Demmels' Chicken Production Monopoly to End??

Roger, this is Big Daddy M reporting (note and utilize the user name change from now on please). Bad news guys, especially for Paul. Looks like his tried and true method of sticking chicken heads through a cone and then using a knife to cut them off is ridiculously inhumane. Demmel, let me know if you need me to draw up a proposal to install an argon killing chamber. Jeff or Luke, can you spec me the parts needed (valves, sensors, temperature control stuff for cubicle for full-time PETA inspector, etc). I'll be accepting closed bids, so we'll see who works for the better company after all. We'll definitely need to play some golf and drink a few beers to discuss this contract when I'm back in August. Sorry to hear about this Paul. Without chicken farming to fall back on, you might need 6 post-secondary degrees after all, so keep up the good work. Over and out...


ConAgra urges more 'humane' chicken slaughter
BY JOE RUFF

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
ConAgra Foods has sent letters to its poultry suppliers urging them to consider "controlled-atmosphere" killing as a potentially more humane way to slaughter chickens.
In exchange, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has agreed not to submit a shareholder resolution on the issue at ConAgra's annual meeting in September, company spokeswoman Tania Graves said Tuesday.
Last year, the animal rights group submitted a resolution, which shareholders defeated, calling on ConAgra to study the feasibility of requiring its suppliers to phase in controlled-atmosphere killing of chickens.
ConAgra officials opposed the resolution, saying the company's suppliers comply with government regulations pertaining to the humane treatment of animals. In addition, ConAgra said that research on whether controlled-atmosphere killing is more humane has been inconclusive and that producing a report would be costly and duplicative.
The letter sent June 29 asks suppliers to look at the issue and makes no requirements, Graves said.
Controlled-atmosphere killing also would apply to turkeys. ConAgra is trying to sell its Butterball brand, and new owners would make any decisions about slaughter, Graves said.
Poultry in the United States generally are shocked in electrified brine baths before their throats are cut. With controlled-atmosphere killing, the birds are rendered unconscious by replacing oxygen with an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon.
PETA spokesman Matt Prescott said his group will not ask ConAgra shareholders to vote on a controlled-atmosphere killing resolution this year because ConAgra's letter shows the company is serious about humane treatment of animals. The group hopes ConAgra's letter will be the beginning of a cooperative relationship with PETA, Prescott said.
One poultry supplier to ConAgra, Tyson Foods, said it had received the letter and responded that it has been evaluating controlled-atmosphere killing and other methods of animal handling.
Research is incomplete and inconclusive on whether controlled-atmosphere killing is more humane than conventional methods of slaughter, Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said.
"We will continue to monitor new technologies and, where and when appropriate, will take action to further the humane treatment of the animals in our supply chain," Mickelson said.

Here's the link: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=2204679