 970 million, or 9.3% of the total, who suffered lingering deaths from disease, malnutrition, injury, suffocation, stress, or other factory farming practices.

Please contact FARM Research for additional information.

Sabina Fund Awards 20 Grants

This year, the FARM Sabina Fund awarded small grants to promote vegetarianism and respect for animals to more than 20 local groups in the U.S., Portugal, Romania, Israel, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. In India and Kenya, the awards were made to coalitions of smaller groups, because of the large number of proposals received.

Many of the projects display exceptional dedication and creativity. A U.S. group is doing an intensive leafleting tour of dozens of Midwestern colleges. The Portuguese proposal is for the country’s first ever vegetarian awareness campaign. An Israeli group is arranging a joint storefront information center with environmental and social justice groups.

The Indian World Farm Animals Day and Meatout events involve hundreds of villagers in lectures, cooking demonstrations, marches, and bicycle rallies. A Nigerian group is planning vegan feeding programs for the poor. The four Kenyan coalitions are holding vegetable cultivation and cooking workshops for local women. The Uganda groups are forming vegetarian youth clubs.

The Sabina Fund was launched in 1999 to honor FARM President Alex Hershaft 's mother who had passed away three years earlier.

To increase the number of proposals we can fund this year, please visit our Sabina website and make a generous contribution to the Sabina Fund

AETA Threatens Future Animal Activism

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) was discharged from the Judiciary Committee and passed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate in a back-room maneuver that surprised most animal activists, who never had a chance to express their feelings. The bill equates animal activism with terrorism and imposes severe federal penalties for civil disobedience, open rescues, and undercover investigations directed against an animal enterprise or anyone connected withan animal enterprise.

Peter Muller of the League of Humane Voters is coordinating a campaign to keep the bill from passing the House of Representatives and becoming law. Additional useful information is provided by Kinship Circle.

Please contact FARM Legislative Liaison to help fight this dire threat.

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