MAD COW CONFIRMED ALABAMA

[Tam]

Coming from a brand state this is all hard to comprehend...

Kinda blows away your whole theory about branding being better than our national ID system, huh?

Just out of curiosity, with your branding as National ID idea, what happens when two ranches in different states have the same brand?

Rod

Rod- Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING...

We told you, If Canada had BSE The US had BSE and it was only a matter of time. R-CALF denied it Claiming you had the safest beef in the world raised to the Highest standards in the world. But guess who was right? :shock:
We told you that you had loopholes and Non compliance and again with the denial and claims that you had these firewalls and the US was the only country prior to having BSE to have them and again with the claims of the Safest Beef in the World. But the GAO proved who right again? :shock:
We told you there wouldn't be a flood of Canadian cattle when the border openned because of the new regulations and Canadian slaughter capacity and again denial with claims of our cattle destroying US cattle prices. But the border opened and nothing :roll:
We told you that your Brand system wouldn't work for a National ID system but you insisted it would. We told you that it wouldn't because not all states brand but you wouldn't listen and guess what? now here you are saying "Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING." We told you not all States Brand didn't we. Oldtimer do yourself a favor and find another source of industry information because the one you listen to needs help. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Kinda blows away your whole theory about branding being better than our national ID system, huh?

Just out of curiosity, with your branding as National ID idea, what happens when two ranches in different states have the same brand?

Rod

Rod- Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING...

We told you, If Canada had BSE The US had BSE and it was only a matter of time. R-CALF denied it Claiming you had the safest beef in the world raised to the Highest standards in the world. But guess who was right? :shock:
We told you that you had loopholes and Non compliance and again with the denial and claims that you had these firewalls and the US was the only country prior to having BSE to have them and again with the claims of the Safest Beef in the World. But the GAO proved who right again? :shock:
We told you there wouldn't be a flood of Canadian cattle when the border openned because of the new regulations and Canadian slaughter capacity and again denial with claims of our cattle destroying US cattle prices. But the border opened and nothing :roll:
We told you that your Brand system wouldn't work for a National ID system but you insisted it would. We told you that it wouldn't because not all states brand but you wouldn't listen and guess what? now here you are saying "Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING." We told you not all States Brand didn't we. Oldtimer do yourself a favor and find another source of industry information because the one you listen to needs help. :wink:

TAM- What about those ILLEGAL US cattle you have....Where did they come from? Can you trace those?

You're not the one to be preaching!!!!

 

[Tam]

Rod- Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING...

We told you, If Canada had BSE The US had BSE and it was only a matter of time. R-CALF denied it Claiming you had the safest beef in the world raised to the Highest standards in the world. But guess who was right? :shock:
We told you that you had loopholes and Non compliance and again with the denial and claims that you had these firewalls and the US was the only country prior to having BSE to have them and again with the claims of the Safest Beef in the World. But the GAO proved who right again? :shock:
We told you there wouldn't be a flood of Canadian cattle when the border openned because of the new regulations and Canadian slaughter capacity and again denial with claims of our cattle destroying US cattle prices. But the border opened and nothing :roll:
We told you that your Brand system wouldn't work for a National ID system but you insisted it would. We told you that it wouldn't because not all states brand but you wouldn't listen and guess what? now here you are saying "Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING." We told you not all States Brand didn't we. Oldtimer do yourself a favor and find another source of industry information because the one you listen to needs help. :wink:

TAM- What about those ILLEGAL US cattle you have....Where did they come from? Can you trace those?

You're not the one to be preaching!!!!

NICE DIVERTIONARY TACTIC :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

We bought them at a Canadian auction barn, we didn't import them as feeders and then take them out of the feeder program. :roll: Oldtimer, we even told a US Federal Vet about them, that is how we know they have Montana Bangs tags. If they are illegal why didn't the US FEDERAL VET COME AND GET THEM? :shock:
Now back to the US Brand System working for a National ID system. Didn't we tell you not all states brand? :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

We told you, If Canada had BSE The US had BSE and it was only a matter of time. R-CALF denied it Claiming you had the safest beef in the world raised to the Highest standards in the world. But guess who was right? :shock:
We told you that you had loopholes and Non compliance and again with the denial and claims that you had these firewalls and the US was the only country prior to having BSE to have them and again with the claims of the Safest Beef in the World. But the GAO proved who right again? :shock:
We told you there wouldn't be a flood of Canadian cattle when the border openned because of the new regulations and Canadian slaughter capacity and again denial with claims of our cattle destroying US cattle prices. But the border opened and nothing :roll:
We told you that your Brand system wouldn't work for a National ID system but you insisted it would. We told you that it wouldn't because not all states brand but you wouldn't listen and guess what? now here you are saying "Branding along with records works-- if they do it...Apparently Alabama does NOTHING." We told you not all States Brand didn't we. Oldtimer do yourself a favor and find another source of industry information because the one you listen to needs help. :wink:

TAM- What about those ILLEGAL US cattle you have....Where did they come from? Can you trace those?

You're not the one to be preaching!!!!

NICE DIVERTIONARY TACTIC :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

We bought them at a Canadian auction barn, we didn't import them as feeders and then take them out of the feeder program. :roll: Oldtimer, we even told a US Federal Vet about them, that is how we know they have Montana Bangs tags. If they are illegal why didn't the US FEDERAL VET COME AND GET THEM? :shock:
Now back to the US Brand System working for a National ID system. Didn't we tell you not all states brand? :wink:

First off I don't think you violated US federal law-- It was a Canadian restriction.....You're a Canadian violator- there goes your green card :wink: ....

You seem to think I am against ID- which is wrong...I've been a proponent for over 30 years...I just haven't been convinced that the current NAIS proposal will work and/or will be worth the economic or constitutional freedoms cost......I know the brand system does work when utilized- and I think it should be left to the individual states to set up whatever program works for them.....Like I've said many times- I don't think any currently available eartag system will work- without also utilizing hot iron brands to cover the high gap rate......

And neither will work if the individuals do not keep records...What do we do to get that to happen?...Will the federal government have to license everyone before they are allowed to purchase a cow, pig, sheep, chicken, etc. etc. :???:

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

TAM- What about those ILLEGAL US cattle you have....Where did they come from? Can you trace those?

You're not the one to be preaching!!!!

NICE DIVERTIONARY TACTIC :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

We bought them at a Canadian auction barn, we didn't import them as feeders and then take them out of the feeder program. :roll: Oldtimer, we even told a US Federal Vet about them, that is how we know they have Montana Bangs tags. If they are illegal why didn't the US FEDERAL VET COME AND GET THEM? :shock:
Now back to the US Brand System working for a National ID system. Didn't we tell you not all states brand? :wink:

First off I don't think you violated US federal law-- It was a Canadian restriction.....You're a Canadian violator- there goes your green card :wink: ....

You seem to think I am against ID- which is wrong...I've been a proponent for over 30 years...I just haven't been convinced that the current NAIS proposal will work and/or will be worth the economic or constitutional freedoms cost......I know the brand system does work when utilized- and I think it should be left to the individual states to set up whatever program works for them.....Like I've said many times- I don't think any currently available eartag system will work- without also utilizing hot iron brands to cover the high gap rate......

And neither will work if the individuals do not keep records...What do we do to get that to happen?...Will the federal government have to license everyone before they are allowed to purchase a cow, pig, sheep, chicken, etc. etc. :???:

OT- You need to get with the present and quit living in the darn past. Individual RFID tags are the way to go. Brands will only work to a certain extent, cattle rustling yes, tracking over a disease outbreak-NO. OUr tracking system is working and continues to work. Do you not think this is why the Japanese are taking our beef and not yours? You can keep saying that individual tags are not the way to go, but so long as its working for us in Canada then we will continue to use the system and you can stick to branding your cattle for comsumption in the USA.

 

[PORKER]

alabama wrote:
I still have some questions about this last case of BSE in Alabama.
1) If the cow had only been in Alabama for a year, where did she come from? One would think the farmer would know where he bought her.
2) I understand she had a black bull calf as the calf before the red calf she had when she died. Where did this last black bull calf go? He should be about 15 months old by now so I suspect he has already been slaughtered.
3) I have had an Alabama premises ID for over a year now but I can find nowhere to use it. What good is a premises ID if one can't use it?


YOU CAN USE www.scoringag.com for you Premises code .

 

[Tam]

TAM- What about those ILLEGAL US cattle you have....Where did they come from? Can you trace those?

You're not the one to be preaching!!!!

NICE DIVERTIONARY TACTIC :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

We bought them at a Canadian auction barn, we didn't import them as feeders and then take them out of the feeder program. :roll: Oldtimer, we even told a US Federal Vet about them, that is how we know they have Montana Bangs tags. If they are illegal why didn't the US FEDERAL VET COME AND GET THEM? :shock:
Now back to the US Brand System working for a National ID system. Didn't we tell you not all states brand? :wink:

First off I don't think you violated US federal law-- It was a Canadian restriction.....You're a Canadian violator- there goes your green card :wink: ....

You seem to think I am against ID- which is wrong...I've been a proponent for over 30 years...I just haven't been convinced that the current NAIS proposal will work and/or will be worth the economic or constitutional freedoms cost......I know the brand system does work when utilized- and I think it should be left to the individual states to set up whatever program works for them.....Like I've said many times- I don't think any currently available eartag system will work- without also utilizing hot iron brands to cover the high gap rate......

And neither will work if the individuals do not keep records...What do we do to get that to happen?...Will the federal government have to license everyone before they are allowed to purchase a cow, pig, sheep, chicken, etc. etc. :???:

Oldtimer is it illegal to buy something that is offered for sale in a public sale barn when every animal that goes through that barn is inspected by Government employee? :?

and I can see Fifty States Fifty systems to search though is going to be a real time saver for you Oldtimer. Much faster than Canada's one phone call to the CCIA to check the INDIVIDUAL ID NUMBER. :wink:

 

[PORKER]

The Fastest search engine for premises or RFID tags in the world today for any country is ????? Oh ,you don't think its SSI's division leader ScoringAg,yup your right and secure.better than a leaky phone on everybodys scanners.

 

[Anonymous]

Tam-"and I can see Fifty States Fifty systems to search though is going to be a real time saver for you Oldtimer. Much faster than Canada's one phone call to the CCIA to check the INDIVIDUAL ID NUMBER."

Tam-- I don't believe the Federal Government or USDA has the constitutional authority to mandate the NAIS law ( maybe there are some constitutional law attorneys on here that know more) - I think they will have to go thru the states in order to make it a law and/or enforce it... I definitely know that the federal government doesn't have the infrastructure in place to daily operate or enforce it... I think they could require the rules on the animals in interstate transport- but not on the intrastate movement and ownership change part... USDA does not even have the authority to do a meat recall- they have to be voluntary or the State Depts. do the recalling....Remember with the Washington Canadian cow- USDA could not order the meat recall. I believe it was voluntary or Washington State ordered it...

Even if the states mandate it I would expect it to end up in the Supreme Court, eventually...US citizens don't take lightly government intrusions into what they believe is their privacy- and they don't like the Federal government telling them they HAVE to do something.....

I think the key word was mandate...USDA screwed up from day one on telling producers this would be mandated by law...If it had been put out as a voluntary (like they are now calling it) with economic incentives- tagged cattle actually selling for more if thats what the world trade actually wants- it would have gradually come to be...But USDA's and NCBA's trying to shove it down producers throats with NCBA setting up and running the database has caused a backlash that will take them years to overcome....

I saw a George Patton quote that pretty well fits "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do ( or what needs to be done) and they will surprise you with their ingenuity".

 

[flounder]

Epidemiology Update March 23, 2006
As of today, 13 locations and 32 movements of cattle have been examined with 27 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. In addition, state and federal officials have confirmed that a black bull calf was born in 2005 to the index animal (the red cow). The calf was taken by the owner to a local stockyard in July 2005 where the calf died. The calf was appropriately disposed of in a local landfill and did not enter the human or animal food chain.


http://www.aphis.usda.gov/


TSS

 

[flounder]

> The calf was appropriately disposed of in a local
> landfill and did not enter the human or animal food chain.


well, back at the ranch with larry, curly and mo heading up the USDA et al,
what would you expect, nothing less than shoot, shovel and shut the hell up.
no mad cow in USA, feed ban working, no civil war in Iraq either.


but what has past history shown us, evidently it has shown the USDA et al
nothing ;


Disposal of meat and bone meal (MBM) derived from specified risk material
(SRM) and over thirty month scheme carcasses by landfill
The Committee was asked to consider a quantitative risk assessment of the
disposal of meat and bone meal derived from specified risk material and over
thirty month scheme carcasses by landfill, prepared in response to a request
from the Committee at its June 1999 meeting.

The Committee was asked whether, in the light of the results of the risk
assessment, it held to its earlier published (June 1999) view that landfill
was an acceptable outlet for MBM of any origin, although it retained a
preference for incineration. The Committee reiterated that it had a strong
preference for incineration as the favoured route for the disposal of MBM
and were uneasy about the use of landfill for the disposal of this material.
If there were cases where incineration was not practical the Committee felt
it would be preferable for any material going to landfill to be
pressure-cooked first or possibly stored above ground prior to incineration.

http://www.seac.gov.uk/summaries/summ_0700.htm


Disposal of BSE suspect carcases
It is the Department's policy to dispose of BSE suspects by incineration
wherever feasible. No BSE suspect carcases have been landfilled since 1991.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/publichealth/notification.html#disp


OPINION ON

THE USE OF BURIAL FOR DEALING WITH ANIMAL

CARCASSES AND OTHER ANIMAL MATERIALS THAT

MIGHT CONTAIN BSE/TSE

ADOPTED BY THE

SCIENTIFIC STEERING COMMITTEE

MEETING OF 16-17 JANUARY 2003

The details of the SSC's evaluation are provided in the attached report. The
SSC

concludes as follows:

(1) The term "burial" includes a diversity of disposal conditions. Although
burial is

widely used for disposal of waste the degradation process essential for
BSE/TSE

infectivity reduction is very difficult to control. The extent to which such
an

infectivity reduction can occur as a consequence of burial is poorly
characterised.

It would appear to be a slow process in various circumstances.

(2) A number of concerns have been identified including potential for
groundwater

contamination, dispersal/transmission by birds/animals/insects, accidental

uncovering by man.

(3) In the absence of any new data the SSC confirms its previous opinion
that animal

material which could possibly be contaminated with BSE/TSEs, burial poses a

risk except under highly controlled conditions (e.g., controlled landfill).

SNIP...

4. CONCLUSION

In the absence of new evidence the opinion of the SSC "Opinion on Fallen
Stock"

(SSC 25th June 1999) must be endorsed strongly that land burial of all
animals and

material derived from them for which there is a possibility that they could

incorporate BSE/TSEs poses a significant risk. Only in exceptional
circumstances

where there could be a considerable delay in implementing a safe means of
disposal

should burial of such materials be considered. Guidelines should be made
available

to aid on burial site selection.

4 PAGES;

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out309_en.pdf


During the 2001 outbreak of FMD in the UK, the

Department of Health prepared a rapid qualitative

assessment of the potential risks to human health

associated with various methods of carcass disposal

(UK Department of Health, 2001c). The most

relevant hazards to human health resulting from

burial were identified as bacteria pathogenic to

humans, water-borne protozoa, and BSE. The main

potential route identified was contaminated water

supplies, and the report generally concluded that an

engineered licensed landfill would always be

preferable to unlined burial. In general terms, the

findings of the qualitative assessment relative to

biological agents are summarized in Table 13.

TABLE 13. Potential health hazards and associated pathways of exposure
resulting from landfill or burial of

animal carcasses (adapted from UK Department of Health, 2001c).

PLEASE SEE TABLE AT;

http://www.k-state.edu/projects/fss/research/books/carcassdispfiles/PDF%20Fi
les/CH%201%20-%20Burial.pdf


PART 2

Rendering and fixed-facility incineration were

preferred, but the necessary resources were not

immediately available and UK officials soon learned

that the capacity would only cover a portion of the

disposal needs. Disposal in commercial landfills was

seen as the next best environmental solution, but

legal, commercial, and local community problems

limited landfill use. With these limitations in mind,

pyre burning was the actual initial method used but

was subsequently discontinued following increasing

public, scientific, and political concerns. Mass burial

and on-farm burial were last on the preferred

method list due to the complicating matter of bovine

spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the risk posed

to groundwater (Hickman & Hughes, 2002).


http://www.k-state.edu/projects/fss/research/books/carcassdispfiles/PDF%20Fi
les/Introduction%20to%20Part%202%20-%20Cross-Cutting%20&%20Policy%20Issues.p
df


Carcase disposal:

A Major Problem of the

2001 FMD Outbreak

Gordon Hickman and Neil Hughes, Disposal Cell,

FMD Joint Co-ordination Centre, Page Street

snip...


http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/svj/fmd/pages27-40.pdf


3. Prof. A. Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach
was to accord it a _very low profile indeed_. Dr. A Thiermann showed
the picture in the ''Independent'' with cattle being incinerated and thought
this was a fanatical incident to be _avoided_ in the US _at all costs_...

snip...


http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m11b/tab01.pdf


PAUL BROWN SCRAPIE SOIL TEST


http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/sc/seac07/tab03.pdf



Some unofficial information from a source on the inside looking out -

Confidential!!!!

As early as 1992-3 there had been long studies conducted on small
pastures containing scrapie infected sheep at the sheep research station
associated with the Neuropathogenesis Unit in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Whether these are documented...I don't know. But personal recounts both
heard and recorded in a daily journal indicate that leaving the pastures
free and replacing the topsoil completely at least 2 feet of thickness
each year for SEVEN years....and then when very clean (proven scrapie
free) sheep were placed on these small pastures.... the new sheep also
broke out with scrapie and passed it to offspring. I am not sure that TSE
contaminated ground could ever be free of the agent!!
A very frightening revelation!!!

----------

You can take that with however many grains of salt you wish, and
we can debate these issues all day long, but the bottom line,
this is not rocket-science, all one has to do is some
experiments and case studies. But for the life of me,
I don't know what they are waiting on?

Kind regards,

Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
Bacliff, Texas USA

More here:

http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/ws/s018.pdf


INCINERATION TEMPS

Requirements include:

a. after burning to the range of 800 to 1000*C to eliminate smell;

well heck, this is just typical public relations fear factor control.
do you actually think they would spend the extra costs for fuel,
for such extreme heat, just to eliminate smell, when they spread
manure all over your veg's. i think not. what they really meant were
any _TSE agents_.

b. Gas scrubbing to eliminate smoke -- though steam may be omitted;

c. Stacks to be fitted with grit arreaters;

snip...

1.2 Visual Imact

It is considered that the requirement for any carcase incinerator
disign would be to ensure that the operations relating to the reception,
storage and decepitation of diseased carcasses must not be publicly
visible and that any part of a carcase could not be removed or
interfered with by animals or birds.

full text;


http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1989/04/03006001.pdf


http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out311_en.pdf


TSS

 

[flounder]

March 24, 2006 - BSE Update
MONTGOMERY – Commissioner Ron Sparks and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and the USDA have provided an update on their ongoing joint investigation of the cow that died from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alabama.



March 24, 2006 - BSE Update

Since the investigation began, the ADAI and the USDA have followed multiple leads in the traceback process. At this time, 13 locations and 32 movements of cattle have been examined with 27 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. In addition, state and federal officials have confirmed that a black bull calf was born in 2005 to the index animal (the red cow). The calf was taken by the owner to a local stockyard in July 2005 where the calf died. The calf was disposed of in a local landfill and did not enter the human or animal food chain.

Without a premises or animal ID program in place, the traceback process to find the herd of origin of the index cow is time-consuming and difficult. It includes conducting interviews, reviewing of records and documents, and testing of cattle DNA. State and federal officials have discovered several herds of interest and they are planning to use DNA testing to determine DNA linkage between the index cow and the herds. Through the DNA testing of these herds, investigators will attempt to find a genetic path that could lead to the herd of origin. Commissioner Sparks stressed that the DNA testing being conducted on the herds is for genetic markers and is not a test for the disease BSE.

As part of the thorough investigative process, a large number of cattle may be tested in this phase and the number of herds included will continue to grow as the traceback progresses. Leads will be followed by state and federal officials until they are exhausted. Even when an index animal is traced to it's birth herd, often cohorts of that animal are no longer in that herd. In addition, even if an animal's cohort has been exposed to the same infective material in feed, the other animals will not necessarily contract BSE.

BSE is not a contagious disease that spreads animal to animal, or animal to human. BSE spreads in cattle through the consumption of feed containing specified risk material (brain and spinal cord) derived from BSE infected cattle. The United States banned the use of such protein supplements in cattle feed since 1997. Sparks says that beef consumption in this country is safe and there are measures in place to see that it continues to be safe. For example, downer animals are not allowed to enter commerce for human consumption and there is a ban on feeding ruminant derived protein to cattle.



http://www.agi.state.al.us/press_releases/march-24-2006---bse-update2?pn=2



TSS

 

[PORKER]

I Love IT,It keeps the bureaucrat's busy looking at records when the www.SCORINGAG.COM database would have ID ed everything within 3 seconds. My best sales point that it costs $0.55 cents. Link to the best working multi country traceback database in the world;
http://www.scoringag.com/Public/docs/disease_tracking_demonstration.pps

 

[flounder]

Epidemiology Updates

March 27, 2006
As of today, 14 locations and 40 movements of cattle have been examined with 32 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. A location includes stockyards or farms where the index cow lived previously or where her immediate family members may have lived. The movements include any arrivals or departures from those locations. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue.


http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/bse/bse_al_epi-update.shtml


TSS

 

[flounder]

Epidemiology Updates

March 28, 2006
As of today, 14 locations and 44 movements of cattle have been examined with 32 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. A location includes stockyards or farms where the index cow lived previously or where her immediate family members may have lived. The movements include any arrivals or departures from those locations.


http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/bse/bse_al_epi-update.shtml


TSS

 

[Econ101]

Seems like the problem with a cow like this that doesn't produce a good live calf is that she gets handed around for everyone to try their luck with her.

If that isn't the worse way to handle a potential disease I don't know what is. Bse tester ought to have a lot of those pee tests ready for situations like this. We might learn enough about it to stop it despite the incompetence at the USDA.

 

[flounder]

Epidemiology Updates

March 29, 2006
As of today, 14 locations and 44 movements of cattle have been examined with 34 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. A location includes stockyards or farms where the index cow lived previously or where her immediate family members may have lived. The movements include any arrivals or departures from those locations.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/bse/bse_al_epi-update.shtml

THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING...TSS

 

[flounder]

March 30, 2006 - Senate Passes Animal ID Bill (BSE)
MONTGOMERY – Commissioner Ron Sparks and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and the USDA have provided an update on their ongoing joint investigation of the cow that died from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alabama.



March 30, 2006 - Senate Passes Animal ID Bill (BSE)

Today, the Alabama State Senate passed HB 254 with a vote of 20-6. This bill will provide for the confidentiality of information initially gathered by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries as the department implements and maintains a database for Animal Identification in accord and consistent with the United States Department of Agriculture's National Animal Identification System. Premises ID Registration has been implemented in the last year and Animal ID Registration is not far behind. The information on premises and animals, gathered at the request of Commissioner Sparks, is to protect the interest of public health, safety, and welfare.



"The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries' system will comply with any USDA policies and we will not implement an animal ID system that would hurt Alabama farmers whether they raise 2 animals or 2,000 animals," said Sparks. "I truly appreciate what the legislature has done for the farmers and consumers of Alabama."

As of today, 14 locations and 44 movements of cattle have been examined with 39 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. This process is to eliminate herds from the ongoing investigation.

A flow chart showing how the traceback process is progressing has been posted on the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries website www.agi.alabama.gov. As the chart illustrates, the investigation has broadened to include many farms and stockyards. The farms are where the index cow may have lived previously or where her immediate family members may have lived. The stockyards are places where investigators have reviewed records of transactions and conducted interviews. Each link is being thoroughly examined and then, based on the information collected the link will either continue on to another location or be closed.

Federal and state officials have stressed that it may not be possible to trace the index cow to her herd of origin due to the primitive traceback methods being used in the investigation. Eventually, leads in the case may be exhausted despite their best efforts.

The next update from ADAI will be sent Monday, April 3rd.



http://www.agi.state.al.us/press_releases/march-30-2006---senate-passes-animal-id-bill-bse?pn=2



Alabama BSE Case Trace Investigation March 29, 2006 chart



http://www.agi.state.al.us/uploads/wU/tL/wUtLnjRP_GE4XN_SybLv6Q/External-BSE-Chart.pdf



Epidemiology Updates

March 30, 2006
As of today, 14 locations and 44 movements of cattle have been examined with 39 of those being substantially completed. Additional investigations of locations and herds will continue. A location includes stockyards or farms where the index cow lived previously or where her immediate family members may have lived. The movements include any arrivals or departures from those locations.



http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/bse/bse_al_epi-update.shtml



FDA: US Won't Likely Find Source Of Latest BSE Infection



WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Government investigators looking into the latest case of mad-cow disease in the U.S. won't likely be able to find the source of the cow's infection, a Food and Drug Administration official said Thursday.



Stephen Sundlof, director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters, "It's going to be nearly impossible to identify any particular feed."



Mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is believed to be spread among cattle through feed containing infected cattle parts. The FDA has prohibited bovine material from being included in cattle feed since 1997.



If FDA could find the producer of the tainted feed that infected the cow - found on an Alabama farm earlier this month - it might be able to find how widely the feed was distributed.



But U.S. Department of Agriculture officials believe the cow was at least 10 years old when she was euthanized by a local veterinarian on the Alabama farm where she had resided for less than a year.

snip...full text;



http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=26643



> But U.S. Department of Agriculture officials believe the cow was at least 10 years old



i dont believe them. you can do test on the teeth to determine how old they are, better than detention. where is the head??? show me the data, this is what others should be asking. ...



TSS

 

[flounder]

> i dont believe them. you can do test on the teeth to determine how old
they are, better than detention.
> where is the head??? show me the data, this is what others should be
asking. ...


HOW is it in the UK they can determine the age of a cow by blood test, but
here in the USA, we use a draconian pre-historic detention method $$$


Farmer flouted BSE laws over ageing cattle

Mar 31 2006


Chester Chronicle


BEEF cattle older than the two-and-a-half-year legal age limit entered the
food chain because a farmer put false dates of birth on their passports, a
court heard.

The farmer, 34-year-old Stephen Kenneth Bourne, ended up with a £10,000
court bill after he admitted applying false descriptions to a dozen animals
which were sold illegally contravening laws designed to combat 'Mad Cow'
disease .

He was paid £500 to £600 for some of the animals when, because of their age,
they were worthless, Mold Crown Court was told on Tuesday.

Bourne of Glan Deg Farm at Threapwood, Malpas, admitted 12 charges brought
by trading standards officials and was given a two-year conditional
discharge.

But he was ordered to pay £10,000 in costs at £500 a month.

The two-and-a-half-year age limit on animals being sold in the market was
introduced to protect the integrity of Britain's beef industry in Europe
following the BSE scare.


The judge, Mr Recorder Rhys Rowlands, said that public confidence in the
farming industry was crucial for the future of the business.


The judge said he took into account that the offences took place over a six
month period back in 2003 when he farmed in partnership with his father, who
was originally charged as well but who had since died.


Prosecuting barrister Julian Shaw said the case arose out of the failure of
Bourne and his father to keep any adequate records over the dates of birth
of cattle on the farm, the identity of dams, and there were no proper cattle
movement records.


'There is no way of knowing how many bovines over the 30-month age limit wer
e in fact introduced into the food chain,' he said.


The case came to a light after vet Gavin Morris became suspicious about an
animal said to be 25 months but which looked considerably older.


Blood specimens were taken of animals at the farm and Britain's leading
expert in the ageing of cattle by identification Prof Andrew Andrews was
drafted in.


Defending barrister John Wyn Williams said Bourne had inherited the system
from his father, but he had since ensured that proper computerised records
were kept and there would not be a repetition.


The defendant's late father, Kenneth Huxley Bourne, 65, who died in November
of last year, had during the investigation repaid the money he had received
from purchasers.


http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/chesterchronicle/tm_objecti
d=16886034%26method=full%26siteid=50020%26headline=farmer%2dflouted%2dbse%2d
laws%2dover%2dageing%2dcattle%2d-name_page.html


TSS

 

[mrj]

What is "dentention"? Could you possibly have intended to write "dentition"? My understanding is dentition is the practice of looking at the state of tooth eruption, growth, then loss in order to determine age?

What is the "test on the teeth to determine how old they are"? I haven't heard of it, and am wondering if it has a name?

I'm open to correction of my concept of dentition by those better informed of the practice, and want to know about the other means of determining age mentioned, too. Thanks.

MRJ