To the USDA:                         December 18, 2011
       Back in May and June of this year, 235 genetically selected hogs were flown from Chicago to South Korea to start rebuilding the swine herd that had been decimated by foot-and-mouth disease there earlier in the year. Clayton Agri-Marketing Inc., a Jefferson City, MO-based animal shipping business, was the company in charge of the transport of the animals. In the light of the South Korean government’s abysmal history on animal welfare, why did we allow this sale to go forward?

      Last year, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease took place in South Korea. From November 2010 through February 2011, the Korean government’s attempt to control the situation resulted in a massive cull of the infected, and mostly non-infected, animals. In a clear breach of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines on the killing of animals for disease control purposes, it is estimated that up to three million pigs were gathered near large, open pits, bull-dozed into those pits, and buried alive. From animal welfare reports I have read regarding previous incidents, brutal, mass slaughter of animals are yearly occurrences, and the South Korean government has neither condemned these practices nor made any effort to align the handling of future outbreaks with OIE guidelines.

      Now, the Republic of Korea wants to rebuild their herd. Like the United States, they’re a member of the OIE, and live burial of animals is in clear breach of OIE Guidelines on the Killing of Animals for Disease Control Purposes. Shouldn’t the USDA be discouraging or, better yet, stopping the export of swine to that country until they have shown some sign they are in accord with OIE guidelines? There have been no internal repercussions or consequences for any officials in charge of that infamous cull, and by letting these exports go through, we’re tacitly encouraging a continuance of such criminal behavior.

Sincerely yours,
Bob Berman

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