http://www.fremontneb.com/articles/2007/07/09/ap-state-ne/d8q98dio0.txt

PETA calls for investigation of Gordon slaughterhouse

By TIMBERLY ROSS

OMAHA, Neb. - An animal-rights group has called for a state investigation
into a Gordon meatpacking plant it claims mistreats animals during the
slaughtering process.

In a complaint filed Monday with the Sheridan County Attorney, the group
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Local Pride LLC allows
cows to remain conscious for up to two minutes after their throats are cut
during the kosher slaughtering process, among other things.

PETA vice president Bruce Friedrich called the practice illegal and cruel.

Local Pride opened in June 2006 under an agreement between the Sholom
Rubashkin family of New York and the Oglala of South Dakota's Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation.

The Rubashkins also own the world's largest kosher plant, Agriprocessors in
Postville, Iowa, which was scrutinized last year by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture for cruelty to animals. The investigation came after
Agriprocessor's slaughtering methods were criticized by PETA as cruel and
inhumane.

The U.S. attorney's office in Cedar Rapids did not file charges in that
case.

PETA said in its latest complaint that an undercover investigation of Local
Pride was carried out in May as follow-up to its claims against
Agriprocessor.

The alleged violations of state, federal and kosher laws cited in the
complaint include: the animals are allowed to writhe in pain for up to two
minutes after their throats are cut; and staff tear the animals' necks with
a meat hook and cut tags from their ears while they are still conscious.

"The intentional infliction of cruelty at Agriprocessor's Gordon, Nebraska,
facility is ... part of a continued pattern of disregard for the welfare of
animals _ and the cruelty-to-animal statutes _ in the locales where
Agriprocessors operates," PETA said in the complaint.

A video of the alleged mistreatment at Local Pride was posted Monday on
PETA's Web site, http://www.goveg.com.

A message left for Rubashkin at his Iowa office was not immediately
returned Monday.

According to PETA, a similar complaint filed June 29 with the USDA has
prompted a federal probe of Local Pride.

USDA spokeswoman Amanda Eamich on Monday confirmed that a specialist was
sent to the plant to observe the slaughtering process, but said no
violations of the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act were found.

Under Nebraska law, cruel mistreatment of animals is a Class I misdemeanor
for the first offense and a Class IV felony for subsequent offenses.

The Sheridan County Attorney's Office said Monday that it could not comment
on the complaint.

When Local Pride opened last year, the company employed nearly 100 plant
employees and slaughtered about 110 cattle per week.

A plant manager contacted Monday would not release updated figures and
referred all questions to Rubashkin.

On the Net:

Agriprocessors: http://www.agriprocessor.com/

PETA: http://www.goveg.com/

USDA Office of Inspector General: http://www.usda.gov/oig/

A service of the Associated Press(AP)