No test

[cakadu]

Kato - I think many others see this and are just as frustrated as you are.

What goes around - comes around and yes, in the short term all the players have what they need. As producers start to fall, the numbers will eventually diminish and then what will the rest of the chain do? It is very much a house of cards.

I also think that rsomer is right - what are these people supposed to say? Platitudes are not going to be helpful right now and with our hands essentially tied by closed borders what else can be done?

Yes, plants can be built and testing done, but if borders are shut, what difference will it make in the long run? Those that can afford to invest in a plant and get their animals processed will be okay - what about those who cannot afford to get into these things? How will it be any different than what currently exists? It will once again be the haves and the have-nots.

Our domestic market just cannot support all of the beef that is out there. People can buy and eat only so much hamburger, no matter how much they want to help.

What is so frustrating and sad at the same time is that there are no easy answers.

[cowman]

Linda: You are correct when you say we can only eat so much hamburger. I do believe this year could be a crisis if the border isn't opened up for our old cow meat. We might get some plants up and running to kill cows but where do we sell it? Will the government devise a scheme where they basically give it away to some third world country?
Personally I still think the pit is the best and probably cheapest answer but I am sure the government wouldn't want to do that. The press would be ugly to say the least? And yet if something isn't done where will all the old cows go? If we basically kept all last years culls and we add this years we are facing a real problem? If we get another drought, what then? When you get less for a cow than the price of hauling her doesn't it make more sense to spend that three cents for a .22 shell?
My Dad told me that in the dirty thirties they drove cows cross country for 12 miles, loaded them on freight cars and shipped them to Burns in Calgary. Instead of a check they got a bill! My grandfather never paid it! Later they shot cows and dragged them into the pigs.
Maybe we need the Canadian wheat board to sell our old cows? They seem to have a knack for giving away a product nobody wants?