A little disgusted!

[cowman]

boone: The whole issue of "tax" cattle is something that really needs to be addressed. For many small/midsized lots it is their bread and butter and they wouldn't exist without them. An example a local 5000 head feedlot custom feeds 4500 head and only has 500 head of their own cattle. The owners of the 4500 head are basically split about evenly between local grainfarmers and "professional corporations"...read that as doctors, lawyers, accountants and a couple of judges! Now these "professional corporations" really don't care one iota if they have a profit or a loss as the whole idea is for a tax writeoff?
But this setup has made it possible for this lot to do quite well. Buys local grain and other supplies and provides a few jobs. Also buys quite a few local cattle at good prices? We all know how the calf market goes up when the tax money comes to town in late November early December? So it puts a few more bucks in the cow/calf guys pocket?
The large commercial feedlot must compete against these tax cattle and that must be frustrating? How do you compete against someone who couldn't care or less if he is making any money?

[boone]

cowman: I agree it must be frustrating but reality. Sort of like in Saskatchewan where most farmers get a pension him and her and farming is something they do till the hip breaks or the heart stops, kids are in Alberta trying to pave over your place.
Crazy world! I'm not judging anything here just observing.

[bombay_43]

Cakadu, I stand with you when it comes to blue tongue and anaplasmosis! I think the Canadian cattle industry has enough trouble getting back up, without setting itself up for another fall!

I did review the 12 page discussion paper on these two diseases, and I do not support opening our borders to untested cattle! As it is now, Canada has less restrictive import conditions, than other countries.

There are too many unknown variables with regards to both blue tongue and anaplasmosis. Time for Canada to look after its own interests.

I know that our representatives in our provincial and federal cattle associations have been pushing hard to remove testing, with the expectations that our borders would open. I am told it is a trade off. Maybe our representatives, should start by representing those of us who are paying the $3.00 checkoff per animal!!

From the discussion paper; anaplasmosis treatment using tetracycline, did not eliminate the organism from infected cattle, yet my ABP rep tells me it is easily treated!

The CFIA estimates between 12.1 and 36.0 million dollars in direct production losses and $3m in costs to CFIA as a consequence of anaplasmosis becoming established in Canada! In 2002, it was ranked 5th in economic importance among the diseases affecting cattle in the U.S.

Blue tongue, would perhaps have a greater impact on our sheep and goats than cattle. Keep in mind this also includes our wildlife. Big horn sheep? I think it is high time that we in Canada, start to look after each other, and issues that could affect our country as a whole!

Allowing untested cattle into our country from states with low incidence of these diseases is acceptable, but I don’t agree with an open door policy. Let’s not compound our problem.

[boone]

bombay: Well put and clarified. You can't appease a bully, and if we haven't learned this by now we deserve what we get. Our little leaders haven't got the guts of Trudeau! Now that ones gotta hurt.

[cowman]

Somewhere along the line, I suspect, a decision was made to allow the USA to have their way with us on this bluetongue/anaplasm thing? I find it surprizing that the government vets were dead against it but now seem to have rolled over? Like they suddenly got the word to shut up and don't fight city hall sort of thing?
I doubt blue tongue will affect our cattle in central/northern Alberta but I'm not so sure about the Anaplasm thing? I would think the breed associations would be "uncomfortable" by the turn of events that might allow these diseases in? And yet I haven't heard them come out against them? I mean it could really affect their export sales I would think?