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Wednesday, August 10, 2005 Good Evening!
USDA Wants Science-Based BSE Tests (08/10/05 10:50)
DES MOINES (DTN) -- For a second time in as many years USDA denied Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC, a privately owned producer and processor, the authority to test company-owned cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), company officials told DTN.
Creekstone Farms wants to regain entry into the Japanese beef market where consumers consider its product high quality. Regaining entry would increase demand for U.S. cattle and the feed they consume. USDA's efforts to reopen the Japanese market have been long and drawn out.
Creekstone made the request to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns after being rejected in its first proposal for self BSE testing by former USDA Secretary Ann Veneman in February 2004.
The reason given by the Johanns administration was consistent with the prior administration's reason, Kevin Pentz, Creekstone Farms senior vice-president of operations, said.
"Because you can't detect BSE in cattle under 30 months of age, the USDA said the testing method in the U.S. needs to be science-based," Pentz said. "That's what they said but I bet some U.S. scientists would disagree with that."
The company estimates the closed Japanese markets costs $400 per head each day in lost revenue -- losses Creekstone hoped the self-testing program could help recoup.
USDA Wants Science-Based BSE Tests (08/10/05 10:50)
DES MOINES (DTN) -- For a second time in as many years USDA denied Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC, a privately owned producer and processor, the authority to test company-owned cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), company officials told DTN.
Creekstone Farms wants to regain entry into the Japanese beef market where consumers consider its product high quality. Regaining entry would increase demand for U.S. cattle and the feed they consume. USDA's efforts to reopen the Japanese market have been long and drawn out.
Creekstone made the request to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns after being rejected in its first proposal for self BSE testing by former USDA Secretary Ann Veneman in February 2004.
The reason given by the Johanns administration was consistent with the prior administration's reason, Kevin Pentz, Creekstone Farms senior vice-president of operations, said.
"Because you can't detect BSE in cattle under 30 months of age, the USDA said the testing method in the U.S. needs to be science-based," Pentz said. "That's what they said but I bet some U.S. scientists would disagree with that."
The company estimates the closed Japanese markets costs $400 per head each day in lost revenue -- losses Creekstone hoped the self-testing program could help recoup.