ONCE the immediate requirements to trace the origin of “cow one” and reopen the border are satisfied, Canada’s defence strategy against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, including its feed regulations, should be reviewed.
There is no explanation yet for how one Canadian cow got BSE, but the weight of scientific opinion is that the disease generally spreads through tainted feed. Accordingly, in 1997 Canada imposed a ban on feeding to ruminants any protein derived from ruminant mammals.
However, ruminant animal protein can be fed to non ruminants, such as pigs and chickens. And pig and chicken protein can be fed to ruminants.
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The ruminant feed restriction, coupled with a ban on imports of animals and feed from BSE countries and a random testing program, was considered a good, triple firewall against the disease. The system was reviewed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency last year. The similar American system was approved by a Harvard University risk assessment in 2001.
And in the real world, the system appears to have worked. While one infected cow turned up, testing up and down the chain of association has found no other cases. Human and animal health in Canada has been protected.
But the export ban since the BSE announcement has cost the industry millions of dollars per day. Individuals have lost herds, feedlots are warning of bankruptcy, thousands are laid off.
Given the devastation even one cow has caused, stricter BSE protection protocols may be warranted. The rendering and animal protein feed sector is one area that needs review.
Renderers play a vital role in the livestock industry. Only 50-60 percent percent of a cow or hog sent for slaughter winds up as meat. The rest, about 50 billion pounds per year in North America, goes to renderers.
They process the byproduct into industrial and consumer products and economical high protein animal feed. The revenue helps packers pay for cattle. Without renderers, this mountain of material would have to be put in landfills, burned or otherwise disposed.
Renderers also economically dispose of animals unsuitable for slaughter due to disease or injury. If not rendered, disposal would pose an environmental and health risk.
Without doubt, a healthy rendering industry is good for the livestock industry. But in light of our recent BSE experience, it is prudent to again look at which animals should be rendered, what material should be allowed into animal feed and what animals should be allowed to eat it.
The $30 billion a year Canadian cattle industry is more than 50 percent dependent on the whims of the export market. To guarantee access to that market, Canada should be, and be perceived to be, the safest producer of meat in the world.
