Would we be any different?

[cowman]

If the shoe was on the other foot and the Americans had BSE and we didn't would we act any different? If our prices for cattle were sky high and one of our biggest competitors in the export market was restricted would we be willing to cut them some slack? Stop the gravy train because it was the right thing to do?
I suspect our federal inspection system would have that border locked up so tight not even a mouse could slip through and all our cattle associations would be ranting about the sanctity of our pristine meat supply!
How did we treat Japan? They now test and do we accept that? How about Finland and Israel, who had "one cow" each? Do we accept their product?
How holy we are until we too become sinners!

[carebear300]

Not likely we might even be worse. I think back to the mad cow crisis in Britain we sat back and thought it would never happen here. As for our niehgbours to the south I am waiting for a chance to get even with them, we owe them one!!!!!!!

[carebear300]

We would have behaved in the same manner at the outset and if it happens, we will at least initially ......... the situation has to be assessed in terms of the severity and the degree of spread in a disease situation such as this .......... however, the differences between the US and Canada is terms of reopening of borders would be significantly different ......... here in Canada the processing, wholesale, restaurant hotel and retail and consumer sectors have a much larger say in the policy direction of the industry .......... in the US, the beef production sector holds sway due to the political structure, hence the staged re-entry over a extended period of time ........ re-entry for American product would be swifter given the same circumstances, boneless meat products would be first and would have occurred within weeks of the OIE report not months as it did for Canada and it would be in significant volumes, live cattle would be swiftly if not immediately behind if not at the same time .......... CCA and the ACFA would have seen to that!

[ALICIA]

I don't know about every one else but I can tell you that every time one of my cows is not acting right the fear of god goes down my back now.

[cowman]

Well Alicia, have no fear! If they get BSE you have hit the jackpot! They'll kill them all and give you lots of money! No more slogging through snow up to your butt hauling wet calves into the barn! No more feeding expensive hay to a bunch of cows that can't pay their way! No more wondering how you're going to pay the fuel bill! Suddenly Mexico looks like a good place to be when it's -40 outside!
Rebuy cows next year for 2 bits on the dollar if you can't live without them! That is what the American, who had THE BSE cow, is going to do!