A downer is an animal, usually livestock, that cannot stand on its own and therefore is to be killed. A downed animal, one that is unable to stand, is not necessarily a downer.

The animal's inability to stand may be caused by illness or injury. In nearly all cases it is considered by most farmers to be both humane and cost-effective to kill the animal when it becomes a downer, rather than keeping it alive and unhealthy. Once killed, and depending on how the animal became a downer and how it was killed, the animal may then be incinerated, buried, rendered, or slaughtered. Because of mad cow disease, the slaughter of downer cattle is a topic of great concern.

There are many possible reasons for an animal staying down, including:

United States

A longstanding issue is whether these animals are treated humanely or inhumanely by shippers, stockyards, and packers while they are being moved or held for slaughter. Legislation periodically is introduced in Congress to outlaw the sale or transfer of such animals, but livestock producer groups (who generally agree that livestock markets should not accept severely disabled animals) have long contended that their voluntary efforts to end harmful practices have already proven successful. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 10815) required the USDA to investigate and submit a report on nonambulatory livestock, and to issue and enforce regulations, if deemed necessary, to provide for their humane treatment.

Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia (also called Metazoa). All animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and independently, at some point in their lives. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their lives. All animals are heterotrophs: they must ingest other organisms or their products for sustenance.

Most known animal phyla appeared in the fossil record as marine species during the Cambrian explosion, about 542 million years ago. Animals are divided into various sub-groups, some of which are: vertebrates (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish); molluscs (clams, oysters, octopuses, squid, snails); arthropods (millipedes, centipedes, insects, spiders, scorpions, crabs, lobsters, shrimp); annelids (earthworms, leeches); sponges; and jellyfish.

Etymology

The word "animal" comes from the Latin animalis, meaning having breath, having soul or living being. In everyday non-scientific usage the word excludes humans – that is, "animal" is often used to refer only to non-human members of the kingdom Animalia; often, only closer relatives of humans such as mammals, or mammals and other vertebrates, are meant. The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the kingdom Animalia, encompassing creatures as diverse as sponges, jellyfish, insects, and humans.

Reality Check is the seventh studio album by American rapper Juvenile. The album was released on March 7, 2006, by UTP Records and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Fat Joe and Ludacris, among others.

Reality Check was supported by three single "Rodeo", "Get Ya Hustle On" and "Way I Be Leanin'". The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 174,000 copies its first week. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Singles

The album's lead single "Rodeo"; it was produced by Cool & Dre was released. The single had charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at a modest number 41.

The album's second single "Get Ya Hustle On"; it was produced by Donald XL Robertson was released. The song descrides as a scathing indictment for the local government and the media's response from the 2005's Hurricane Katrina, including lyrics such as "the mayor ain't your friend, he's the enemy-just to get your vote, a saint is what he pretend to be" and "fuck foxnews I don't listen to y'all ass, couldn't get a nigga off the roof when the storm passed."

"Animal" is a Euro-House track by German Dance-Band R.I.O., featuring vocals from Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop singer U-Jean. The song was written by Yann Peifer, Manuel Reuter and Andres Ballinas. It was released in Germany as a digital download on 2 December 2011. The song's chorus features a re-creation of the synth riff from Levels by Avicii while R.I.O. and U-Jean overdub a new vocal hook.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Animal" was first released onto YouTube on 29 November 2011 at a total length of three minutes and forty-two seconds.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Charts

Release history

References

External links

Downer may refer to:

Bleach is the debut studio album by American rock band Nirvana, released on June 15, 1989 by Sub Pop. The main recording sessions took place at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington between December 1988 and January 1989.

Bleach was well received by critics, but failed to chart in the U.S. upon its original release. The album was re-released internationally by Geffen Records in 1992 following the success of Nirvana's second album, Nevermind (1991). The re-release debuted at number 89 on the Billboard 200, and peaked at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart and 34 on the Australian albums chart. In 2009 Sub Pop released a 20th anniversary edition of Bleach featuring a live recording of a Nirvana show in Portland, Oregon from 1990 as extra material. Since its release in 1989, Bleach has sold over 1.7 million units in the United States alone. It is Sub Pop's best-selling release to date.

Recording

Following the release of its debut single "Love Buzz" on Sub Pop in November 1988, Nirvana practiced for two to three weeks in preparation for recording a full-length album, even though Sub Pop had only requested an EP. The main sessions for Bleach took place at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle, with local producer Jack Endino.