WHAT OPEN BORDER?
Voodoo science still rules in
post-BSE cattle trade
There is absolutely no known animal or human health issue connecting mad-cow disease in any way with pregnancy or calves. Just as BSE cannot be transmitted from one adult animal to another, neither can it be transmitted from mother to calf. Even if it could, the only calves at risk would be those born to cows of at the very limits of reproductive age. There would still be (and in fact is) no risk with heifers and young cows below the age of 30 months, the oldest cattle that can be exported to the U.S. at this time. There is utterly no scientific basis for pregnancy to be considered as a legitimate parameter in anything to do with mad cow disease. There has never been any particular screening of feeder heifers for pregnancy in any other type of commercial trade.
A few weeks ago eight heifers in a group of feeder cattle shipped to the U.S. from Ontario turned out to be pregnant. There was no practical significance except that regulations of the U.S. agriculture department permitting Canadian live cattle into the country prohibit pregnant heifers. As a result of that accidental incident, USDA requested that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency tighten up its procedures to prevent it from happening again. Last week the CFIA complied.
Now, in order to export feeder heifers to the U.S., the last owner must certify that they have been in the herd for at least 50 days at a safe distance from any bull. Pregnancy tests were previously required as part of the veterinary certification for export. The reason for the 50-day rule is that tests earlier than 50 days after impregnation might not be 100% accurate.
A rule like this makes a joke of the notion that cattle trade has been normalized or that U.S. import rules are reasonable under the circumstances. It was instantly telegraphed through the cash market for feeder cattle, which widened the discount against feeder steers by up to $6 per cwt from the usual $1 or $2.
The ultimate result of these ridiculous antics will be to reinforce what the Canadian cattle industry is already doing. It will increase Canadian domestic cattle feeding and kill, reduce live exports to the U.S. and stimulate even more aggressive beef exports. There is no regulation prohibiting the export of boxed beef from pregnant female cattle.