Abnormally large ‘super cows’ being manufactured by Frankenscientists for beef production

 

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Did you know that some varieties of beef on the market today come from cattle that has been deliberately modified to grow abnormally large muscles for beef production? A recent segment aired by the National Geographic Channel offers a glimpse into the eerie production of so-called “super cows,” which intentionally bear a defective gene that allows them to grow atypically large with a “double muscle” build.

This somewhat “mutant” cattle breed is officially known as the Belgian Blue, and its origins date back to the early 1800s when Belgian scientists and farmers decided to breed native cattle with Shorthorn and possibly Charolais cattle varieties to create a stronger and more beefy crossbreed. Over time, cattle breeders would select the strongest and largest animals of each variety and breed them together to create allegedly superior offspring.

“Selective breeding … is used by farmers to enhance desirable characteristics in their animals,” explains the National Geographic Channel about the process. “[It's] all about managing sex. To create these Belgian Blues over 100 years, farmers have only allowed the cows and bulls with the greatest muscle mass to mate. And the result is a bull that weighs over a ton.”

The tradition of breeding Belgian Blues in this manner lives on. But today’s Belgian Blues are even more selectively bred, as technological advances have given breeders new insight into genetic modifications. As it turns out, the most successful Belgian Blues possess an inherent genetic defect that causes their muscles to continue growing, which is what gives them their enormous size.

Though technically variant from the type of genetic modifications found in Monsanto’s soybeans, for instance, the Belgian Blue is purposely bred with this defective gene, known as myostatin, which alters its normal growing patterns. The myostatin gene is responsible for telling the body when to stop producing muscle, and in Belgian Blues, its failure allows exceptional growth above and beyond the norm.

“There is a gene that regulates the growth of muscles in cattle,” adds the National Geographic Channel about the process. “These cows have been selectively bred from animals that contain a copy of this gene which doesn’t work. As a result, their muscles grow far larger than normal. To ensure the defective gene is passed on, sex for the Belgian Blues has been replaced by technology in the form of artificial insemination.”

What is the purpose of all this? To create more beef, of course, which in turn generates more profits for the factory meat industry. And Belgian Blues are reportedly becoming more popular in the U.S., where greed and profits are king.

Sources for this article include:

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com

http://schatzie-speaks.hubpages.com/hub/Belgian-Blue-Cattle-Ethics

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Making clowns of Qurbaani Animals

Q. Some people have dressed their Qur’baani animals and place even hats on their heads. The animals are also painted in an assortment of colours. It is all part of the fun of the Day of Eid, they say. Please comment.

A. Qur’baani is in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice of Hadhrat Nabi Ibraaheem (alayhis salaam) who had laid his son at the altar of sacrifice for the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. It was an occasion when the illustrious father drove the knife on the throat of his illustrious son at the command of Allah Ta’ala.
Qur’baani is not a merry-making kaafir practice to be enacted in the manner in which the kuffaar behave during their Christmas festival season. Qur’baani is a serious and a holy practice. Dressing up Qur’baani sheep as if they are clowns to be subjected to mirth and laughter is haraam. It is an absolute mockery of the ahkaam (laws) as well of the spirit and ethos of Qur’baani to make clowns of the sacred Qur’baani animals. These are such animals which will transport us as swift as lightning over the Siraat (Bridge) over Jahannum. About these animals Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that every hair on their bodies and every strand of wool on their bodies is the equivalent of a virtuous deed. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that even before the blood reaches the ground, Allah Ta’ala accepts the intention of Taqwa which underlies the sacrifice.
The blood of these animals are being shed in commemoration of the Blood of Hadhrat Ismaaeel (alayhis salaam) who was offered as the supreme sacrifice of love and devotion. How then can a true Mu’min’s Imaan tolerate this satanic mockery – making a mockery and making clowns of the holy Qur’baani animals?
It is not permissible to paint these animals and to transform them into clowns The spirit of Qur’baani demands responsibility, dignity, decorum and devotion permeated by some grief in consonance with the natural sadness which Hadhrat Ibraaheem (alayhis salaam) must have undergone when he was taking his little son for the sacrifice, and at the time when he drove the knife on his son’s throat.

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When laying the Qurbaani animal down for slaughtering

When laying the Qurbaani animal down for slaughtering recite the following Dua
اِنِِّ وَْجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالَْْرْضَ عَلٰٰ مِلَّةِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ
يْ فً وَّ مَ اَ مِ ااُْ رِ اِنَّ صَلََتِِ وَْ سُكِيْ وَ مََْيَ يَ وَ مَََ تِِ هِْ لِلِّ رَبِّ العَْ اَِ لَْ شَرِيْكَ لهَُ وَ
بِذَالِكَ اُمِرْتُ وَ اَ مِ اُْسْلِمِ ……………….. بِسْمِ ا ه لِلِّ اَ ه لِلّ اَ رْ
I have firmly turned myself towards that Being who has created the heavens and the earth, while I am upon the Straight Deen of Ibraaheem alayhissalaam, and I am not among the Mushrikeen.
Verily, my Salaah, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah Ta’aala, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner, with this I have been commanded and I am the first of those who surrender. O Allah Ta’aala! This sacrifice is due to You granting us the ability to do so and it is for You. (Sura An’am, S.6/ V.162-163)

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POST-SLAUGHTER STUNNING

Q. The SPCA is proposing post-slaughter stunning of animals for adoption by Muslims. After the animal is slaughtered, then whilst it is still alive, it will be shot/stunned in the head to immediately kill and immobilize it. Is this kind of post-slaughter shooting and stunning permissible in Islam? It is said that the Jews allow this type of stunning.
A. Cruelty inflicted on animals whether prior to or post slaughter is haraam. The Shariah has its own, divine system of Thabah (Slaughter) which does not permit the infliction of any injury whatsoever to the animal before slaughtering it and even after it has been slaughtered as long as there is the slightest movement in it. It is haraam to begin skinning the animal whilst there is still movement in it. After the animal is slaughtered, the Shariah commands that it be left to bleed and attain immobilization of its own accord. The proposed post-slaughter shooting or stunning is haraam. We are not Jews. Their methodology is not a sunnah for us

mujlis ulema south africa

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ANIMAL CANNIBALISM –> Root of Mad Cow Disease

The History of Mad Cow Disease

England

In farming, it is convenient and healthy for cattle to be fed soybean meal as a part of their diet. In England’s, soybeans don’t grow well, so British farmers fed their cattle an animal byproduct which contained the mixed meat and bones of cattle and sheep. This practice caused the infected brains, nervous systems, and blood of infected cattle to be fed to other cows, thus filling them with an accumulation of infected meat. Obviously, more and more cows became infected and more and more cattle began to die. Also, at this time, the British had not declared a law that required the cattle feed to undergo an intense steam boiling process because they wanted to keep meat prices competitive.

Main Cause: Many diseases that are spread abnormally are caused by microbes but the infamous mad cow disease is actually caused by an infectious protein called a “prion”. These prion proteins are spread when the body of an infected cow or human is eaten by another being. When in an animal, the proteins actually become severely deformed into a contagious shape, and while in this form, the disease breeds plaque fibers, which slowly eat away at the victim’s brain.

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00112/mad_cow_frameset.htm

Note: Cannibalism doesn’t do any good at all. Don’t ever think of doing such unless you’re out of your mind. (or out of food JK)

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Eating red meat regularly ‘dramatically increases the risk of death from heart disease’

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Two rashers of bacon a day raises the odds of dying from heart disease and cancer by 20 per cent, a study has claimed.
While red meat has been blamed for health problems before, the large-scale American study is one of the first to link it to a higher risk of dying.
The data, from more than 120,000 men and women who were tracked for almost 30 years, was analysed by the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Risk: Eating processed red meat raises your chances of dying from heart disease or cancer dramatically
Almost 24,000 people died during the course of the study, and it was estimated that between 7.6 per cent and 9.3 per cent of these could have been avoided if everyone taking part had eaten half a helping of red meat less a day.
One helping equated to 85g – roughly two slices of bacon or one sausage.

More…
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A striking association was seen between consumption of red meat and premature death.
Each daily serving of unprocessed red meat, equivalent to a helping of beef, lamb or pork about the size of a deck of cards, raised the risk of death 13per cent, while processed meat increased it by 20per cent.
When deaths were broken down into specific causes, eating any kind of red meat increased the chances of dying from heart disease by 16 per cent and of cancer by 10 per cent.

A daily serving of unprocessed red meat raised the risk of death 13 per cent. However it remains a significant source of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins and vitamin D
Processed red meat raised the risk of heart disease and cancer deaths by 21 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.
Senior author Professor Frank Hu, from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, US, said: ‘This study provides clear evidence that regular consumption of red meat, especially processed meat, contributes substantially to premature death.
‘On the other hand, choosing more healthful sources of protein in place of red meat can confer significant health benefits by reducing chronic disease morbidity (illness) and mortality.’
The study found that cutting red meat out of the diet led to significant benefits.
Replacing one serving of red meat with an equivalent serving of fish reduced mortality risk by 7 per cent.

Nuts were said to reduce the risk of dying by 20 per cent
For poultry an even bigger risk reduction of 14 per cent was seen.
Legumes and low-fat dairy products lowered the risk by 10 per cent, whole grains by 14 per cent and nuts by 19 per cent.
Halving red meat consumption could have prevented 9.3per cent of deaths of men and 7.6 per cent of women taking part in the study, said the scientists.
The researchers came to their conclusions after taking account of known chronic disease risk factors such as age, body weight, physical activity and family history.
Cancer prevention charity the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommends that people avoid processed meat entirely and limit their consumption of red meat to 500 grams a week.
Dr Rachel Thompson, the charity’s deputy head of science, said: ‘This study strengthens the body of evidence which shows a link between red meat and chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The research itself seems solid and is based on two largescale cohort studies monitored over a long period of time.
‘The study calculates that lives would be saved if people replaced red meat with healthy protein sources such as fish, poultry, nuts and legumes and we would like to see more people replacing red meat with these type of foods.’
The findings were challenged by Dr Carrie Ruxton from the Meat Advisory Panel (MAP), an expert body funded by the meat industry.
She said: ‘This US study looked at associations between high intakes of red meat and risk of mortality, finding a positive association between the two. However, the study was observational, not controlled, and so cannot be used to determine cause and effect.
‘The authors’ conclusion that swapping a portion of red meat for poultry or fish each week may lower mortality risk was based only on a theoretical model. This conflicts with evidence from controlled trials.’
Dr Ruxton pointed out that meat and meat products were significant sources of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins and vitamin D.
In the UK, red meat was ‘critically important’ to zinc intake, contributing 32per cent of the total for men and 27 per cent for women.
Red meat also contributed around 17 per cent of total dietary iron intake in the UK.
Dr Ruxton added: ‘In summary, this paper should not be used to dissuade people from reducing their current intake of red meat when it provides essential nutrients that are required as part of a healthy balanced diet.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2113986/Red-meat-early-death-study-Eating-regularly-increases-risk-death-heart-disease.html#ixzz2BN4SsGa0
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Meat Glue, Pink Slime, Health Risks & More Reasons to Never Eat Meat

Mar 13, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

A slab of filet mignon might look delicious—but what if it’s just a bunch of scraps being held together by something known as ‘meat glue’? A recent investigation has revealed the powder is commonly used to hold meat together—the latest in a string of bad press for red meat. From the stats that eating red meat will take years off your life to the infamous ‘pink slime,’ The Daily Beast rounds up eight reasons why you might want to think twice before eating that steak.

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A recent study came to the alarming conclusion that all red meat is bad for you—as in, any amount, any kind, will increase your risk of dying. The studyconducted over 20 years, found that eating just three ounces of meat a day increases your risk of dying by 13 percent—and that number increases to 20 percent if that meat is processed, like hot dogs or bacon. But this isn’t the first time meat-lovers have been warned—from ubiquitous pink slime to lax regulation, The Daily Beast rounds up seven arguments against being a carnivore.

Meat Glue

It turns out that that slab of meat everyone enjoys is not so much a slab of meat but most likely comprised of meat scraps held together with something commonly referred to as “meat glue.” Officially known as “transglutaminase,” meat glue has its origins in the farming industry, when the natural enzyme was harvested from animal blood, but now it is produced through the fermentation of bacteria. The Food and Drug Association has ruled that meat glue is “generally recognized as safe,” and it is required to be listed as one of the ingredients—but it’s unlikely that any restaurant or banquet hall would list the ingredients of something on the menu. Using meat glue also poses a problem when cooking, since cooking a steak from usually kills all the bacteria on the outside—but by gluing pieces together, a rare piece of meat might be rare on the outside too and filled with bacteria. Yum.

Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes

Anyone with high cholesterol knows to stay away from red meat. Swapping out red meat with another protein source such as nuts can lower your risk of heart disease by up to 30 percent. But red meat is also linked to cancer, especially tocolorectal cancer, and to diabetes.

Pink Slime

If you need an image to convince you to stay away from meat, you couldn’t do better than that of pink slime. According to Gerald Zirnstein, a former Department of Agriculture scientist, 70 percent of ground beef sold in supermarkets contains pink slime, a goo made out of waste trimmings previously reserved for dog food and cooking oil. Ground beef containing pink slime doesn’t need to be labeled, thanks to a ruling by a USDA official who later stepped down and immediately joined the board of Beef Products Inc.

Antibiotics, Steroids

About 80 percent of the antibiotics sold in the United States go to livestock, which need them to stay alive in cramped and overcrowded industrial farms. To make them grow faster, they’re often given hormones which have been linked to cancer. It’s unclear what effect eating antibiotic-filled meat has on humans, but the federal government is concerned that the widespread use of drugs is breeding antibiotic-resistant superbugs and has slowly begun to restrict them.

Getty Images

Chemicals, Pesticides, Heavy Metals

Cholesterol and antibiotics are supposed to be in the meat, but what about the stuff that isn’t? The United States’ standards for testing meat for pesticides and chemicals are notoriously lax. In 2008, Mexico turned back a shipment of American beef because it didn’t meet the country’s standards for copper traces, and in 2010 the Department of Agriculture’s inspector general condemned the U.S. for allowing meat containing pesticides, heavy metals, veterinary drugs, and other chemicals to reach supermarket shelves.

Salmonella, E. coli, Mad Cow

Hardly a month goes by without news of a meat recall due to bacteria. There’sE. coli, which comes from contaminated and undercooked beef and pork and which results in diarrhea, cramps, and occasionally kidney failure. Salmonella,another frequent culprit, results in vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Mad-cow disease, while rare, is far more frightening. A pathonogenic protein slowly devours the brains of infected cattle—and of humans who eat them. It’s believed to have originated by feeding cattle the remains of other cattle.

The Environment

Livestock do more damage to the environment than automobiles, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, which called the industry “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems on every scale.” Livestock degrade land, contribute to climate change, pollute water, and destroy biodiversity. Cattle rank up there with automobiles and power plants in terms of greenhouse-gas emissions. Globally, livestock—mostly cattle—account for 18 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions.

Inhumane treatment

The horrors of factory farming are well documented, from crates where pigs don’t have space to turn around to calves restrained to produce veal. Some of the most egregious practices are being phased out after state-level action, but national regulation remains lax.

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Qur’baani animals

Q. Is it permissible to make qur’baani of animals without tails? Some Ulama say that it is permissible?

A. Qur’baani of an animal without a tail is not valid. All the arguments they cite in the abortive bid to legalize qur’baani of tailless animals are baatil.

 

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Islam and machine slaughter

Q.   Some ulama are accepting machine slaughter. What is the ruling?

A.   Machine slaughtering is absolutely haraam. Animals killed by a machine are haraam. The Ulama who say that machine slaughtering is permissible, simply do not know what they are blurting out. We have prepared a detailed explanation of this issue. Anyone interested may write for a copy.

majlis ulema – south afcrica

 

 

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Qurbani — May the blood flow, Taqwa grow and…Allah be Pleased!

 

 

Assalamu-Aalykum

 

Human nature, unless corrupted, does not gain pleasure from displeasure. Thus, we find ourselves dreading the displeasure of people! Displeasure displays itself in various ways. When people are displeased with us or we are displeased with anyone, the displeasure would be conveyed in some way or the other.

 

We will perhaps be cold towards that person. We may even avoid that person. A person may tell someone even to get lost. However, the strongest revulsion must surely be when we tell someone “don’t even come near to me”.

 

Our beloved Nabi Salallahu alaihi wasallam displays such revulsion to those who do not perform Qurbani despite the means to do so, that he has banned them from coming even NEAR to THE Eidghah. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallahu alayhi wasallam said that the person who has means of performing Qurbani but does not do so should not even come NEAR our Eidghah.

 

The Best of Days are these Days. And the Best of Deeds in these days is  the deed of Qurbani.

Sayyidatuna Aa’ishah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “There is nothing dearer to Allah Ta’ala during the days of Qurbani than sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart” (Tirmizi, Hadith #: 1493)

 

The Spirit of Qurbani: O, they looked like a bunch of wild unkempt tramps, these brothers of ours who were seen red-blood eyes. It was just after Eid-ul-Fitr. A mini bus filled with them with a trailer filled with bags and cooler boxes etc. Tired and fatigue was written all over their faces. It appeared that they returned from some war.

 

Their story is truly amazing. Year after year, they set out immediately after Eid-ul-Fits to search the mountains and the farms, the ranches and small holdings for the best of the best animals to please Allah Ta’ala. The search will continue for at least a week. Allah Ta’ala had blessed them with plenty of wealth. They wish to give Allah the Best of animals. And so they travel and take notes. And so they travel and debate. And so they travel and leave aside their comforts and families. They ache and they bleed, they despair and they fear failure. The best of animals it has to be. It is nopt just giving money or writing a cheque…it is something much more. It is eyes that search and scrutinise the animal. It is analysing the animal from tail to teeth. It is the sheer joy of beholding the beauty of the animal.

 

By Allah, even the angels marvel at this spirit, this understanding of what Qurbani is, this Love and Devotion unto Allah, Most High, this fierce commitment to find the best of the best! May Allah Taa’la make us like them where our faces become radiant with joy at the sight of the qurbani animal. May our hearts beat with Love for that Allah who has given us so much and asked for so little in return.

 

Sayyidatuna Aa’ishah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “There is nothing dearer to Allah Ta’ala during the days of Qurbani than sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart”.

 

 

It has been mentioned that after being saved from the raging inferno of Namrud, as a token of Love and appreciation unto Allah Subhanahu wata’ala, Hadhrat Ebrahim alaihi salaam sacrificed 1000 rams, 300 oxen and 100 camels. When someone praised this enormous sacrifice,

Hadhrat Ebrahim alaihi salaam said:

 

“These sacrifices are nothing. Allah Ta’ala owns me and whatever I have. If I had a son, I would have sacrificed him as well!”

Allah Ta’ala granted him a son. Thirteen years after he made his statement, Allah Ta’ala reminded him of his words. Hadhrat Ebrahim alaihi salaam rose to the occasion and was prepared to match his words with deeds. What a level of Sidq (Truthfulness)!

On the other hand, how often do we not make boastful claims without realizing the implications of what we say? Many woman in angrily demand Talaaq; others challenge the husband to take another wife; husbands threaten that they will find another better wife; businessman make rash pledges — and yet when Allah Ta’ala puts one to test, we hopelessly fail.

 

http://www.thejamiat.co.za

 

 

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