USDA officials had said that they would test all cattle in the herd of origin that were born within a year before or after the 12-year-old Brahma cross beef cow that tested positive for BSE in June, plus any offspring of that cow born in the past 2 years. Something you hear nothing about is the fact the USDA has not been able to locate any of these animals that left the herd of origin. While sixty seven were tested that were still in the original herd, there has been no mention that any of the animals sold were ever found.
Canadian producers take it for granted that animals can be traced back to their herds of origin in this country. It is hard to imagine just how sloppy and inept the U.S. system is when they cannot. Whether the problem is the USDA cannot find these animals or does not want to find these animals, it calls into question the USDA’s ability to ensure the health status of any U.S. cattle. If we are talking Bangs, TB or BSE; Bluetongue or Anaplasmosis the U.S. cattle are disease dirty. And they make rules about our cattle coming into their country???
There is a daily record of the investigation into the test animals at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/epi-updates/bse-epi_report-more.html
Since July 12, 2005 there has been “Nothing to report”.
I find it interesting that the USDA only tested the last two calves born from this cow. Obviously they would have been too young to be BSE positive. However if the USDA had tested all the offspring from this cow, for example like Canada does, would we have had a different result?
I do not know what is more pathetic, the USDA’s approach to BSE testing or Canada’s see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil attitude when it comes to overlooking the United States incompetence and outright cover-ups regarding BSE.
Canadian producers take it for granted that animals can be traced back to their herds of origin in this country. It is hard to imagine just how sloppy and inept the U.S. system is when they cannot. Whether the problem is the USDA cannot find these animals or does not want to find these animals, it calls into question the USDA’s ability to ensure the health status of any U.S. cattle. If we are talking Bangs, TB or BSE; Bluetongue or Anaplasmosis the U.S. cattle are disease dirty. And they make rules about our cattle coming into their country???
There is a daily record of the investigation into the test animals at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/epi-updates/bse-epi_report-more.html
Since July 12, 2005 there has been “Nothing to report”.
I find it interesting that the USDA only tested the last two calves born from this cow. Obviously they would have been too young to be BSE positive. However if the USDA had tested all the offspring from this cow, for example like Canada does, would we have had a different result?
I do not know what is more pathetic, the USDA’s approach to BSE testing or Canada’s see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil attitude when it comes to overlooking the United States incompetence and outright cover-ups regarding BSE.