BSE tests?

[ValueChainFX]

I just got more information on the BSE tests.

This following statement comes directly from my email when I questioned if the test was valid in Canada.

Quote "Our test has been validated in Canada and has been used for the BSE investigation by the CFIA."

Also on the cost of the test, I have been told that the cost of the test will be between $25.00 and $50.00 per head Canadian, and as pointed out, as volumes rise the cost of the tests "Usually" decrease.

Now the cost of the test is interesting in that the government inspection service is provided as a service to the industry (also part of Canadian commitment to safe food) The costs of these tests may actually fall under a government mandate.... Now I'm not sure of this and I'm sure if a government guy were reading this he more than likely has the squirm happenin right now!!!! Either way, the government should pick up part of this cost as a national program.

As individual producers you may (or should) be asking yourself if your National bodies are helping or not. After all industry money runs these operations. Also the organizations are influenced by the big boys! They should be there to represent you to government (in my opinion). I don't believe the individual producer gets the representation they need from these bodies that will help them get through the challenges of the day. In saying this, keep in mind they do good work, but I believe more direct help to "PRIMARY PRODUCERS" is required and these bodies would have influence in this area. So far much of the money directed to agriculture has gone to build government labs, business incubators, or such things. Even the BSE money was directed in such a way that marketers, and packers could use it but the primary producer really was only indirectly helped (some times).

I would be interested on what you as a producer thinks of the above comments, the producers I have discussed this with seem to agree that the trickle down process of putting money into agriculture is no longer the way they would like to see agriculture funded?? What are your thoughts?

[kato]

Our government has been off loading all the costs it can in the last few years. Five years ago, the cost to endorse export papers on a load of weanling pigs was $13.00. Now it can be over $200, if you have a big enough truck.

They do the same thing they did then, which is stamp the papers, and keep them on file. Why is it so expensive now? It takes 2 minutes to read them over and stamp them. Cash cow, I'd say. They charge for just about everything they used to do for free in the past. At least everything they can get away with.

Getting this bunch of tightwads to pay up for anything is going to be a major challenge.

[cowman]

You know if I could sell my cull cows for a world price(read that US price) instead of taking less than dogfood prices I would sure pony up that$25-$50! What kind of idiot wouldn't?
What is the problem here? If the Japanese want a $25-50 test to open our borders completely then why wouldn't we be doing it?
What kind of morons are running the insane asylum here? Are all our politicians/so-called industry leaders mad? I just don't get it?

[ValueChainFX]

That is what we are hearing from producers as well, they are willing to pay the price since this is a "no brainer". Now there has got to be someone pushing noodles here since for us simple guys it's a no brainer but for the academics and ag-experts they're still telling us we need marketing studies from their consultants!!!!! Go figure, now imagine that, we have spent years gathering contacts, names, information and research, put together our own reports and they tell us we need to use the consultants on "Their List". Now after putting some thought into this we called and asked how they could get the information we had put together since much of it is information based on our study. They told us to give their consultant the name of our consultant and their consultant could take our consultants information and put it in the report at a cost of (about) $50,000.00 to $100,000.00! Keep in mind we would only have to pay about 20% of this ourselves!

Anyway, my point goes back to the root of our challenges here. Don't hold your breath the government won't save you. Some form of grass roots producer organization will have to come forward and develop real programs with real paybacks to do any good for the primary producer. A functioning Canadian Producer group with hands on in your face working components is going to need to be there to coordinate such a group and "You" the producer is going to have to out right support it or not! You can only poke holes in the air with your finger so long before people get bored and walk away saying "Whatever"!

We will build a producer plant! We will build a lab to do lab work for producers, we will build producer support systems and those that don't like it, those that don't believe it, those that like the system they have ...... hide in the bush and watch!

[cowman]

You've pretty well convinced me! The world changed May 20th and we can't keep doing things the old way. I actually liked the old way but that just don't cut it anymore.
My cattle have always been healthy. Home grown feed, good spring water, no hormones as little grain as possible. A bottle of liquimiacin lasts me a long time! Blackleg,IBR,BVD shots and thats it! I don't like the idea of Ivomec or other insecticides. My old cows might get a few lice come spring but they disappear when the weather warms up.
Years ago I implanted calves but I didn't like how the heifers came around at 350 lbs.! Figured that just can't be good!
People are always running around trying to do all the latest scientific things to maybe add a few more pounds. Why? Cows have been doing their thing for a long time and will continue if you just give them a healthy environment. I always figured the less I have to do with them the better it is for me and them!
But meat should be as safe! It should be a quality product! We need to go the route of the market garden...if it doesn't look right then throw it in the garbage bin don't lower the price!

[pandiana]

What if, as was quoted by the statisticians, that if there was one case of BSE found in Canada, there had to be others? Testing every head would increase the probability of find more BSE cases to 100%. What would that do to our market?

[ValueChainFX]

Testing is a way of ensuring that we are providing both the checks and the balances to ensure our food supply is safe. If we are testing every animal there is the risk we may find more cases. Our customer however is also assured that product that has past the test is the only thing that goes into our food supply.

Firstly, if we have a valid test on every animal our customer has some assurance. Second, if we have a trace back system that goes with these tests, we can do trace back in seconds rather than days! (Chances are the trace back would be done before any news was released) Third containment could be easily managed, especially if we had a real sound management plan in place for containment.

I believe all of these things can be done together, and our friends in the EU happen to agree with me. They also agree that the US and Canada has balked at implementing such measures. Probably because many of the people in processing, testing and government can't see how this is possible to implement into "THEIR SYSTEM". All I can say if their system doesn't work than the lest we can do is look at how we can make it work!

I am not as concerned with their system as I am with "OUR" system. The bottom line for "OUR" system is that the producer needs to be treated fair! We need to market product and we need to have a possibility for a future for our family and us!

At the moment I don't believe the focus has been on individual primary producers. Government, academics and our own associations have a perception that big business is where it's at! I for one think big business will look after big business! That's it in a nutshell! As individual producers, grass roots front line people we are going to look after ourselves! Don't count on the government, don't count on the academics, and don’t count on your associations. A functioning grass roots organization is going to have to coordinate the efforts of individual producers to accomplish our goals.

Don't get me wrong, I believe we need the expertise to assist us get there, but we have found enough experts are willing to help and are getting tired of working in a system that is unfair.

If we find enough grass roots guys to work with us across Canada we could see a national grass roots program develop sooner rather than later. Alberta has this happening now, and enough of the foundation is there to make this happen. There is also enough interest coming from some of the other provinces to initiate discussions on the possibilities of a national program.