CATTLE CONFLICT
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R-CALF members reportedly bought and sold Canadian beef cattle.
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According an article in the Billings (Montana) Gazette newspaper, members of the Ranch-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, which has petitioned to stop the resumption of live Canadian cattle imports, bought and sold cattle in Canada after the border was closed in May 2003 when a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in Alberta.
"This is an old issue that the Canadian press is trying to sensationalize and turn into fresh news,” R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard told MeatNews Daily. “In years past and in isolated instances, R-CALF USA members did do business in Canada, and have suffered economic losses as a result. Contrary to recent, inaccurate Canadian media reports, R-CALF USA does not believe that any of its members recently have purchased Canadian cattle.”
Bullard added: "This is an emerging issue and U.S producers who have cattle in Canada are experiencing the same economic challenges associated with Canada's BSE problem as are Canadian producers.”
According to the Billings Gazette article, a feedlot operator in Lethbridge, Alberta, told the Canadian press that "members (of R-CALF) recognized an economic opportunity for their own gain. They were absolutely not concerned about food safety."
R-CALF president Leo McDonnell Jr. called the issue a “red herring” and said he has o problem with R-CALF members doing business in Canada. He noted that they have done business in Canada for years, as have other U.S. cattlemen who are not R-CALF members.
The newspaper article said R-CALF member Lloyd DeBruycker, said he has approximately 50 head of feeder cattle in Canada. He did not see any contradiction in owning and selling cattle in Canada and opposing live imports. DeBruycker said last year he had a Canadian packer refuse to slaughter the cattle he had in a Canadian feedlot. He said the packer refused not just because he was a member of R-CALF, but "they were not killing for any Americans."
Last week, R-CALF convinced U.S. District Richard Cebull in Billings to issue a preliminary injunction preventing USDA from opening the border as planned last Monday to Canadian live cattle younger than 30 months of age.
"We are urging USDA to adopt safe and sound practices. R-CALF members favor open and fair trade and will support the reopening of the Canadian border when science, not politics, tells us to do so," Bullard told MeatNews Daily. “As far as young cattle go, we disagree with USDA's statement that BSE is not found in cattle younger than 30 months of age.”
Web posted: March 9, 2005
Category: Food Safety,Legislation and Regulation,Marketing,Trade
Domenick Castaldo, Ph.D.
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R-CALF members reportedly bought and sold Canadian beef cattle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According an article in the Billings (Montana) Gazette newspaper, members of the Ranch-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, which has petitioned to stop the resumption of live Canadian cattle imports, bought and sold cattle in Canada after the border was closed in May 2003 when a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in Alberta.
"This is an old issue that the Canadian press is trying to sensationalize and turn into fresh news,” R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard told MeatNews Daily. “In years past and in isolated instances, R-CALF USA members did do business in Canada, and have suffered economic losses as a result. Contrary to recent, inaccurate Canadian media reports, R-CALF USA does not believe that any of its members recently have purchased Canadian cattle.”
Bullard added: "This is an emerging issue and U.S producers who have cattle in Canada are experiencing the same economic challenges associated with Canada's BSE problem as are Canadian producers.”
According to the Billings Gazette article, a feedlot operator in Lethbridge, Alberta, told the Canadian press that "members (of R-CALF) recognized an economic opportunity for their own gain. They were absolutely not concerned about food safety."
R-CALF president Leo McDonnell Jr. called the issue a “red herring” and said he has o problem with R-CALF members doing business in Canada. He noted that they have done business in Canada for years, as have other U.S. cattlemen who are not R-CALF members.
The newspaper article said R-CALF member Lloyd DeBruycker, said he has approximately 50 head of feeder cattle in Canada. He did not see any contradiction in owning and selling cattle in Canada and opposing live imports. DeBruycker said last year he had a Canadian packer refuse to slaughter the cattle he had in a Canadian feedlot. He said the packer refused not just because he was a member of R-CALF, but "they were not killing for any Americans."
Last week, R-CALF convinced U.S. District Richard Cebull in Billings to issue a preliminary injunction preventing USDA from opening the border as planned last Monday to Canadian live cattle younger than 30 months of age.
"We are urging USDA to adopt safe and sound practices. R-CALF members favor open and fair trade and will support the reopening of the Canadian border when science, not politics, tells us to do so," Bullard told MeatNews Daily. “As far as young cattle go, we disagree with USDA's statement that BSE is not found in cattle younger than 30 months of age.”
Web posted: March 9, 2005
Category: Food Safety,Legislation and Regulation,Marketing,Trade
Domenick Castaldo, Ph.D.