Oldtimer
Well-known member
Guest opinion: Close border to Canadian cattle
Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was created, in part, to "protect agriculture, environment, economy and the health and welfare of the people of the United States." Specifically, USDA is charged with the duty to prevent, detect, control and eradicate animal diseases and to protect the public from harm that may occur as a result of such diseases. Well, that indeed is a sobering obligation. Common sense might indicate that with such a burden USDA might care to err, if at all, on the side of caution.
The beef packing industry is very big business. Tyson, IBP, Cargill and others present a strong market force. The packing industry contributed substantially to the administration's re-election. These same global corporations have placed a number of personnel in key positions within USDA.
Protecting herds, consumers
To the contrary, cattle producers are not well organized, have little economic clout and traditionally have not fought for their own economic interests. Montana Cattlemen's Association has a different view. We feel an obligation to not only organize but to support consumers since we recognize they hold the key to our future. Consumer trust and confidence in U.S.-produced beef as a safe, nutritious and good tasting product is key to preserving the U.S. cattle industry and our way of life. Indeed, the destiny of Montana's rural communities will be determined, in large part, by the trust between consumers and cattle producers.
To protect our cattle herd from mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as BSE) and consumers from the human form of the disease known as variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD), a brain-wasting disease that is always terminal, cattle producers have joined together to force USDA to close the Canadian border. R-CALF USA and Montana Cattlemen's Association have taken the lead in this effort.
The border needs to be closed to Canadian cattle and Canadian beef because Canada has a significant BSE infestation. They have discovered four BSE infected cows since May 2003 (including a cow in Washington state that had been born in Canada). These have been discovered even though Canada has tested less than 20,000 head of cattle during this period. Statistically this is significant and precludes Canada from being classified as a minimum risk country. The U.S. has never before allowed imports from a country known to have a BSE-infected cow herd.
R-CALF USA's complaint filed in U.S. District court for the District of Montana alleges that USDA's effort to reopen the Canadian border to beef and cattle trade is irresponsible. Specifically, USDA's proposed action will expose U.S. consumers to an unquantified and increased risk from imported beef products of contracting vCJD caused by the consumption of beef infected with BSE. There is no known treatment or cure.
Secondly, this action will expose the U.S. cow herd to increased risk of BSE infection. The potential cost to U.S. producers according to recent economic models will exceed $3 billion in damages. U.S. cattle producers have already been substantially harmed since the Canadian cow infected with BSE was discovered in the state of Washington. The consequence of this discovery was the closing of international markets to U.S. beef. These markets remain 80 percent closed and the cost to our cattle producers is substantial.
Ineffective feed ban
Canada's announcement on Jan. 11 of yet another BSE infected cow was particularly disturbing since this cow was born in 1998, one year after the Canadians supposedly had in place a ruminant feed ban. One of the ways this disease is spread is from feeding contaminated ruminant extracts to other bovines. The Canadian Food Services agency recently conducted an investigation of the Canadian feed industry and discovered widespread violations of the ruminant feed ban. Further, Canadian rules allow the feeding of bone and blood meal from rendered cattle to other bovines. Blood is known to be an agent that transmits the disease. In addition, Europe's experience with this disease proves a feed ban is not necessarily effective. Europe continues to report new cases of BSE 12 years after a feed ban was implemented.
The facts of the BSE infestation in Canada cry out for a more cautious and prudent approach to opening the Canadian border to increased beef and cattle trade. Montana Cattlemen's Association urges USDA to rescind the proposed final rule, which is set to take effect March 7 and will allow the importation of live cattle and beef.
Dennis McDonald, vice president of Montana Cattlemen's Association, ranches near Melville.
Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was created, in part, to "protect agriculture, environment, economy and the health and welfare of the people of the United States." Specifically, USDA is charged with the duty to prevent, detect, control and eradicate animal diseases and to protect the public from harm that may occur as a result of such diseases. Well, that indeed is a sobering obligation. Common sense might indicate that with such a burden USDA might care to err, if at all, on the side of caution.
The beef packing industry is very big business. Tyson, IBP, Cargill and others present a strong market force. The packing industry contributed substantially to the administration's re-election. These same global corporations have placed a number of personnel in key positions within USDA.
Protecting herds, consumers
To the contrary, cattle producers are not well organized, have little economic clout and traditionally have not fought for their own economic interests. Montana Cattlemen's Association has a different view. We feel an obligation to not only organize but to support consumers since we recognize they hold the key to our future. Consumer trust and confidence in U.S.-produced beef as a safe, nutritious and good tasting product is key to preserving the U.S. cattle industry and our way of life. Indeed, the destiny of Montana's rural communities will be determined, in large part, by the trust between consumers and cattle producers.
To protect our cattle herd from mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as BSE) and consumers from the human form of the disease known as variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD), a brain-wasting disease that is always terminal, cattle producers have joined together to force USDA to close the Canadian border. R-CALF USA and Montana Cattlemen's Association have taken the lead in this effort.
The border needs to be closed to Canadian cattle and Canadian beef because Canada has a significant BSE infestation. They have discovered four BSE infected cows since May 2003 (including a cow in Washington state that had been born in Canada). These have been discovered even though Canada has tested less than 20,000 head of cattle during this period. Statistically this is significant and precludes Canada from being classified as a minimum risk country. The U.S. has never before allowed imports from a country known to have a BSE-infected cow herd.
R-CALF USA's complaint filed in U.S. District court for the District of Montana alleges that USDA's effort to reopen the Canadian border to beef and cattle trade is irresponsible. Specifically, USDA's proposed action will expose U.S. consumers to an unquantified and increased risk from imported beef products of contracting vCJD caused by the consumption of beef infected with BSE. There is no known treatment or cure.
Secondly, this action will expose the U.S. cow herd to increased risk of BSE infection. The potential cost to U.S. producers according to recent economic models will exceed $3 billion in damages. U.S. cattle producers have already been substantially harmed since the Canadian cow infected with BSE was discovered in the state of Washington. The consequence of this discovery was the closing of international markets to U.S. beef. These markets remain 80 percent closed and the cost to our cattle producers is substantial.
Ineffective feed ban
Canada's announcement on Jan. 11 of yet another BSE infected cow was particularly disturbing since this cow was born in 1998, one year after the Canadians supposedly had in place a ruminant feed ban. One of the ways this disease is spread is from feeding contaminated ruminant extracts to other bovines. The Canadian Food Services agency recently conducted an investigation of the Canadian feed industry and discovered widespread violations of the ruminant feed ban. Further, Canadian rules allow the feeding of bone and blood meal from rendered cattle to other bovines. Blood is known to be an agent that transmits the disease. In addition, Europe's experience with this disease proves a feed ban is not necessarily effective. Europe continues to report new cases of BSE 12 years after a feed ban was implemented.
The facts of the BSE infestation in Canada cry out for a more cautious and prudent approach to opening the Canadian border to increased beef and cattle trade. Montana Cattlemen's Association urges USDA to rescind the proposed final rule, which is set to take effect March 7 and will allow the importation of live cattle and beef.
Dennis McDonald, vice president of Montana Cattlemen's Association, ranches near Melville.
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