TSCRA Honors Elliott with Prosecutor of the Year Award

From TSCRA Press Release

Fort Bend County Assistant District Attorney Michael Elliott will be recognized March 16 for his commitment to prosecuting livestock theft and related crimes.

Elliott will be named the first-ever Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Prosecutor of the Year during the first general session of the association’s annual convention and trade show, Brand The Future, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.

Elliott, who serves as chief prosecutor in the county’s economic crimes division, was instrumental in securing a plea agreement last year in the largest case of cattle theft in TSCRA’s history.

Larry Gray, TSCRA’s director of law enforcement/market inspection services, said Elliott “shows a real interest in these types of cases.” Read more on the TSCRA Web site.

USDA Rejects 'Downer' Cow Ban

Courtesy of My Cattle Web site

by Christopher Lee

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told Congress on February 28, 2008, that he would not endorse an outright ban on "downer" cows entering the food supply or back stiffer penalties for regulatory violations by meat-processing plants in the wake of the largest beef recall in the nation's history.

Appearing at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Schafer said the department is investigating why it missed the inhumane treatment of cattle at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, CA, including workers administering electric shocks and high-intensity water sprays to downer cows – those too sick or weak to stand without assistance. Read more on the My Cattle Web site.