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Another Positive Step for the Cattle Industry

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Anonymous

Guest
I heard this from R-CALF yesterday- now today I heard it on the Northern Ag Network News:

Yesterday 9-19-06 the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed a resolution to remove cattle from the Department of Treasury’s J-List. .

The immediate effect of this support from NASDA will be to greatly improve the chances of passing a bill in Congress that permanently removes cattle from the J-List. Once this is accomplished, all cattle imported into the United States will be permanently marked with a mark of origin. This will improve our ability to protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal diseases, particularly those with long incubation periods, because it will allow the immediate identification of all foreign cattle in the event of a disease outbreak in the country from which they were imported.



Also, once all imported cattle are marked with a mark of origin, the separate identity of the U.S. cattle herd can be maintained and country of origin labeling can be more easily implemented at no cost to U.S. producers.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
September 22, 2006



NASDA Votes to Remove Cattle from J-List



(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA was extremely pleased that during its annual meeting this week, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed a resolution that states the organization will work legislatively to remove cattle from the J-List, the list of those commodities that are currently exempt from the general requirement that all imported goods be permanently marked with a mark of origin.



“R-CALF appreciates the leadership of NASDA on this important issue related to animal health, an issue that R-CALF has been pushing for a few years,” said R-CALF USA President and Region V Director Chuck Kiker. “NASDA enjoys a high level of prestige and credibility in the eyes of Congress.



When Congress writes this law, all imported cattle will have to be marked with a mark of origin,” Kiker continued. “As a result, if a foreign country from which we import animals has a disease outbreak in a disease that has a long incubation period, like BSE or bovine tuberculosis, we would have the ability to quickly identify those animals that are commingled in our herd. From a disease protection standpoint, this is very important.



“If a foreign animal disease (FAD) were to break out and exposed animals were determined to have been imported into the United States, it would be much easier and faster for animal health officials to remove the questionable animals from the feed and food supplies if they’ve already been permanently marked with their origin,” Kiker said. “Requiring foreign cattle to be marked also might actually reduce the prevalence – or maybe even eliminate the prevalence – of a disease, which in turn, could possibly save the domestic cattle industry from, or at least lessen the impact of, potential economic disruptions.”



The NASDA J-List Resolution states: “The NASDA supports and encourages the US Congress to legislatively remove cattle from the J-List, an amendment to the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1304(a)(3)(J)). This would allow animal health authorities to identify imported cattle, which is critical due to the potential importation of animals previously and unknowingly exposed to potential new and emerging diseases, or diseases with long incubation periods, such as BSE and tuberculosis, where the need to locate these animals may not be realized until many years after the date of importation.”



Kiker said R-CALF USA will now encourage its members to contact their appropriate congressional delegation to encourage support for legislation to remove cattle from the J-List.



“Given our industry’s recent experiences with diseases in imported cattle, we’d like to implement this important measure as quickly as possible,” Kiker emphasized.



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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization and is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on both domestic and international trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has more than 60 affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
 

S.S.A.P.

Well-known member
“Given our industry’s recent experiences with diseases in imported cattle, we’d like to implement this important measure as quickly as possible,” Kiker emphasized.

(At the risk of being told "find out yourself" )
Could someone please list these diseases which imported cattle have been confirmed to have brought with them. How many head has each involved?

- The Washington BSE has been credited (and accepted) as Canadian in origin.

Thanks in advance to anyone providing the information.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
S.S.A.P. said:
“Given our industry’s recent experiences with diseases in imported cattle, we’d like to implement this important measure as quickly as possible,” Kiker emphasized.

(At the risk of being told "find out yourself" )
Could someone please list these diseases which imported cattle have been confirmed to have brought with them. How many head has each involved?

- The Washington BSE has been credited (and accepted) as Canadian in origin.

Thanks in advance to anyone providing the information.

There's been fever ticks lately in Texas on cattle coming from Mexico.
 
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