BSE Testing

[farmers_son]

BSE testing as a marketing opportunity….

BSE testing is touted by its supporters as a means of opening export opportunities with Japan and Asia. I have pointed out earlier in this thread that Japan has changed its position re BSE testing on under 21 month animals. If Japan and Asian really wanted to buy BSE tested beef there is plenty of BSE tested beef in Europe.

[rkaiser]

Europe is a net importer of beef.

Japan is moving away from testing because of the USDA's big stick.

Korea took D1 and D2 swinging sides from Canadian companies prior to BSE.
(D1 and D2's are OTM farmer-son.)

Asian and European companies have asked for BSE tested product from Canada.

[kato]

The idea that not to test is to keep the American market open to us would be a good one if there were not so many who make their livings by throwing up barriers to Canadian cattle already. These barriers will be there, testing or not, but to be able to send tested beef would help get by some of them.

The protectionists are not going to go away.

Ever.

So what we need is to have every tool available to us to be able to market our beef wherever we can, to the highest bidder. For example, we already have the infrastructure to traceback and assure hormone free beef at EU standards, and if we could top that up with a test if requested, there is a whole other market.

We don't need to test cattle for markets that don't ask for it, and we don't have to test young cattle, but we also should have the right to use whatever tools are available to diversify our marketing. If a customer wants tested beef, then I say give it to them.

And then there's the cost of SRM disposal that keeps being tossed back at us. Don't forget that.