Possible Case BSE - Canada

[farmers_son]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060122/mad_cow_060122/20060122?hub=TopStories

OTTAWA — Federal agriculture inspectors are looking into the possibility of another case of mad cow disease, a spokesman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Sunday.

"We have an ongoing testing program for BSE and that means from time to time we undertake confirmatory tests when we come up with a suspicious sample," said Mark Van Dusen.

"We are undergoing such testing on a suspicious sample."

Van Dusen said the animal must go to a Winnipeg lab for final tests. Inspectors should know within 48 hours if they have another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy on their hands.

He said there are no indications that any part of the animal entered the human-food or animal-feed systems.

Canada's beef and dairy cattle breeding industry remains shut out of American markets since BSE was discovered in an Alberta cow in May 2003.

The Americans reopened their border to young cattle last July after the two-year ban brought on by fear of mad cow disease.

When that happened, many people believed the crisis, which has cost Canada's cattle industry more than $7 billion, was finally over.

But Canada has a surplus of about 900,000 older-cull cattle that can't be shipped south because of lingering concerns they may harbour a risk of BSE.

Van Dusen couldn't confirm the age of the animal currently being tested but said it is definitely older than 30 months. Younger cattle are believed to have a lower risk of developing BSE.

He said he is aware of rumours the animal is from Alberta.

[kato]

Great .... we hauled the first of two loads of calves in to a presort sale today. Now, my problem is, do we haul that second load of calves to the auction mart?

I wonder what this will do to the market? Forty eight hours comes pretty much right on when these calves will sell. I can just imagine them being next in the ring when they get the news. Are the buyers going to be in a holding pattern until we see how much the market responds? Or are we far enough into this thing that the markets have matured enough not to panic over something that really shouldn't cause a panic.

mmmm..... what to do?

[kato]

I don't know why they even mention their damn suspicions until they have facts. All it might do is skew the markets for the next 48 hours .

[Cedar]

Looks like they must have added more to this report....it's worth checking out the link!

[mb_rancher]

Kato,


If I were you I wouldnt haul the second load. I was suppose to haul 40 char feeders in for our neighbor tomorrow. He called tonite and said he was not taking them. Said he had talked to an order buyer and he told him to hold back. I might be tempted to go bring that first load home..

[cowman]

I doubt this will be a big deal? Not to say some US interests won't try to make it a big deal...R-CALF?
I was starting to wonder if the CFIA was following the American example of cover up, so this reassures us that they are doing their job? Don't know about the rest of the country but in Alberta the vets have been busy as beavers running around sampling anything that dies or looks old?
The fact is we knew we'd probably get a few more? The science pretty well said that was a certainty?
Hopefully the Japanese won't play games and the USDA will continue with the "science based" approach?

[wd40]

The CFIA will do everything it can to find another BSE case - count on it. They are controlled by world interests not Canadian interests.

[wmoebis]

I am not a cattleman but do grow feed for sale into that market. I would like to know who lets this kind of info out and for what reason. I would bet the USA and EU are checking and finding suspicious samples and not blerting it out.
Someone better be accountable for leaking, what should be confidential info. If it was my animal I would be real pissed.

[JD4ME]

CFIA is confirming a case in Alberta,
news conference at 11 am.

[clancey]

It has been confirmed. In summary:

The U.S. version of the NFU wants the border closed.

The USDA says it will stay open.

The CFIA says there is not enough regulation of feed ingredients in Canada.

[clancey]

I JUST HEARD A6 YEAR OLD COW FROM ALBERTA NO REASON TO PANIC
THINGS WILL GO NORMAL AS BEFORE.IN
CANADA WE HAVE TESTING PROTOCOL AND IS
OPEN NEWS TO THE PUBLIC
HAPPEND A LOT IN THE U-S-A BUT DON,T HEAR ABOUT!!!!!!

[clancey]

I JUST HEARD A6 YEAR OLD COW FROM ALBERTA NO REASON TO PANIC
THINGS WILL GO NORMAL AS BEFORE.IN
CANADA WE HAVE TESTING PROTOCOL AND IS
OPEN NEWS TO THE PUBLIC
HAPPEND A LOT IN THE U-S-A BUT DON,T HEAR ABOUT!!!!!!

[clancey]

There is a possiblity that this news will delay the OTM cattle entering the US according to the CBC this morning

[topper]

I just sold two loads at the Yorkton Heartland sale today. I was pretty nervous after hearing all the good news but the prices where at par or better than last weeks presort sale.

[blackjack]

...thats good news topper... would have to agree with emrald... it will be quite some time before we have otm's heading south...if feeder prices stay up that might not be a bad thing...maybe the plants in manitoba and spruce grove will receive more support...