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rancher

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In 2003, USDA strengthened its food safety program by banning from the human food supply any cattle that are unable to walk. Cattle showing signs of possible neurological disease always have been banned from the food supply. The USDA also prohibited from the food supply anything that could potentially carry BSE.



In 1996, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association launched a voluntary feed ban, which established an industry standard against feeding ruminant-derived protein to cattle. In 1997, with our support, the FDA made the ban mandatory.



In 1990, the United States was the first country in the world without BSE to begin a BSE Surveillance and Testing program.



In 1989, the United States was the first country in the world without BSE to ban imports of beef, cattle products and cattle from countries where BSE is prevalent.



Source:

Terry Stokes, Chief Executive Officer, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Centennial, Colorado


Why did they brag about the last part if we are bragging about opening the border now?
 
If we do this then we have to open to all countries no matter how many cases they have if they remove the SRMs

AMI Urges USDA TO Permit Imports Of Canadian Cattle 30 Months & Older

(Washington, DC) - The American Meat Institute (AMI) today urged USDA to publish a proposed rule to permit the importation of cattle 30 months of age and older and the beef products derived from such animals.

"Many U.S. beef packers that specialize in the slaughter of older animals still find themselves in an extremely difficult economic situation because cattle over 30 months are not permitted entry from Canada," AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said in a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

In the letter, Boyle said that BSE prevention and control measures implemented in both Canada and the U.S. are virtually identical and that both countries have taken extraordinary measures to assure the safety of the beef supply and to protect cattle health. USDA has designated Canada - and only Canada - as a minimal risk region, he noted.

"Continuing to limit importation of live cattle to those animals less than 30 months and to restrict the importation to beef products from those animals is without a scientific foundation. Indeed, in its minimal risk rule published in January 2005, USDA properly concluded that importation of beef from cattle over 30 months was scientifically warranted, yet illogically excluded the importation of older cattle," Boyle said. "While the resulting economic inequities prompted the department to delay this part of the regulation, international standards support restoring trade in both older animals and beef derived from them."

Boyle told Johanns that fully restoring cattle and beef trade in North America is a critical step toward preventing further equity losses in the meat packing industry, regaining additional market access with other North America countries, such as Mexico, enhancing global competitiveness and protecting processing jobs in the U.S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7,800 U.S. jobs have been lost since May 2003, when Canada detected its first case of BSE and cattle trade with Canada ceased.

"Overwhelmingly, the scientific evidence demonstrates that food safety is not dependent on the age of the animal, but whether or not specified risk materials (SRMs) that may contain the infectious agent are eliminated from the food supply," he said. He also noted that FDA is proceeding to strengthen its feed regulations to prevent the possible introduction and spread of BSE in the U.S. cattle herd.

Boyle urged Johanns to abide by international trading rules set by The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which permits cattle, beef and offal to be traded in international commerce, even from high BSE risk countries, if the exporting country implements appropriate BSE risk mitigation measures.

"We firmly believe that the U.S. must lead the way in establishing a rational BSE trade policy. Only by setting the appropriate, scientifically-based, internationally recognized standards for trading in cattle and beef can we expect governments of other countries, such as Japan and Korea, to apply such standards and restore access to their markets for U.S. beef exports," Boyle said.
 
I have to think you may be right on the last one rancher. Under 30 mo. should be the standard for a while yet.

Did you take in the doings in your hometown today?
 
If NCBA backs this AMI proposal ( and they will- no matter what their membership wants :cry: :mad: their leadership does what the packers tell them) you will see R-CALF's membership double next year.......

We need to close up all the gaps in our BSE firewalls ( chicken litter, table scraps, blood products, etc.) , nationwide ID, and tracking system before making any more moves...

Further introduction of BSE into the US could mean the end of the US cattle industry a few years in the future--But the multinational packers could care less- since they are developing worldwide sources for their beef industry....

Cargill doesn't seem to be complaining about the profits they are making off their Australian cattle going to Japan......
 
the real jake said:
I have to think you may be right on the last one rancher. Under 30 mo. should be the standard for a while yet.

Did you take in the doings in your hometown today?

Must not have, what was going on that I should have been there? Busy filling oilers and get neighbors cows out.
 
I thought there was some kind of horse sale or something over there today. I talked to a guy that was going over this weekend for it. Maybe I heard wrong?
 

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