Beef recall

[BFW]

This is not a size issue in my mind. All plants must meet or exceed the standards put in place by the CFIA or lose their licence to operate. The point is, despite best intentions, engines fail, planes crash, people die. We all suffer when these outbreaks happen because the public has been led to believe that government regulation will save them from harm and that they can be relieved of any responsibility for what ever happens when in fact they need to know that all food is indeed "organic" and subject to spoilage (caused by bacteria) and needs to be handled with care. No matter what system food is raised and processed in this will remain true.

[kato]

Beef recalls are never good for business. They damage the reputation of beef, and can make people hesitate to buy it.

so... If a recall hits a big plant, there are people possibly from coast to coast, and even outside the country who are affected. Hundreds of thousands of people worried about the safety of their food. Hundreds of thousands of people talking with their friends about how they don't trust the product.

and ... if a recall hits a small plant, there are a lot less people affected, a shorter trail to follow to get that beef back, and hundreds of thousands of people who will likely never hear about it. If they do hear about it they will say, "It didn't affect me, so it's no big deal."

The bigger the processors, the bigger the damage when something goes wrong. It's that old "putting your eggs in one basket thing again."

[BFW]

It is the media coverage of these events that creates the loss of confidence. There will continue to be beef recalls for ecoli contamination. Yes the impact would be smaller if production was spread amongst more plants but the media reporting will be the same.More public awareness of the food safety and handling aspects are what is required.

[grassfarmer]

BFW I don't agree with you. In practice the way the regulations are applied to small provincial plants versus the federal inspected plants are not equal. Look at the line speed in the big plants - it's ridiculous.
I don't blame the media, I don't blame the consumer this is a processing sector problem that can be managed better with less corner cutting and better batch tracking. I hate how "the industry" comes to the instant defense of XL. I heard someone from ABP on the radio stressing how safe the beef was, how good the regulations were, how the system was working as it should (excuse me only how much beef was recalled? and how many people poisoned?)
Would the same industy spokesmen jump to the defense of a small plant operator if they were a shoddy operator? I think not.
The same "industry spokesmen" that stood by and let Nilssons take over Lakeside and consolidate their stranglehold on the processing sector. You guys deserve each other.

[ALLFARMER]

Please forgive my typing errors. Driving a tri drive
Kenworth winch tractor (leather seats even)
hauling equipment. Nice quiet Cummins motor,
climate control cab. I am spoiled $35/hr to ride
around in this jet black beauty . Hauling skidders
to pavers, graders, packers, steamer trucks, fuel
trucks, trac hoes, rock trucks, gravel crushers,
ashfalt plants, tractors with disks, heavy loaders.
Just trying to do my part of a million bucks a
month fuel bill lol.

210 animals at home grazing what should have
been my second cut of hay.

[ASRG]

Allfarmer: How did those heifers you bought grow out? Did they all get bred?

[BFW]

Grassfarmer I am not jumping to XL's defense. In fact I also believe that these large plants ( especially when there are only 2 of them ) maybe aren't what's best for the beef industry but for different reasons. Ecoli contamination is not just a processing sector problem as we all deal from the fallout when there is a problem

[ALLFARMER]

ASRG. Heifers actually looking very well.
Because we're low on feed this year we will be
selling who ever is open....hopefully for close to
the 1250 we paid. Preg checking will be in the
next couple weeks. We also will me moving the
calves fairly soon.

How many lbs a day are 425 lb Calves on grass
with mom gunna gain?

[Burbert]

What should Comedians due as a result of
this recall. Politicos and public
health officials all have confidence in
our current system, butt are ordering
chicken, fish and pork off the menu.
MEANWHILE they suggest we the Comedian
consumer should still buy the HIGH
PRICED beef and eat our way through the
dirty stuff, sooos we kin reestablish
our Comedian Beef Industry. Bring on
the sh_t, lets chow down, after cookin
the sh_t outta it........ mmmmmmmmmm
good sh_t!