Johanns remains interested in importing older Canadian cattle
Friday, April 21, 2006, 8:55 AM
by Lane McConnell
U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns met with Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Chuck Strahl on Thursday. The meeting came days after confirmation of Canada's fifth case of BSE, which is the second BSE-positive animal born after implementation of Canada's feed ban.
Johanns expressed during a news conference that the latest BSE case won't stop USDA from moving forward with plans to open the U.S. border to cattle older than 30-months of age. Johanns did say that the change is not likely to happen this year because of the recent BSE cases in Canada.
Strahl just took office in February and expressed pride in Canadian beef and confidence in the ruminant-to-ruminant feed bans implemented by the U.S. and Canada in 1997. Although the latest infected animal was born after the feed ban was implemented, Strahl says the science shows it is possible to have additional cases until BSE is completely eliminated from North America.
The NAFB News Service contributed to this article.