Possible Case BSE - Canada

[silverback]

Here's a question for you cowguys and girls.

How many cows on your farms, per year, do you think need to be put down and checked for BSE by a vet? On a percentage of the herd? One or two a year?? 10? 20?

Whatever the number is, I have to ask the obvious question: Is it really that urgent that you get the $250 to keep the farm going? For the good of the entire industry, is it not better to euthanize her and put her in a hole in the back 40?

I know that is not a pc thing to say, but if all she is worth is a few cases of beer, why risk the potential problems it could cause the whole country?

I won't guess as to why the U.S. hasn't seen anymore lately, but I would almost guess that someone down there is strongly suggesting they make sure those old crocks disappear into the ground.

Just a guess.

[blackjack]

...silverback... the govt came up with the fee cause us ranchers were not having any tested...if the american rancher was given a fee i'm thinkin those old crocks would be tested ...not that i am putting down my fellow farmers but we might have been suckered in by our govt...only time will tell i guess...

[cowman]

silverback: We might be better off doing the old shoot, shovel and shutup, financially, but that doesn't solve the real problem of food safety, herd health, and consumer confidence?
It appears the USA has decided the 3S approach is best but usually deception and lies come back to bite you in the butt somewhere down the road? I would think the world views Canada as an honest system? And probably the consumer? How do they view the USA?
The other thing that was good about the Alberta government system of paying $225/animal was it stopped all the scoundrels from paying 10 cents a pound for cows? Now they either pay a floor price or old bossy goes into the program and the coyotes get a free meal!
And yes Kato, we do get $225 for a dead cow or an old cow that the vet puts down...and I think they get about the same amount of money! Apparently you don't get that kind of money? Maybe you should consider that the next time you have a provincial election?

[kato]

We'll be thinking a lot of things when there is another provincial election! There is a long list of broken promises on the NDP's records that need to be addressed.

[silverback]

Ok, but are they not doing more testing of old cows at the slaughter plant? What is our testing requirement right now? If I remember, we are WAY over the target set a couple of years ago?

If we are meeting our targets, why chance everything for 225 bucks?

I am only thinking of the old, nasty beasts out there right now that are worth nothing more than the gov't money.

I am still wondering what kind of cow this latest one was.

Is it negative?

[blackjack]

...as far as i know silverback... cattle have never been tested at a packing plant...the packers and cattle associations did not want to take the chance of a positive sample showing up at the plant cause of the lack of slaughtering capacity...hence the on farm testing...

...this last case of bse according to a report in the western producer came from a 400 head dairy farm...

[grassfarmer]

Interesting to hear the price difference Kato, yet another example of "free enterprise" Alberta subsidising their producers at a higher rate than their "leftist, welfare loving" neighbours in Sask and Manitoba!Still, as long as the rednecks think they are free enterprise operators as they cash the Gov. cheques the "Alberta advantage" illusion goes on.

Cowman: "The other thing that was good about the Alberta government system of paying $225/animal was it stopped all the scoundrels from paying 10 cents a pound for cows? Now they either pay a floor price or old bossy goes into the program and the coyotes get a free meal!" I think you are describing a program we might have had (The Scott Lees/Bob Church plan) rather than the one we actually have. Plenty of cows have made 10 cents or less as the current plan does not by any means fix a base price. Vets in my experience do not put down things that are not in really poor shape to collect the $225.
Maybe you haven't sold any cows in the last couple of years?

[cowman]

No I haven't sold any cows in the last two years...well one open fat cow and she brought about 27 cents I believe.
However a neighbor did have 5 head put down on the farm and got paid $225 for them? One was only 4 years old and had hurt her hip slipping on the ice!
Had another neighbor who had a four year old bull who threw his stifle out. Took him to the mart and after expenses got $19.00! The vet told him later he should have put him down and he could have got the program money?
At first I thought the vets were playing pretty loose with the rules by taking younger animals but after this latest under age BSE cow I guess they weren't?
As far as Alberta paying $225 compared to $75 why is that a bad thing? Animal health is important and if it takes $225 to get the samples, then thats what it takes? Look at the numbers this program has counted up...look at the results? I guess it accomplished the job?