USDA Couldn't Track Their Own Shadow!!!

[Oldtimer]

Illegal Canadian cattle discovered in U.S.


Friday, January 12, 2007 12:18 PM CST




The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) hopes USDA will take the necessary steps to remedy a loss of revenue for a South Dakota producer who unknowingly purchased Canadian feeder cattle, says SDSGA President Rick Fox.

An independent South Dakota feeder was under the impression, in November of 2006, that he had delivered U.S. cattle to a slaughter plant in Nebraska, but found out differently when the packing plant denied him payment on seven head of the fat cattle, says Fox.

"He bought calves in South Dakota, and fed them at home in his feedlot like he always does, so he was pretty surprised when he got a call from the packing plant telling them that seven head out of the load had been condemned because they were of Canadian origin," Fox said. "The offal on the entire load was also condemned, which meant another substantial loss in income. He did not realize that the cattle were from Canada - he had purchased them assuming that they were domestic cattle." Even though Canadian eartags were identified in the calves, the cattle have not been traced back to any particular farm or ranch in Canada.

"Bureaucrats in Washington tell us that the U.S. cattle industry needs an individual animal ID program to allow for fast traceback, but the Stockgrowers believe that tracking of imported cattle should be a higher priority," Fox said. "Unfortunately, it appears that USDA is not keeping track of the cattle being imported from Canada - under USDA's rules, these calves should never have been allowed to be sold in a South Dakota auction market. The Canadian officials apparently haven't been able to trace back the movements and origin of the calves, despite the official Canadian tags found in their ears." Fox said that USDA implemented a rule in 2005 to allow the importation of Canadian feeder cattle under 30 months of age, but only under very strict conditions.





"The cattle are supposed to enter the U.S. in sealed trucks and be transported directly to an identified feedlot. They are then to remain in the identified feedlot until they are hauled to a slaughter plant in a sealed truck," he said. "The fact that these calves showed up at a salebarn in South Dakota, were allowed to intermingle with U.S. cattle, and were not represented as Canadian cattle, indicates that USDA is not monitoring the very system it created.
"USDA's mistake has really hit close to home - it has cost a South Dakota producer immensely. The Stockgrowers will keep working with him in hopes of recovering his lost income and preventing this problem from happening again," he added.



Fox said that the Stockgrowers have sent a letter to USDA with three requests: 1) a full update regarding the progress of the investigation; 2) an explanation as to the non-compliance that allowed the mistake and; 3) indemnification for the feeder's financial loss.

The South Dakota feeder hopes to recover his lost income and will be cautious about purchasing calves in the future. He also hopes USDA's investigation will soon reveal whether this was an isolated case, or if herd mates or other calves entered the U.S. and were sold and co-mingled illegally.

Fox agrees. "It's tough to believe that there aren't more calves that crossed the border with these." According to Fox, USDA has now proposed a further relaxation of import regulations to allow cattle from Canada that are over 30 months of age.

"It is ludicrous that USDA would even consider relaxing the very import rules that they are already having difficulty policing," he said. "Before they even think about allowing older Canadian cattle to be imported, I hope they can figure out a monitoring system that works." Fox said that SDSGA remains in opposition of the original rule to allow "under 30 month" cattle to be imported from Canada, as well as the proposed rule to allow importation of cattle over 30 months.

"Canada has a BSE problem, plain and simple. USDA has placed U.S. producers and the entire industry at risk by allowing Canadian cattle to enter the country; they have further jeopardized our operations by not enforcing their import rules," he said. "The thought of relaxing the import regulations now to allow 'over 30 month' Canadian cattle to be imported is absolutely irresponsible."

 

[skcatlman]

This is a false story, as a canadian cattleman that has shipped cattle to be fed stateside, i have to put in EID tags,barcode droptags both with canadian symbols and brand a huge CAN brand on the animal,the heifers have to be preg. checked and certified open then once on the truck the truck is sealed and the truck is tracked to the feedlot it is destined for.
So the producer buying the calves noticed their tags,( were they EIDS or drop tags),either way there is a big maple leaf on all the tags, and what about the CAN brand. where were the brand inspectors didn't they notice the big CAN brand on the calves or the maple leaf on the tags at the market initially, in the feedlot before shipping, once delivered to the packing plant. Nobody noticed the big CAN brands or that they were tagged with CFIA approved tags. MAPLE LEAF on a tag means Canada. When purchased CFIA approved tags EIDS or barcode( which are no longer sufficient) tags the retailer must telephone the CFIA with the personal information that has been confirmed with photo ID about the buyer and the fax a hard copy to the CFIA and wait for conformation that the CFIA has received the information prior to letting the tags leave the business. Thus there is no way that these calves could have canadian bar code tags or EID tags and not be traceable to a person who purchased the tags.. And believe me that i have had to wait an hour at a retailer waiting for conformation that the CFIA received my ranch information before being allowed to leave with CFIA tags. So the statement that the cattle were untraceable is total BS. The only way that these calves could have untraceable CFIA tags in their ears ,is if they were put in in the USA from tags stolen prior to a tag shipment making it to Canada.
This whole story is way too conveniant, is the producer an r-calf member or supporter trying to sabotage the USDA effort?
Oh yeah, the statement that canada has a BSE problem is propaganda,the USA has a BSE problem plain and simple!!!!!!
Too bad R-CALF members are so afraid of competition from cattle from Canada. Do you not have confidence in your cattle or do you know something about them i don't,that justifies this fear?
I would want to work with US producers to solve trade problems on both sides of the border. But stuff like this propaganda is designed to cause tension and peav off people.I am sure most good US cattlemen share my conclusions and have no problems competeing with me as they have great cattle. So if there is some truth to the story i would like to see what the USDA report has to say. But i don't think i will ever see the report as this is just a story. Like the tooth fairy story.

 

[Oldtimer]

Problem is that this apparently happened over a month ago- and since Canada refuses to cooperate from their side on ownership it sounds like the investigation as to where these cattle came from and how they came to be in the salesbarn or this fellows feedlot when they are supposed to be in sealed, isolated feedyards has been hindered...

Apparently since USDA has been trying to push thru the Rule 2 proposal, this has been kept very quiet- until now...

This definitely raises questions as to if USDA can't even keep track of Canadian feeder cattle hauled and contained in sealed conditions-- how can they keep track of all these old cows and seedstock they propose to let in?

And if Canada won't cooperate on this issue with tracking from the Canadian side- what assurances do we have they will with all these old and seedstock cows they want to send south, if we have problems years down the line? How many more have illegally been put into the US herd?

This is just now breaking into the media--I have written my Congressmen and asked they do some followup investigation- and if USDA can't handle it they do something to put the stops to the Rule 2 proposal until they can....

This not only endangers US consumer health and confidence, but the US herd health, our US risk status, and some of our US export markets......

 

[SSAP]

Problem is that this apparently happened over a month ago- and since Canada refuses to cooperate from their side on ownership it sounds like the investigation as to where these cattle came from and how they came to be in the salesbarn or this fellows feedlot when they are supposed to be in sealed, isolated feedyards has been hindered...

Apparently since USDA has been trying to push thru the Rule 2 proposal, this has been kept very quiet- until now...

This definitely raises questions as to if USDA can't even keep track of Canadian feeder cattle hauled and contained in sealed conditions-- how can they keep track of all these old cows and seedstock they propose to let in?

And if Canada won't cooperate on this issue with tracking from the Canadian side- what assurances do we have they will with all these old and seedstock cows they want to send south, if we have problems years down the line? How many more have illegally been put into the US herd?

This is just now breaking into the media--I have written my Congressmen and asked they do some followup investigation- and if USDA can't handle it they do something to put the stops to the Rule 2 proposal until they can....

This not only endangers US consumer health and confidence, but the US herd health, our US risk status, and some of our US export markets......

I fail to see how Canada has hindered this investigation. Are you implying that the consignor did not leave a name for the barn to issue a check to? Funny that the livestock inspector didn't get a name either. Perhaps the trucker knows where he picked them up from. Maybe a yard worker left a gate open and they wandered in. Maybe the county pound brought them in under the stray animals act. Or maybe someone ....... like the legal system is allowing the "innocent until proven quilty" to take precedence.

just trying to be of some help. How is it that you know that Canada has been officially asked and refused to help if you don't even know "how they came to be in the salesbarn or this fellows feedlot ". Seems you and your story have listed a number of American people that should answer questions.

 

[Oldtimer]

Problem is that this apparently happened over a month ago- and since Canada refuses to cooperate from their side on ownership it sounds like the investigation as to where these cattle came from and how they came to be in the salesbarn or this fellows feedlot when they are supposed to be in sealed, isolated feedyards has been hindered...

Apparently since USDA has been trying to push thru the Rule 2 proposal, this has been kept very quiet- until now...

This definitely raises questions as to if USDA can't even keep track of Canadian feeder cattle hauled and contained in sealed conditions-- how can they keep track of all these old cows and seedstock they propose to let in?

And if Canada won't cooperate on this issue with tracking from the Canadian side- what assurances do we have they will with all these old and seedstock cows they want to send south, if we have problems years down the line? How many more have illegally been put into the US herd?

This is just now breaking into the media--I have written my Congressmen and asked they do some followup investigation- and if USDA can't handle it they do something to put the stops to the Rule 2 proposal until they can....

This not only endangers US consumer health and confidence, but the US herd health, our US risk status, and some of our US export markets......

I fail to see how Canada has hindered this investigation.
There is more about this posted on ranchers- but according to that source (which in the past has been very reliable) Canada was asked and refused claiming "proprietary information"...
Are you implying that the consignor did not leave a name for the barn to issue a check to? Funny that the livestock inspector didn't get a name either.
East SD is not a brand/inspection area.....Rumor so far is these were unbranded...
Perhaps the trucker knows where he picked them up from. Maybe a yard worker left a gate open and they wandered in. Maybe the county pound brought them in under the stray animals act. Or maybe someone ....... like the legal system is allowing the "innocent until proven quilty" to take precedence.

Altho there is being little released on this from government-- something is definitely illegal...Cattle with Canadian tags are supposed to be only moved, fed out, or marketed under very restrictive rules- and this wasn't done...It sounds to me like since this is not only illegal activity but a US consumer and herd health issue- Canada could be/should be tracking their tags from that direction.....

just trying to be of some help. How is it that you know that Canada has been officially asked and refused to help if you don't even know "how they came to be in the salesbarn or this fellows feedlot ". Seems you and your story have listed a number of American people that should answer questions.

Since USDA has tryed to keep this all super secret- it just magnify's the rumours going around...That is the reason I have contacted my Congressional delegation and the Senate and House Ag leadership to make sure this is followed up on-- and if we have loopholes in the system it be made public....
But right now the rumors are painting the picture of a Canada that is not cooperating in the investigation- and that is bringing in to play the question of the workability of USDA's proposed Rule 2 to allow in older and seedstock cattle...

And this is not just a my corner of the world issue- I received the original copy of the newsarticle from a very nice little grandmother ranchwife in cental Wyoming...

 

[SSAP]

... " it just magnify's the rumours going around... "

Which is exactly what you are guilty of. You should have said
" ... I just magnify the rumours going around... "

You are not involved with the investigation, you are not privy to any details of the investigation even though you are an ex-law man, a brand inspector, a judge, coroner and whatever else you've said you are and you are spreading rumours .... imagine that.

Of course you will deny to spreading rumours ..... and avoid the fact that there are American people directly involved with these seven calves that should be providing the answers!

I'll make it easier for you since you are also a brand inspector ....

NEW QUESTIONS
- Are you saying that Sale barns in South Dakota do not track, record or report to the sales office, cattle that are received in the yards or leaving the yards?

- How do they know who to pay, for what kind and for how many? How do they cross the scale with no owner listed?

- How many rustled calves can pass through an eastern South Dakota sales ring with no detection?

 

[skcatlman]

After i responded to the initial post and explained how in depth the proceedure is when aquiring CFIA approved tags. I said i thought from all the alledged problems it sounded too conveniant and it appeared to be a fairy tale. So i checked with the CFIA head office for western canada and the people i contacted had no knowledge of a request in writing or verbally from the USDA for CFIA identification tag numbers to, trace cattle in the northern states. So i left it at that a r-calf member spreading unsubstanciated rumors an honest mistake, nothing to do with the recent call for relaxing the rules to allow canadian breeding stock born after 1999 into the US.
WOW i underestimated r-calf, these guys are willing to do anything to stop canadian cattle from entering the US. Too bad r-calf can't play by the rules that were set by the US government. They want to mislead and misinform, this is pathedic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oldtimer]

... " it just magnify's the rumours going around... "

Which is exactly what you are guilty of. You should have said
" ... I just magnify the rumours going around... "

You are not involved with the investigation, you are not privy to any details of the investigation even though you are an ex-law man, a brand inspector, a judge, coroner and whatever else you've said you are and you are spreading rumours .... imagine that.

Of course you will deny to spreading rumours ..... and avoid the fact that there are American people directly involved with these seven calves that should be providing the answers!

I'll make it easier for you since you are also a brand inspector ....

NEW QUESTIONS
- Are you saying that Sale barns in South Dakota do not track, record or report to the sales office, cattle that are received in the yards or leaving the yards?

- How do they know who to pay, for what kind and for how many? How do they cross the scale with no owner listed?

SSAP I have no idea how the salebarns in SD keep track of their transactions...Hopefully they have good enough records to sort out this lot....But I don't know how many lots this fellow bought...That is the reason I would like to see this kept at the forefront and a complete investigation carried out- and USDA not sweeping it under the rug like so many things in the past...Sometimes the press has a lot more power than the public with them....

- How many rustled calves can pass through an eastern South Dakota sales ring with no detection?
God only knows...We in the brands states have questioned that for years...Steal all you can haul in a bullhauler, drive all night, and get east of the Mississippi and your free and clear :roll: And no ID tags will help that situation- as they are too easily removed or altered...

I would think that the CFIA and Canadian authorities would be quite interested in this- if by chance they have Canadians involved I would think they would want to know....

 

[SSAP]

How do you know a complete investigation is not being done and that the USDA is sweeping it under the rug? Are you part of the investigation?

• Eastern South Dakota is east of the Mississippi? ? ?

" ... I just magnify the rumours going around... " Oldtimer writes:

.... I have no idea ......
.... But I don't know how ......

Unless you are part of the investigation Oldtimer - you should have stopped there instead of magnifying rumours.

 

[skcatlman]

Attention oldtimer
I thought that you said the cattle were sold in south dakota that is not east of mississippi. I thought that you already mentioned that canada was hindering the tracking of these supposed cattle. It would help if the CFIA knew about a request for specific information. It would be good to know if south dakota auction market where the animals were alledgedly sold at kept records. Of something like who sold cattle ? who the trucker was? who was paid for the cattle? Or is it called Rustler auctions where no records are kept, no questions are asked and all payouts are in cash? What is the name of the Auction yard where the cattle was sold? or is it a national security issue that must be kept secret? Wouldn't a thief have cut out the tags that would have made it harder to trace the cattle as stolen?
In canada all cattle must be brand inspected before being sold and now with CFIA regulations cattle must carry approved tags or the seller is fined and also charged for the cost of tagging the cattle. Are you telling me that canada has a better and more reliable tracking system of cattle than the US.
I find it odd that the original owner would put in CFIA tags if he knew the cattle were going into the US illegally. As he would be charged in canada for illegally exporting product by the CFIA. And if proven he knew would be fined and jailed.
It would really not suprize me if an incedent like this occured in the future, but the calves were stolen in canada by some nutjob from the US who illegally brought them into the US,who belonged to a special interest group that was trying to sabbotage the USDA relaxing of the rules for cattle imports.

 

[skcatlman]

P.S. oldtimer
You said that the cattle were unbranded. the only way that could happen was if the cattle were stolenin canada and moved in to the USA illegally. As when shipping into the US accordining to CFIA rules a federal vet. working for the CFIA must be present to verify the every annimal has a big CAN branded on them , all are tagged with approved tags and any females are certified open by the CFIA vet. prior to loading onto the truck and sealing of the load with and nonreusable seal that cannot be broked prior to arrival at the designated feedlot or packing plant.
More flaws in the fairy tale. DO YOU GET IT a canadian federal vet. has to fillout registration forms for the load and be present when a load is being put together and inspect every animal prior to loading and verify the animals are CAN branded , tagged and females certified open. Also a provincial brand inspector must be there to ensure each animal has apporved tags and carries the CAN brand and verify ownership by previous brand. The provincial brand inspector, CFIA vet. and trucker have to sign a form verifying that number and type of animals on the load,then submit it to the CFIA for record of transport to the US.
This isn't the wild west, we canadians actually have rules that have to be followed if we want to send cattle into the US. They are strictly enforced by federal employees ,not on the honor system. There are checks and balances to ensure there is no way of an incedence like this could happen.
Can i make up a story about R-CALF ? How about this, the owners of the first BSE positive cow in canada were american citizens who moved to northern alberta 2 years earlier. Oh wait that is true. Were they R-calf members ???

 

[Oldtimer]

Attention oldtimer
I thought that you said the cattle were sold in south dakota that is not east of mississippi.
SD divides its brand inspection by the Missouri-- west river is inspection area-- east river is not....And I haven't heard if they found where they were at previous to that...
I thought that you already mentioned that canada was hindering the tracking of these supposed cattle. It would help if the CFIA knew about a request for specific information. It would be good to know if south dakota auction market where the animals were alledgedly sold at kept records. Of something like who sold cattle ? who the trucker was? who was paid for the cattle? Or is it called Rustler auctions where no records are kept, no questions are asked and all payouts are in cash? What is the name of the Auction yard where the cattle was sold? or is it a national security issue that must be kept secret? Wouldn't a thief have cut out the tags that would have made it harder to trace the cattle as stolen?
In canada all cattle must be brand inspected before being sold and now with CFIA regulations cattle must carry approved tags or the seller is fined and also charged for the cost of tagging the cattle. Are you telling me that canada has a better and more reliable tracking system of cattle than the US.
I find it odd that the original owner would put in CFIA tags if he knew the cattle were going into the US illegally. As he would be charged in canada for illegally exporting product by the CFIA. And if proven he knew would be fined and jailed.
It would really not suprize me if an incedent like this occured in the future, but the calves were stolen in canada by some nutjob from the US who illegally brought them into the US,who belonged to a special interest group that was trying to sabbotage the USDA relaxing of the rules for cattle imports.

Since you have all the answers give me your name and address so I can have the FBI folk up to talk with you...I still have a few contacts ;-) :lol: :lol:

The sources I have said that Canada said the info would not be available because it is "proprietary information"....I do agree that it is sad that our government agencies can't be a little more open and transparent and at least release the basic facts that it occurred- but this USDA has a history of trying to hide things- going back to the Washington cow that they refused to release the info that it was Canadian for two weeks when everyone in the country already had the info...That took Congressional pressure.......

 

[SSAP]

Since you have all the answers give me your name and address so I can have the FBI folk up to talk with you...I still have a few contacts ;-) :lol: :lol:

You'll send your FBI "contacts" to Canada ! :shock:
Will they have time after you've asked them to talk to those directly involved with the 7 calves?

 

[skcatlman]

I do not have all the answers, but i do know what is required to ship cattle to the US in accordance to CFIA export rules and regulations. It is apparent you do not know the rules and regulations that must be followed and fulfilled in order to export cattle from canada to the US. Any of the questions that i have asked would be asked by the USDA officials. They are not idiots, all they would have to do is provide ID numbers from the CFIA tags and there would be an investigation of how and where the cattle came from in canada and into the US by the CFIA.
The simplest explanation is usally the right one. So with no brands on these supposed cattle, the cattle never went thru a federal inspection in canada for a export permit, so there is no way these are actually canadian cattle. A more reasonable explanation is that some nutbar associated with a group who is opposed to canadian cattle entering the US somehow attained CFIA tags and tagged american calves to sabbotage the process, but was too stupid to know that canadian cattle require a special CAN brand before being loaded on the truck before sealing it for the trip into the US.
Come on you are going to have to do better.
The USDA wanted to confirm where the cow came from, you know innocent until proven guilty. The basis of the US justice system. The USDA had to prove where the animal came from allegations were not enough.
Negative ads, and attack ads is that how r-calf plans to get the US consumer to eat only american beef ?

 

[Oldtimer]

I was picking up info today that maybe the USDA is again writing rules and regulations to make every body feel good, but then feeling they aren't important enough to enforce...

That some of these cattle coming across may not be being brand inspected or ID inspected by USDA employees or US brand inspectors--- that they are certified by a Canadian vet, loaded on the truck sealed and never looked at again until they reach destination point in the US-- and that they are unloaded and if number of animals match the manifest- nothing more is done...Cattle being unloaded during the middle of the night when you can't even inspect them.....No brand inspection- no verification of tag numbers by USDA in Canada before sealing ....

It also sounds like not only has R-CALF, but NCBA has made some complaints to USDA in the past about their laxity involved with inspections/oversight without much results...

 

[skcatlman]

We as canadians are following the rules the USDA set out . R-calf didn't want mixing of canadian cattle and the solution is to seal the truck after the federal inspection in canada and prior to crossing into the US. Therefore inspection should be done at the point of arrival (meaning the feedlot destination) by USDA officials, it is up to them to make sure these cattle carry the approved CAN brand put on by the CFIA and read the Electronic ID tags and record the the EID number. The reason the truck is sealed is to ensure the cattle go directly to the finaly destination non-stop, the load must go back to canada if the seal is broken prior to a USDA official breaking it at the final destination point. That is sufficient to keep canadian cattle seperate. Suggesting that this can't be done in the middle of the night is ridiculous unless USDA inspectors and U.S. brand inspectors are not allowed to use lights. And are the no processing facilities with squeeze chutes at the point of destionation to check tags and record numbers from the eid tags. I would really like to see these feedlots i know when i managed a large feedlot all incoming cattle were run thru the processing chutes upon arrival. thus spending a extra couple of seconds reading a tag and making sure the CAN brand is present isn't a big deal.Are you suggesting that r-calf members actually want the USDA to station employees in canada. LMAO LOL LOL LMAO .We are as canadians complying with every regulation set out by the USDA. I would like to see the USDA find out if the story that started this thread is true and if any part of it is not there should be alot of people going to jail. The is a lot of things in the story you can't explain. Why can you not accept that we as canadian cattlemen are not attacking your industry. Your government set the rules and we are following them and so should you.
Now that you can't find fault with canadians you are turning on your countrymen saying that brand inspectors and USDA officials are incompetant and at fault for not doing their job. Just get over it, the border regulations are being followed and that is what is really bothering r-calf members because the more they make the sure the rule are difficult the more canadians smile and happily comply.
Have a super-duper day

 

[mwj]

Oldtimer do you ever write anything good about the beef industry? Do you favor passing rumors more than having facts? If I were to pick 25 of your posts at random and thought they were ALL facts I would be eating chicken or tofu :roll:

 

[Oldtimer]

We as canadians are following the rules the USDA set out . R-calf didn't want mixing of canadian cattle and the solution is to seal the truck after the federal inspection in canada and prior to crossing into the US. Therefore inspection should be done at the point of arrival (meaning the feedlot destination) by USDA officials, it is up to them to make sure these cattle carry the approved CAN brand put on by the CFIA and read the Electronic ID tags and record the the EID number. The reason the truck is sealed is to ensure the cattle go directly to the finaly destination non-stop, the load must go back to canada if the seal is broken prior to a USDA official breaking it at the final destination point. That is sufficient to keep canadian cattle seperate. Suggesting that this can't be done in the middle of the night is ridiculous unless USDA inspectors and U.S. brand inspectors are not allowed to use lights.
They can't be done by artificial light here... Daylight only...
And are the no processing facilities with squeeze chutes at the point of destionation to check tags and record numbers from the eid tags. I would really like to see these feedlots i know when i managed a large feedlot all incoming cattle were run thru the processing chutes upon arrival. thus spending a extra couple of seconds reading a tag and making sure the CAN brand is present isn't a big deal.Are you suggesting that r-calf members actually want the USDA to station employees in canada.
In past years under the US import rules when they were bringing in sealed trucks- they had to be inspected at the port "prior to crossing" by a state brand inspector, and the US immigration folks....I had assumed they were doing this again- but it seems not...Now if the Canadian vet certifies it- we're supposed to buy it....And if some of your government vets are like our USDA head vet that doesn't even know what a Santa Gertrudis is :roll: - I would question whether they've even saw a brand.....Even years ago under the old import rules there were many cattle caught at the border without proper tags- and turned back....
LMAO LOL LOL LMAO .We are as canadians complying with every regulation set out by the USDA. I would like to see the USDA find out if the story that started this thread is true and if any part of it is not there should be alot of people going to jail. The is a lot of things in the story you can't explain. Why can you not accept that we as canadian cattlemen are not attacking your industry. Your government set the rules and we are following them and so should you.
Now that you can't find fault with canadians you are turning on your countrymen saying that brand inspectors and USDA officials are incompetant and at fault for not doing their job. Just get over it, the border regulations are being followed and that is what is really bothering r-calf members because the more they make the sure the rule are difficult the more canadians smile and happily comply.
Have a super-duper day
The main issue is that the USDA is supposed to be and has assured US cattlemen that they are providing oversight on the program-- Now this appears as tho it may not be happening...And if they can't show some stronger assurances that they have a handle on the situation, I'm sure there will be a lot of opposition to allowing them to expand the program....

 

[skcatlman]

So why can't canadian livestock be brand inspected with artificial light,the CAN brands are usally pretty easy to read. And you think you need daylight to read them. Really, just put it out there r-calf doesn't want any cattle from any other country in the US market. (Just be up front if there is support for your position your group will get what it wants . But the tactics your goup now employs smacks of desperation.) That will never happen it is called international trade. I will explain it to you canada sells oil in the US and the US sells clothing in canada. the only way for r-calf to close the border to imports is if US quits exporting anywhere else in the world. And from what i have heard on this forum there are alot of cattlemen who understand the words international trade. For you it is like interstate trade but only way bigger , i know hard to believe but true.
I see everyone in a positon of authority with some education is an idiot,in your opinion ,sorry but that is not the case. There is a reason they are in a position of authority and you are not. Why do you have a problem with authority? It is apparent to me that you can not conduct an intellegent discussion about this topic. All you want is for people to believe what you put out there without question, sorry but intellegent cattlemen will ask questions no matter where they are from USA, Canada or anywhere else in the world. Remember www stand for world wide web.
Answer the questions posed to you . I don't know isn't sufficient, i heard is conjecture, please back up your claims or don't put that stuff out there.
It is apparent that health concerns are just a smoke screen for you groups true concern. if i am right please tell me,r-calf members are afraid of competion because they can't compete in the market right now against other US cattlemen and will be futher pushed down the pole by foreign imports that are of better accepted by the US market, so the only way for them to compete is to resrict market acess.
Have a happy day!

 

[mwj]

This is the method of attack. Throw out lots and lots of half truth and insinuate till the cows come home. Ignore anyone that does not agree from south of the border and poke and prod and spin as soon as a canadian answers. These people spin so much they should screw thereselves into the ground If you bring proof they will put it under the micrascope and if its not to there liking just ignore it as if it didn't exist. Last but not least there favorite source of info is HE,THEY, SHE,THAT BUNCH ,AFEED YARD BOSS AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE GUYS AT THE WATERING HOLE :roll: You will not find many names or places for all these strange happenings they just come and go to only be recorded in the mind and not fact. When you start asking for proof of brazen claims you will get ridacule or silence but seldom any answers.