Go Blind on Cotton Meal. John A. Shaughnessy on the Effect of over-feeding it to Cattle
News article from the Kansas City Star, 1902-12-07

GO BLIND ON COTTON MEAL
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JOHN A. SHAUGHNESSY ON THE EFFECT OF OVER-FEEDING IT TO CATTLE
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The Kansas City, Kas Meat Inspector Would
Have a Law Enacted to Limit the
Amount Which May Be
Fed to an Animal
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John A. Shaughnessy, meat inspector for Kansas City, Kas, who fifteen years ago created a general stir by his wholesale killing of “big jaw” cattle at the Kansas City stock yards, has been making investigations as to the feeding of cotton seed meal to cattle and has arrived at the conclusion that the cotton seed meal, as feed, is the cause of blindness in many of the choicest cattle.

“I have noted the most striking changes of disposition in the Texas steer after some months feeding on cotton seed meal,” continued the meat inspector. “When the animal first comes from the plains he is high strung and full of bounding energy. There is a fearless look in his eyes and his nostrils dilate. When he has been fed on the meal for some time he becomes lethargic and the eye loses its brilliancy and fearlessness and finally becomes sightless. Then the former courser of the plains begins to exhibit signs of fear: a loud yell startles him and his fleshy sides tremble.

CHANGES THE ANIMAL’S NATURE

“When fattened to the highest degree he is packed with his fellows into a car and shipped to the city. In the stock yards his real torture begins. Amid the din or yells he loses his senses. The fear of some impending danger, the nature of which he cannot see, seizes him. He stands trembling while the rest of the herd moves on through the yards. The cow puncher notices the laggard and gives him a stinging prod with his stick. Something of the old time spirit is awakened in the brute and he turns and makes a mad dash at his assailant. Another heavy blow from a cudgel over the nose follows and again the brute stands trembling, every vestige of his former pugnacity gone. It is then the “puncher” discovers that the steer is stone blind and usually more gentle treatment follows.

“I have talked to government meat inspectors, to veterinary surgeons and to the cattlemen and the punchers and they all tell me that the large per cent of the cattle fed on cotton seed meal go blind. One government inspector told me that in some instances 50 percent of a fine bunch of cattle were found to be blind. The cattle punchers have a grievance against the ‘blinders,’ as they are familiarly termed. As long as the blind animals stay together in a bunch they are easily handled, but they frequently get separated from the others and then they have to be guided back into the bunch.

BLINDNESS DUE TO THE FEED

“I am convinced from my observations” said Mr. Shaughnessy, that the blindness is wholly a result of overfeeding of the cotton seed meal. When corn or other grain is mixed in sufficient quantities blindness does not result. But corn is more expensive than cotton meal and the feeder in his haste to get the animal ready for market does not consider the humane side of the question.”

Mr Shaughnessy said that he had talked with a number of veterinarians concerning the probable deterioration of the meat. The veterinarians gave different opinions and some refused to discuss the matter.

“Whatever may be the effect on the meat,” concluded the Kansas City, Kas inspector, I am convinced that the practice of feeding cotton seed meal is carried on to entirely too great a degree when as a result of that feeding blindness ensues. The industry is a great one and it would be far from my intention to cripple it in any way but on the grounds of prevention of cruelty to animals alone I would call attention to the conditions which actually exist with the hope that some remedy may be provided.”

SUGGESTS A LAW TO REMEMDY IT

When asked he he would remedy matters, Mr. Shaughnessy said, “I scarcely know how I would go about it, but I think perhaps some legislation might be enacted which would regulate the amount of cottonseed meal which may be fed. The legislation would have to be based on statistics gained from experiments of agricultural colleges and from cattle feeders.”

Mr. Shaughnessy has had a large experience in the meat inspecting business. Fifteen years ago he was appointed inspector at the stock yards and at that time he created a sensation by killing large numbers of “big jaw” cattle. His action at that time was unprecedented and the owners of the cattle were indignant. Frequently the inspector’s life was threatened but he kept on hin his course. The position of inspector, which at that time was wholly an honorary one [$100], soon became an important one, for in recognition of Mr Shaughnessy’s service, the city of Kansas City, Kas fixed his salary at $1000 per annum, the city of Kansas City, Mo gave him $600 per annum and the state of Kansas made an appropriation of $300 per annum. The action which Mr. Shaughnessy took at that time against the “big jaw” cattle finally led to the appointing of government meat inspectors, stock examiners and microscopists.