more bse research

[cowman]

Pandianna: I believe the Japanese have found it in an animal 18 months old? And they've been testing everything for how long?
Perhaps it isn't a big deal , but the fact remains the science on this whole thing is really muddy. Do you think groups like PETA or Earth First will accept the so called science for very long when in reality the science changes everyday? And they can make our life merry indeed!
This is the reason we need to test. To test with a live pre-slaughter test! If we are over reacting what have we lost? $7 or $8 US/animal? We need our governments to be bold right now! Unfortunately that isn't the nature of the beasts we have elected!

[pandiana]

cowman, the problem with testing under 20 months is that the test cannot pick up the prion in a younger animal, not whether or not the animal will go on to show symptoms of BSE if it lives long enought. I think it is the sensitivity of the test that is at issue and wether the plaques are present in high enough concentration. Maybe...

[cowman]

But Pandianna the Japanese found BSE in an animal 18 months old... Will they find others?
Part of the problem is perception. If you cut it off at 20 months, and the Japanese say whoa we found one at 18 months, how will that look? It will be percieved as only doing half the job? We are not talking about how some scientist or you or me might percieve this, but how the little housewife with three kids might see this.
I was talking to a dairy farmer the other day who took in two bull calves to the auction. He got a check for $4.96! This just can't go on for very much longer before we are all broke and out of the business? I know there are lots of people who are almost there. The wolf is at the door and we need to do something?

[pandiana]

How come bull calves (I assume under 30 months) would be dinged as they they were over 30 months?

[kato]

I think a lot of our Holstein steers were killed in the States for hamburger. The market for them is gone. Our packers just aren't interested in buying them, so they get lumped in with the cows.

[cowman]

Oh these were just baby calves. I guess no one wants to take a chance on them or something. I doubt there are many buyers at the sales right now. I mean they only get about 20 head on sale day.

[cowman]

One of my dairy farmer buddies was telling me he had a pen of fat holstein steers. He got a bid on them for 18 cents! And I think that was before Dec.23!!!