The documentation given in this article should put all on notice, including pet owners whose pets may be eating pet foods containing pork byproducts. A drug called PAYLEAN is now being used widely by the pig industry. The FDA has also recently approved its use in cattle.
Pigs are curious, intelligent, playful, and sociable creatures, tending to be more cautious than placid like cows, but they can be very aggressive when feeling threatened. Dosing them with Paylean, a beta-adrenoreceptor agonist, is the cruelest thing to do to the pig’s psyche---or to any creature’s state of mind and sense of well-being. This drug destabilizes the pig’s physiological and psychological homeostasis and subjective sense of well-being, evident in their heightened, chronic states of irritability, agitation, flightiness, and aggressiveness. This new drug, given to make them lean-muscled when fed on a sickening diet of corn and soy (publicly subsidized no less), makes their lives in crowded pens hideously stressful by super-stimulating their adrenal-systems. This means more fear and fighting until the stressed survivors are heavy enough to go out of the factory shed to slaughter. Their increased muscle mass makes normal movements difficult, and creates difficulties loading them for transport to slaughter, during which time they bruise easily and suffer great stress.
This is pharmacological cruelty of the first order; chemical torture, simply for profit, certainly not for public health (making pigs more lean). Such highly-wound up, physiologically challenged and psychologically disturbed creatures will have impaired immune function, increasing their susceptibility to diseases. Antibiotics are used by the thousands of pounds to keep the pigs alive and eating, making industrial pig factories the new epicenters for zoonotic diseases---bacterial and viral diseases transmitted to people.
Since animal studies show that only about 80 percent of this drug is excreted in the pigs’ feces and urine, that means twenty percent of the drug ractopamine hydrochloride, marketed as Paylean, remains in the pigs’ body, including parts people consume. It is my considered opinion that residues of this ‘speed’-like drug in pork products raise the question of significant health risks to a vulnerable segment of the population, especially those on adrenal, autonomic, neuro-endocrine and immune-system affecting prescription drugs. Animal studies that have been conducted on the effects of this drug on rats, dogs, and monkeys, as well as pigs, give no such guarantee, to my knowledge, of unconditional consumer safety.
Paylean, approved a decade ago by the Federal government for pig producers to use, is a product of Elanco technology, a company owned by Eli Lilly. To some cultures and way of thinking, this is a great product. For me it is an abomination; a shameful reflection of a species of depraved existence rather than exalted communion with other sentient beings as I have experienced seeing how piglets play, hogs wallow, and sows go ballistic defending their young from my needle and knife. But never would I have dreamed, as a young vet student working on Yorkshire pig farms fifty years ago, that there would come a time when pigs would be drugged just for profit, and that there could ever be of such widespread and insidious animal exploitation and evident, yet sanctioned cruelty and suffering.
This new administration should recall the Farm Bill and cut out all public subsidies associated with all livestock and poultry production practices that are not organically certified and humane. All consumers should avoid all pork products that do not clearly have a USDA certified “Antibiotic & Paylean free” label if they do consume pork, ham, sausage or bacon. It should be noted that 15 people in China were arrested recently by their government for selling this drug illegally to pig farmers, and that while there are no restrictions for its use in Canada, all pork products exported to the European Union countries must be from pigs never given this outrageously mis-applied pharmaceutical product.
---Michael W. Fox
FOR FURTHER DOCUMENTATION, PLEASE READ ON:
http://www.naturalnews.com:80/025861.html NaturalNews.com
Originally published March 17 2009 Paylean: Drug in Conventionally Raised Meat Linked to Cancer and Heart Disease by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor
Barbara notes that ‘Although there is no clearing period required before swine fed Paylean can be slaughtered and turned into food, the Paylean label clearly states that Paylean is not for human use. It warns that individuals with cardiovascular disease should exercise special caution to avoid exposure to Paylean. Individuals mixing and handling Paylean are advised to use protective clothing, impervious gloves, protective eyewear, and NIOSH approved dust masks, as well as to wash themselves thoroughly immediately following handling.----
China will not import Paylean fed pork
Evidently, the Chinese are better at putting two and two together. They will only buy pork from America that is not treated with Paylean. A recent news announcement from Smithfield Foods reported the company has agreed to sell 60-million pounds of Paylean-free pork to China. According to the article, Smithfield "controls their own swine production so all they have to do is stop feeding Paylean. Three weeks later they will have Paylean-free pork." This is an industry admission that fully three weeks is the amount of time needed to clear Paylean from the body of a hog so that it cannot be found through inspection.
Animals suffer from the use of Paylean
This producer believes the pigs pay too great a price for the boost to their producer's bottom line. He calls Paylean the Arnold Schwarzenegger drug. "In a matter of weeks it turns hogs nearing market weight into solid muscle similar to what steroids do for body builders or athletes. The animals walk like arthritic old men, and yes, they actually squeal when moved along. Small men working on swine farms hate loading out Paylean hogs because they are mean and refuse to load out. You have to force them down the chute. You can see men beating Paylean fed animals to move them. Paylean makes life miserable for farm workers, but owners of factory farms don't load animals, they sit behind a desk."
Paylean makes the animals miserable, according to Chris Birky of Birky farms, who several years ago tried to raise Paylean fed pigs. He says the Paylean fed animals became extremely agitated. "They were very irritable and aggressive towards each other, feeders, waterers and even me. They were very flighty and very stressy. Mortality increased as did injury. When we would move pigs or load them for market, we had to be so careful. Any stress at all and pigs would turn purplish and shake and sometimes you might lose one to a heart attack...Just seeing what effect it had on the animals was plenty of reason not to feed it, for their sake alone...The pigs I saw didn't like what Paylean did to them, and neither did I."’
Colleague Mary Finelli told me that Gail Eisnitz told her years ago that Paylean is like speed for pigs.
Mary gave additional references to this atrocity of chemical cruelty to animals:
Concerns related to Paylean use:
Paylean might lead to - increases of heart rates and catecholamine levels. Pigs might be more sensitive to rough handling and increased stress during transportation.
from: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2291739/The-Facts-about-Paylean%EF%BF%BD
******
Our experience with Paylean(R)
Several years ago, we raised pigs for a company. We provded the labor and our barn and they provided the feed and the pigs. It was a good way for us to provide income for our family. Right or wrong this company used Paylean in their feed the 6 weeks prior to going to market to be butchered. It just struck me how I never knew when the batch of feed would come that had the Paylean (R) in it, but I could always tell when the pigs started eating it. The pigs became very aggitated. They became very irritable and aggressive towards each other, feeders, waterers and even me. They were very flighty and very stressy. Mortality increased as did injury. When we would move pigs or load them for market, we had to be so careful. Any stress at all and pigs would turn purplish and shake and sometimes you might lose one to a heart attach. It was very troublesome.
see: http://tinyurl.com/d9wonl
**
other Paylean articles at:
http://www.thepigsite.com/search/index.php?cat=0&q=Payle
China will not import Paylean fed pork
Evidently, the Chinese are better at putting two and two together. They will only buy pork from America that is not treated with Paylean. A recent news announcement from Smithfield Foods reported the company has agreed to sell 60-million pounds of Paylean-free pork to China. According to the article, Smithfield "controls their own swine production so all they have to do is stop feeding Paylean. Three weeks later they will have Paylean-free pork." This is an industry admission that fully three weeks is the amount of time needed to clear Paylean from the body of a hog so that it cannot be found through inspection.
Animals suffer from the use of Paylean
This producer believes the pigs pay too great a price for the boost to their producer's bottom line. He calls Paylean the Arnold Schwarzenegger drug. "In a matter of weeks it turns hogs nearing market weight into solid muscle similar to what steroids do for body builders or athletes. The animals walk like arthritic old men, and yes, they actually squeal when moved along. Small men working on swine farms hate loading out Paylean hogs because they are mean and refuse to load out. You have to force them down the chute. You can see men beating Paylean fed animals to move them. Paylean makes life miserable for farm workers, but owners of factory farms don't load animals, they sit behind a desk."
Paylean makes the animals miserable, according to Chris Birky of Birky farms, who several years ago tried to raise Paylean fed pigs. He says the Paylean fed animals became extremely agitated. "They were very irritable and aggressive towards each other, feeders, waterers and even me. They were very flighty and very stressy. Mortality increased as did injury. When we would move pigs or load them for market, we had to be so careful. Any stress at all and pigs would turn purplish and shake and sometimes you might lose one to a heart attack...Just seeing what effect it had on the animals was plenty of reason not to feed it, for their sake alone...The pigs I saw didn't like what Paylean did to them, and neither did I."
NONAMBULATORY PIG PROBLEM INCREASING
Farmed Animal Watch, June 9, 2006
http://www.farmedanimal.net/faw/faw6-20.htm#2
The incidence of nonambulatory pigs has worsened in the U.S., according to Temple Grandin, an animal scientist and industry consultant. She suspects it is due to the overuse and abuse of Paylean, a drug used to increase muscle mass (see item #2: http://tinyurl.com/jbgvh ) in heavier pigs. In some plants it is a case of bad becoming normal, Grandin says. She blames financial premiums paid for heavy, weak pigs who have a lot of muscle, and recommends rewarding producers who present few nonambulatory animals as the most effective remedy. “If producers had to pay for them, the downer problem would disappear overnight,” she comments.
from: FIXING THE DOWNER PIG PROBLEM
Meat & Poultry, Temple Grandin, May 1, 2006
http://www.meatpoultry.com/feature_stories.asp?ArticleID=79351
***
DRUG APPROVED FOR SHOW USE; ASSOCIATED WITH "DOWNER SYNDROME"
Farmed Animal Watch, July 26, 2002
http://farmedanimal.net/Newsletters/Newsletter77.htm
Paylean, a drug used to make pigs leaner and more muscular, has been approved for show ring use in Ohio. Paylean is ractopamine hydrochloride, the first beta-agonist approved by the FDA for use in food-producing animals (see back issues #43 and 69). Approved in 1999, it is widely used in commercial pig production. An Ohio State pig specialist warns, "The potential exists for heavy misuse of the product." The drug's effects can be rapid and extreme. Pigs fed Paylean are also more susceptible to "downer syndrome," whereby a stressed pig's muscles cease functioning properly. An Ohio State vet explains, "The pig has so much muscle that [they are] too stiff and not able to move." It was a county extension agent who pointed out to the Ohio Department of Agriculture that the drug should be permitted for show use since it is FDA approved.
from: "Follow Label When Using Feed Additive on Show Pigs,"
Ohioline, Candace Pollack, July 18, 2002
http://fusion.ag.ohio-state.edu/news/story.asp?storyid=505
and: "Paylean (Ractopamine)," The Manual.
http://www.eboars.com/newpage/Manual%20Paylean.htm
NEW CATTLE GROWTH PROMOTER
Farmed Animal Watch, July 11, 2003
http://www.farmedanimal.net/Newsletters/Newslettern22v2.htm
Elanco Animal Health recently announced it has received FDA approval to market a new growth promoter for cattle used for meat production. Optaflexx is derived from the same compound used in Elanco's Paylean growth promoter for pigs. [Paylean has been associated with "Downer's Syndrome," see issue #77.] Optaflexx will cause an average steer to gain about 17 additional pounds. It is not an antibiotic and so will not be affected by McDonald's new policy (see item #4).
from: "FDA OKs Elanco's Meat Promoter," The Indy Star, Jeff Swaitek, June 21, 2003.
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/4/052297-6404-031.html