CattleAnnie
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Debate Over Testing 100% Of Cattle Heats Up
Last Updated Mar 18 2005 04:01 PM CST
CBC News
SASKATOON – Twenty-two months after the mad cow scare closed the American border to Canadian cattle, the idea of testing all Canadian cattle for mad cow disease is getting more people in the industry talking.
Alvin Pawlitza, who raises purebred cattle on his farm near Abbey, said since the U.S. border closed, demand for his breeding stock has fallen off.
Pawlitza said Canada needs to develop new markets and if 100 per cent testing would open up markets like Japan, then it would be worth it.
Pawlitza said he's pretty much given up on the Americans re-opening the border on their own.
"This is simply politics, but one way around politics is to start to ratchet up on the pressure point," he said. "My experience with some of the Americans that I talk to is the minute you mention testing you hit a nerve."
Pawlitza said the Americans aren't equipped to do universal testing themselves and would be concerned this would give Canada an edge in world markets.
"They do not want to see us go to universal testing," he said. "If that's the case, I think it's time to play this card."
But Darcy Undseth of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says universal testing is not necessary for food safety.
Furthermore, he said, if Canada tested 100 per cent of cattle destined for foreign markets, it could have dire consequences at home.
"The consumer would certainly be asking a lot of tough questions as to why it is necessary for one market and not necessary for the domestic product," said Undseth, who is the veterinary program specialist for the CFIA in Calgary.
In past years, the number of cattle tested for BSE has been below one per cent of the total slaughtered.
But at the legislature, the Opposition Saskatchewan Party has been asking the provincial government whether more BSE testing would open up foreign markets.
Sask. Party MLA Bob Bjornerud says farmers are getting tired of being so dependent on the opening of the American border and urges the province to study universal testing.
"We haven't got a clue when it's going to open up. Will the minister consider this today?" he asked in the legislature.
But Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Mark Wartman said there's no evidence universal testing would make a difference.
"We do not have any guaranteed market that says if you go to 100 per cent testing, we'll take your beef," he said.
The cost of universal testing is another issue. Estimates range from $20 to $50 per head.
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(Personally I find CFIA's stand maddening. Could they have their noses any farther up the AMI's behind?! It's not like we're going to risk our export markets by raising the bar, so what is there to lose? When one considers that the $20-50 cost per head of the test would be passed down to the producer - we sure could afford that much better than the financial losses we're currently seeing - especially on the cull cows and balogna bulls. For pete's sake, here in BC the BCCA in all their wisdom has enacted a $10 per head horn levvy on all cattle to take effect this fall - what's another $20?). - End rant.
Take care.
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Debate Over Testing 100% Of Cattle Heats Up
Last Updated Mar 18 2005 04:01 PM CST
CBC News
SASKATOON – Twenty-two months after the mad cow scare closed the American border to Canadian cattle, the idea of testing all Canadian cattle for mad cow disease is getting more people in the industry talking.
Alvin Pawlitza, who raises purebred cattle on his farm near Abbey, said since the U.S. border closed, demand for his breeding stock has fallen off.
Pawlitza said Canada needs to develop new markets and if 100 per cent testing would open up markets like Japan, then it would be worth it.
Pawlitza said he's pretty much given up on the Americans re-opening the border on their own.
"This is simply politics, but one way around politics is to start to ratchet up on the pressure point," he said. "My experience with some of the Americans that I talk to is the minute you mention testing you hit a nerve."
Pawlitza said the Americans aren't equipped to do universal testing themselves and would be concerned this would give Canada an edge in world markets.
"They do not want to see us go to universal testing," he said. "If that's the case, I think it's time to play this card."
But Darcy Undseth of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says universal testing is not necessary for food safety.
Furthermore, he said, if Canada tested 100 per cent of cattle destined for foreign markets, it could have dire consequences at home.
"The consumer would certainly be asking a lot of tough questions as to why it is necessary for one market and not necessary for the domestic product," said Undseth, who is the veterinary program specialist for the CFIA in Calgary.
In past years, the number of cattle tested for BSE has been below one per cent of the total slaughtered.
But at the legislature, the Opposition Saskatchewan Party has been asking the provincial government whether more BSE testing would open up foreign markets.
Sask. Party MLA Bob Bjornerud says farmers are getting tired of being so dependent on the opening of the American border and urges the province to study universal testing.
"We haven't got a clue when it's going to open up. Will the minister consider this today?" he asked in the legislature.
But Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Mark Wartman said there's no evidence universal testing would make a difference.
"We do not have any guaranteed market that says if you go to 100 per cent testing, we'll take your beef," he said.
The cost of universal testing is another issue. Estimates range from $20 to $50 per head.
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(Personally I find CFIA's stand maddening. Could they have their noses any farther up the AMI's behind?! It's not like we're going to risk our export markets by raising the bar, so what is there to lose? When one considers that the $20-50 cost per head of the test would be passed down to the producer - we sure could afford that much better than the financial losses we're currently seeing - especially on the cull cows and balogna bulls. For pete's sake, here in BC the BCCA in all their wisdom has enacted a $10 per head horn levvy on all cattle to take effect this fall - what's another $20?). - End rant.
Take care.
