Sheepdogs Banned for Stressing Sheep

(Fairton, New Zealand) The Tesco supermarket chain has ordered sheep farmers to stop using sheepdogs for herding.

A spokesperson for the store said: "We don't have a problem with sheepdogs, but we need to make sure they treat the sheep in a considerate manner, so they don't stress the sheep out."

Scientists have found evidence that causing stress to animals before slaughter can cause the meat to become pale and watery.

It's quite fortunate that after, I'm guessing, a millennium of eating pale, watery lamb and mutton that some 21st Century scientists made the discovery. Interestingly, though, scientists don't seem concerned about protecting the interests of consumers who prefer their lamb and mutton to be pale and watery.

And, as a sad consequence of the mandate, sheep farmers will likely be forced to kill at least some of their dogs.

In any event, I'm suspicious of the motivation behind the no-sheepdog order. It strongly resembles the frequent schemes fostered by radical animal rights/vegetarianism advocates to increase the price of meat and meat products.

In conclusion, bureaucrats are determining which products are to be produced, not the free market, and it's reminiscent of the former Soviet Union and probably coming soon in larger measure to the United States.

More: Say Anything

Companion post at The Jawa Report.