MAD COW DISEASE FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES

[AdamSmith]

You know I think instead of being called "MAD COW" Disease it should be called "MAD WORLD" Disease.

Yes indeed, it's a MAD MAD MAD WORLD we live in. Pretty soon Zero meat will trade in this world.

I see Japan and South Korea have closed their borders to US beef. What will those countries do when BSE shows up in Australia, in Argintina, in Brazil??

Tofu anyone?

[TOM4CWB]

Incognito;

I see Canada could not resist the temptation to ban many types of US beef and ruminant animals.

Politics reigns supreme... again.

[wd9]

When most large beef trading countries have confirmed cases of BSE, does that then open the majority of the trade again?

[TOM4CWB]

Wd9;

If Canada were to individually test each beef animal (as happens in Japan now) I understand Japan would accept our exports now.

I know Alberta is in the process of setting up testing facilities as we speak...

We have certainly entered a new world of food safety... no doubt about it!

[gmj]

I thought Paul Martin was going to make sure things would be different now that he is in charge, but instead we have a new Ag Minister who doesn't consult the beef farmers and closes the border to some US beef products anyway. When will we get politicians who will actually listen to the wills of the primary producers?

[cowman]

I think the Canadian government has to look out for the health of its people and food safety? Their responsibility is also to the Canadian consumer and not just what the cattle industry might want? If the experts at the food safety end of it say the border should be closed to certain types of meat, do you think the government should ignore them?
After all if they were only playing politics they could ignore the science and slam that border shut. I think Martin and Speller are doing the right thing and following the science instead of acting like the Americans did. We should all be applauding our government in how they are handling this. They are showing themselves to be fair and decent traders, unlike our southern neighbors?

[boone]

cowman, I couldn't agree more. I think it was a proper and measured response. Everyone should keep in mind there will be more information moving behind the scenes than we could know.(good post)

[TOM4CWB]

Incognito and Cowman;

Canada can negotiate just as well after import restrictions are imposed on US beef no question.

But will we, that is the question.

IS beef in Canada and the US safe at this moment?

Scientifically I would suggest it is, especially since "downer" cattle are being rejected in both countries now.

There may be some justification in restricting beef from the PNW, as some feed mills have not followed ruminant restrictions to the letter of the law on feed manufacture over the past few years... which could have a cause and effect on this BSE case. Dairy cattle are most at risk here because few beef cows are fed prepared feed anywhere near the levels of milk cows.

[cowman]

TOM: I would suggest Canadas response was entirely appropriate. Let the muscle cuts/no bone/under 30 months into the country. Exactly the same standards as the Americans require of our beef. The difference is we didn't wait 5 months to allow this to happen. Do you think it would be fair to allow hamburger from Washington dairy cows(perhaps even THE cow) to be fed to our population?
Of course we want to treat the Americans fair...and I repeat a lot more fairer than they treated us. But I don't believe our government should compromise Canadians food safety just to prove a point or appease the Americans.
Is Canadian beef safe? Is American beef safe? Actually we don't know. But if all beef was tested then we would know it was safe. There is a new test coming down the pipes. It is cheap. It is quick. Both our governments need to get with the program and put some money behind it and make testing mandatory. Then there will be no question that our beef is safe and acceptable anywhere in the world. It is a new day in the North American beef market and time to start thinking in a new way.

[TOM4CWB]

Incognito;

I see this on DTN this morning:

"Investigators Trace Diseased Cow to Canada

12/27 10:43a CST
EMILY GERSEMA

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Holstein infected with mad cow disease in Washington state was imported into the United States from Canada about two years ago, federal investigators tentatively concluded Saturday.

Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinarian for the Agriculture Department, said Canadian officials have provided records that indicate the animal was one of a herd of 74 cattle that were shipped from Alberta, Canada, into this country in 2001 at Eastport, Idaho.

"These animals were all dairy cattle and entered the U.S. only about two or two-and-a-half years ago, so most of them are still likely alive," DeHaven said.

He emphasized that just because the sick cow was a member of that herd, it does not mean that all 74 animals are infected.

Based on the Canadian records, the cow was 6 1/2-years-old - older than U.S. officials had thought, DeHaven said. U.S. papers on the cow said she was 4- or 4 1/2-years-old."

Here we go again....