Oldtimer said:
Rod- Did they really answer? I have not seen any details of how far that trucking firm operated, for how many feed companies, for how many years, and when did they quit...Were they hauling contaminated feed to the 4 or 5 western provinces (which ones) still up to the day they were discovered :???: To me there is a lot missing in not having the details....
The report which was posted on here was a summary report, and it also said that the investigation was ongoing. You say that Canadians aren't concerned, yet various cattle groups have lambasted the government about our feed ban and have sited this specific example when wanting stricter measurements taken. Just because you have haven't seen the reports posted on the internet, doesn't mean its not happening.
And when they say western provinces, there are only four and from the summary article I saw, I'd believe the feed was delivered into ALL FOUR. And does it really matter to which mills? There is live animal testing protocol. If the cattle have contracted BSE, we'll catch it at testing time since we have superior testing protocols than the USDAs. Or should we simply slaughter all the animals who ate that infected feed?
Oldtimer said:
The reason the US feedban may have worked much better is that the US was not importing in European cows to the extent Canada was- thereby not getting the massive contamination Canada did, like from the 93 Saler and all its herdmates that mostly went to slaughter... I remember back in my AI days that most of the continentals (simmi, limmi) I was looking at to breed to were all in Canada- because the US would not allow them into the US...
Horseshit. 10 - 15 years ago the US was importing large numbers of exotic animals from all over the globe. The very breeds you mention (Simm, Limo plus a whole host of British stock) were first imported into the US long before they ever made their way into Canada.
Oldtimer said:
already admitted theirs is flawed, altho they still refuse to tighten it any for a year :roll:
Why roll your eyes? Your USDA hasn't even admitted that your feedban is inadequate yet. :roll:
Oldtimer said:
And we should maintain what our own (USDA's) TSE committee said was our strongest safeguard-- Not importing beef or cattle from known BSE countries....At least until they have a better handle on what we are facing...
Do you not understand how hypocritical the above statement is? You cannot have your cake and eat it too. If you truly feel that exports should stop until a firmer handle on BSE/TSEs is established, then please, contact your government and ask them to quit exporting your beef. If anyone doesn't have a decent handle on BSE, its the USA. You don't even know what the true extent of your infection is. Until then, if you want to export, then quit with the hyprocrisy and realize that you also must also allow imports.
As an aside, I likely wouldn't have much to say on these topics had the RCalf head guy not made comments about unsafe Canadian beef. If he would have kept his trap shut, or at the very least, apologized for his completely inaccurate statement, I likely would have let the politicians battle it out.
Rod