Downer (animal)
A downer is a farm animal that cannot stand on its own and is usually killed. A downed animal is simply unable to stand, but isn’t always a downer; illness or injury can cause it.
Farmers often see euthanizing a downer as humane and more cost‑effective than keeping it alive and sick.
After the animal is killed, disposal depends on the cause and method. It may be incinerated, buried, rendered, or slaughtered.
Mad cow disease (BSE) raises safety concerns about slaughtering downer cattle. In 2003, after BSE was found in two North American cows, the USDA banned slaughter of downer cattle for human food.
Causes and regulation: Some feed additives have been linked to downers, such as ractopamine in pigs. There are concerns about humane treatment during transport by shippers, stockyards, and packers. The 2002 farm bill required the USDA to study nonambulatory livestock and to issue humane-treatment rules if needed.
Differences by country: Laws vary. In the United States, meat inspection is governed by the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Some places allow slaughter of downer cattle; others do not. In Canada, the Health of Animals Regulations prohibit transporting non-ambulatory animals, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversees animal welfare during transport.
The issue also includes how to monitor the hundreds of thousands of downer cattle and what to do with their remains or any non-food value.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:08 (CET).