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BLAME R..CALF ?

HAY MAKER

Well-known member
Groeneveld expects BSE case to impact U.S. border decision
Ninth case found in Alberta bull

By Don Patterson
Tuesday February 13, 2007

Alberta Agriculture Minister George Groeneveld said the discovery of the ninth case of BSE in the province is unfortunate considering the U.S. has begun the process of normalizing cattle trade with Canada.
“Are we surprised we found this one? No we’re not,” he said. “It’s always disappointing. But, as long as we test the way we are now we will continue to find it.”
Last week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it confirmed a case of BSE in a
mature bull from Alberta. No meat from the animal entered the food system. According to a CFIA release, the bull’s age is consistent with previous cases found in Canada, which signifies it likely contracted the disease early in its life.
While he hopes it won’t, Groeneveld said the discovery will probably have an impact on the process to reopen the U.S. border to live cattle imports over 30 months of age.

At present, there is a 60-day comment period on U.S. plans to allow importation of older Canadian cows.
He expects the lobby group R-CALF to cite the case as part of its ongoing efforts to keep the U.S. border closed to older Canadian cattle.
“It’s another tool in their tool box to challenge the ruling,” he said. “It will lengthen the whole thing out.”
Ultimately, Groeneveld said he doesn’t expect R-CALF to be able to influence the final U.S. decision on the issue.
As for access to other foreign markets, he said other countries are likely to follow the U.S.’s lead.
Groeneveld said the world markets can have confidence in Alberta beef.
He said over 150,000 cows have been tested in Canada for BSE, over half of which are high-risk animals. The results, Groeneveld added, are well under allowable levels.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Canucks must be suffering from R-CALF on the brain disease--Looks to me that the cattleman across the US all have concerns about the Rule 2-- and the further opening of the Canadian border to older high risk cattle-- and don't support it as it is written.....


National Farmers Union
"In the interest of U.S. producers and consumers, USDA should withdraw the proposed rule to expand Canadian beef and cattle imports. The department should also move to immediately implement mandatory country of origin labeling which would allow consumers to make an informed choice of where their food comes from.”


NCBA
NCBA is reviewing the proposed rule along with a detailed economic and scientific analysis developed for NCBA members as we work to shape our comments. At last week’s annual meeting in Nashville, NCBA members did not reject the USDA proposal, but adopted a policy voicing concerns about its possible impact. The interim policy adopted February 3rd demands permanent identification of all live cattle imported from Canada through harvest, and calls for USDA to develop an orderly market transition plan before expanding the scope of cattle and beef imports from Canada.




R-CALF
“This demonstrates just how ridiculous and premature it is for our government to be considering even further relaxations of our import standards that would allow into the U.S. imports of Canadian cattle older than 30 months (OTM) of age, as well as the government’s intention to allow into the U.S. beef products from Canadian cattle of any age,” Thornsberry continued. “OTM cattle in a BSE-affected country bear an inherently higher risk for the disease, so R-CALF calls for the immediate withdrawal of this proposed rule.
 

Tam

Well-known member
As for access to other foreign markets, he said other countries are likely to follow the U.S.’s lead.
Groeneveld said the world markets can have confidence in Alberta beef.

Well Bill, Oldtimer may come from Montanastan but it looks as if we all come from ALBERTASTAN :roll:
 
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