CFIA paper text only

[grassfarmer]

Per, my point on the premiums was that although a few small initiatives have been and are successful in achieving premiums we missed a chance to take the majority of the Canadian cattle industry forward on that basis. If we had been able to acomplish that the Canadian beef brand would have had a higher profile on the world market and we could also have wrestled some power back to the producer level. That was my hope.

[per]

I hear you Gf. The pragmatist in me notes that we are right here right now. We have to look at where we want to go from here and figure out how to get there. Plenty of opportunities were lost since 2003 in my opinion but that was then and this is now. I am afraid our half measure attempt at traceability using outdated technology has hurt the good will from the grass roots that is necessary to get it right. The pieces to put this all together exist but it will take plenty of conversation to reshape into something that is useful and acceptable to the primary producer.

[grassfarmer]

Per what's the outdated technology? Certainly not the RFD tags they have huge possibilities but thus far we are using them like bar code dangle tags with the only advantage being the kill plants can read them easier. That really is a huge waste of a $3 electronic tag.

[per]

Well there is UHF technology that can be read from a distance that would be useful to a rancher for one. Certainly we can do better that the current style of ear tag. Since SADIES ear tag story I have taken a close look at my own herd. Many tags are cracked and some have lost the brass ring even though they still look intact.

[BTOfarmallll]

Happytrails, might be able to take SOME pointers from Tom on running a campaign. Reason I say SOME is becuase he lost a Million trying to get elected, but i'm sure hes got some useful info. Anyway I would be THEE first to vote fer yous. This is exactly the kind of thinking the Industry needs or the good ole days gon be lookin alot gooder than they are today. QuackGrassFarmer likes the tags so much, it kin buy everybodies then. Tear down all the God Damn barb wire, yous aint need it anyway, thought yous all Cow guys from way back. WE ain't need no Freakin Tag in the Cows ear. Let the SOB's go hungry, don't bother me, we'll find someone else that don't care about the tag to buy our Beef. That Simple......

[Happytrails]

Must be doing something right when you are between BTO and GF.

And GF what am I missing about the "huge potential" of the RFID tag. My understanding and experience is that it will reveal a number to a scanner and that is it. Any information associated with that number is done in a data base. HT

[per]

Sure hope everyone had a shower.

[SADIE]

Here we go on RFID eartags again.

Per--Outdated technology is very correct. Pannel scanners especially like the ones that were tried in the auction markets and community pastures have a huge "Flaw" in readability of the RFID data. RFID eartag placement is also a concern. Feedback from producers and seminars on the current scanners have problems when the RFID eartag is placed according to the eartag specks to be placed deep in the ear next to the "brain"---scanners have difficulty reading those placements.

Problems of retention, problems of current scanners readability of the RFID eartags.

Research has shown that there is much better technology available at a much lower cost. Lets abort the archaic RFID plastic tag ASAP.

Per--those RFID eartags that are breaking down at the "washer" back of the ear. Don't forget once you have an animal that bears the RFID eartag and number is in the data base ----under law you have to keep a new RFID eartag in that animal and cross-reference and deregister the RFID number that is being lost and use the new RFID tag number.


Per---Western Producer--May 19 2011 Rage 65---Great picture.

[Kathy]

Why are we reviewing yet another government proposed legislation when, we can't even look at the (Alberta) legislation that has been passed in the Legislature but awaits proclamation (a formality). The Animal Health Amendment Act:

http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?page=2009CH17_UNPR.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbnc ln=9780779741755

This Act contains the death nails to the cattle industy and we (the industry) ignore it like the plague.

Traceability of living creatures that are NOT confined to a building, roam freely over sections of land, weigh enough to kill you when they run over you and have a mean temper at times - doesn't work.

Also the problem with the gestopo type CFIA control (under an international body OIE) means as Canadians we are being GOVERNED by a non-elected New World Order bureacracy.

Forget the FACTS that human health problems associated with Food, are more to do with MODERN agriculture practices. I don't want to participate in a "discussion" on legal matters when the ENDGAME is to put the family farm out of business. CFIA can KMA.

[Happytrails]

Well put Kathy. There are some pretty big meetings coming up they being Sask stockgrowers, Canadian auction markets assn, and ABP. It will be interesting to see if the light of day penetrates the ball rooms any better than it does the board rooms. HT