The discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was not what Eric Davis ordered for Christmas.
And it’s is one gift the president of the American based National Cattlemen’s Beef Association cannot return.
“This was not how I wanted to end my term as president of NCBA,” said Davis.
The cow-calf and feedlot operator from Bruneau, Idaho, was not interested in finger pointing even though it is speculated the positive Holstein cow may have been imported from Canada to a dairy in Washington state.
“The facts will still be our friends. They may not tell us what we want to hear but we can only follow the science of this disease as we know it,” Davis said.
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However, his organization, which represents the majority of American beef producers, called for the United States Department of Agriculture to immediately suspend any further consideration of rules to allow live Canadian cattle or beef products to enter the U.S. until the investigation is finished. The deadline for comments closed Jan. 5 without an anticipated extension.
The Montana Stockgrowers Association had also asked to extend the ban, citing animal health and consumer food safety concerns.
“We continue to support decisions regarding the border be based on sound science, but with a likely second case of this dreaded disease in Canada, it is time for USDA to step up and represent and protect the U.S. livestock industry,” said John Swanz, a rancher and president of MSGA.
The stockgrowers’ letter to Veneman said, “While we value Canada as a trading partner, we cannot allow this issue to bring devastation to our industry when it may clearly be a Canadian problem and USDA needs to be looking out for the interests of the U.S. cattle industry.”
Ron DeHaven, chief veterinarian for the USDA, told reporters Jan. 5 the comment period could be reopened.
“I think one thing would be for certain is that we would not make any determination in terms of a final rule without giving all due consideration to the new situation coming to light because of the find of this positive cow in the state of Washington.”
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is continuing to work on reopening the U.S. border, saying a second diagnosis of BSE in Canada would not change this country’s status as a minimal risk country because it has all proper precautions in place.
Canada argues rules set by the international animal health body recognize that meat can be safely traded from countries that have identified cases of BSE.
