U.S. Investigates Possible Mad Cow Case

[Econ101]

I just got a chicken at the store for 49 cents a lb. and a whole sirloin tip (12.5 lbs) for 2.59 per lb. for the grill. I have to say, although I like chicken every now and then, the sirloin tip was unbeatable. My wife says its the way I cook--she will not order a steak out and discourages me saying you can't beat the home grill/smoking. Mostly oak with a little bit of apple wood thrown on the end for a little more kick.

When chicken goes that low, beef is sure to follow.

[Silver]

[smalltime]

Think again econ101.

[HAY MAKER]

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USDA Announces Inconclusive BSE Test Result

March 11, 2006



USDA/APHIS today announced an inconclusive result on a rapid
BSE test from an animal sampled as part of the enhanced BSE
testing program that began on June 1, 2004. As of March 10,
2006, a total of 644,603 high risk cattle have been tested
and one positive case has been identified. APHIS also has
tested 21,216 clinically normal cattle over 30 months of age
and all tests were negative.



Below is the statement of APHIS chief veterinary medical
office John Clifford regarding the inconclusive test result.

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Statement by Chief Veterinary Medical Officer John Clifford
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Regarding
Inconclusive BSE Test Results, March 11, 2006




"Last night we received an inconclusive test result on a
rapid BSE test from an animal sampled as part our enhanced
BSE surveillance program.

"USDA is conducting further tests at the National Veterinary
Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, using an
immunohistochemistry test. In addition, USDA's Agricultural
Research Service, will also conduct a Western blot test. The
results of those tests will be released as soon as they have
all been completed, within the next four to seven days.

"This inconclusive result does not mean we have found a new
case of BSE. Inconclusive results are a normal component of
most screening tests, which are designed to be extremely
sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly
be positive. In addition, this animal did not enter the
human food chain nor the animal feed chain.

"I want to emphasize that human and animal health in the
United States are protected by a system of interlocking
safeguards and that we remain very confident in the safety
of U.S. beef. The most important of these safeguards is the
ban on specified risk materials from the food supply and the
Food and Drug Administration's feed ban. And by any measure,
the incidence of BSE in this country is extremely low. Our
enhanced surveillance program is designed to provide
information about the level of prevalence of BSE in the
United States, while these interlocking safeguards continue
to protect our food supply.

"We are extremely gratified that since June 2004, all
sectors of the cattle industry have cooperated in this
program by submitting samples from more than 640,000 animals
from the highest risk populations and more than 20,000 from
clinically normal, older animals, as part our enhanced BSE
surveillance program. To date, only one of these highest
risk animals has tested positive for the disease as part of
the surveillance program."

[Econ101]

[PORKER]

The overproduction of chicken at this time portends more market share loss for beef, all other things held equal.

The chicken market overseas is DEAD as bird flu killed sales by 80% the last two weeks.Take a look at how much chicken was exported and those EXPORTS have DRIED UP.