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Because BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) was recently identified in one animal in Northern Canada, the disease has again gained attention from the U.S. news media. They usually refer to BSE as “mad cow disease” and are asking if the disease is in the United States, or “could this happen here”? The U.S. meat industry has a "triple firewall strategy" in place against BSE, which includes: 1) import controls; 2) surveillance; and 3) feeding controls. As cattle producers, we are directly a part of the feeding controls. This disease does not pass from one live animal to the next. However the disease can be spread when a ruminant animal consumes feed that contains protein tissue from another ruminant animal that was infected. Therefore in 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enacted a ban on feeding most mammalian protein to cattle and other ruminants. It is important that all segments of the livestock industry are aware of the regulation and that each and every producer do their part to insure that BSE never becomes a problem in the United States of America. Because of the outbreak of BSE in Europe several years ago, major U.S. purchasers of beef products (ranging from fast food outlets to upscale steak restaurants) require documentation from their beef suppliers of compliance with the ban and the FDA requirements for violative drug residue avoidance. This request for documentation began April 1, 2001. Packers are required to verify that cattle entering their plants have been fed and treated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Cow/calf producers, stocker operators, feedlots, and dairies are all suppliers of product to the packing industry. Therefore, verification of compliance with the ban on feeding specified mammalian proteins to ruminants and proper use of animal health products is required of producers from each industry segment. As a result, some livestock marketing facilities have asked for and kept on file documentation from cattle producers stating that their livestock have not been fed any banned feedstuffs and are free of violative drug residues. Livestock market operators realize that this effort involves considerable work and inconvenience to the livestock dealers, cattle producers, and to themselves. However, this is necessary to maintain a market for our product, and do our part to reinforce the consumers’ confidence in the nation’s beef supply. How do I know if I am in compliance? First and foremost, never feed ruminant derived protein products to other ruminants. Examples of ruminants include, but are not limited to: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, deer, elk, and antelopes. It is suggested that producers have written documentation from their feed suppliers that the premixes, supplements and complete feeds they buy are free of prohibited materials. Read and follow all label instructions that accompany purchased feedstuffs and do not feed products labeled with the caution statement: “Do not feed to cattle or other ruminants”. Furthermore, read and follow all label instructions on animal health and production-promoting products, following precisely all recommended applications and withdrawal times. Careful records of animal identification, treatments, and feedstuffs should be maintained. Records about calves and yearlings that are to be sold should be kept for a minimum of two years. In the case of the animals that are known to be potential replacement livestock, plan to keep their records for the lifetime of the animal. This should help meet the documentation requirements of the pending “Country of Origin Labeling” legislation. For more information on best management practices for livestock contact the Cooperative Extension Service Office in your county. A detailed newsrelease about the current situation in Canada from the
Oklahoma Beef Industry Information Coalition is available at:
More details regarding the current situation in Canada and Country of Origin Labeling are available at: http://agecon.okstate.edu/livestock More details regarding BSE are available at: http://www.bseinfo.org/
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