Mad Cow Disease in the U.S. (Please keep me posted)

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Received two separate notices there are reports of at least one herd of cattle in Texas being suspect of having Mad Cow Disease. As a cattle farmer, this is an issue of very, very much importance to me. If you see or hear anything on this, I would appreciate your notifying me with as many facts as possible.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 25, 2001

Answers

Ken. I went to Yahoo News and did a search w/ Mad Cow Disease and got a return of 121 stories. The first 20 were all dated today. I didn't look in depth as I wanted to get this to you. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), January 25, 2001.

While not reports of Mad Cow disease (BSE), there have been reports of wild deer and elk with the related disease, CWD in both Colorado and now Nebraska. It is not known at this time whether these wild animals were infected by eating feeds containing infected animals, or whether there is another means of transmission (that possible OTHER MEANS of transmission is, of course, of concern to anyone who raises or eats ruminants. Fortunately, I read today that there is a test now for BSE. That will hopefully help a lot of us who are trying to keep herds clean and safe to eat. Hopefully there will be something RELIABLE for sheep before too long (not holding my breath on that one).

HTH,

Gloria in IL

-- Gloria in IL (spamcatchersmitt@yahoo.com), January 26, 2001.


Hi Ken,

What has happened in Texas is a breech of the BSE protection guide lines. Animal feeds for cattle are no longer allowed to contain ruminant-aniimal byproducts- bone meal etc. The FDA placed this order so that if (IF) BSE shows up on our continent it wont have the chance to spread this way. What happened is, feed companies and mills are having a hard time following the new guidelines... it is expensive. Some are plain not following it. So, random testing shows that these Texas cattle were fed bone meal. No chance that is was contaminated, since we don't have BSE in cattle here, but it is a breach of rules. I agree, now is the time to crack down on the safeguards, not after the problem arises. So, hit the farmers, and they in turn will hit the mills... forcing action. Make sence?

-- Marci B. (daleb@kent.net), January 26, 2001.


Dispite FDA rules, 37 tons of meat and bone meal were imported from the UK in 1997 - when their mad cow scare was at a peak. No one seems to know what happened to it. Apparently a single pinon can trigger MCD or CJD in a susceptible mammal, which includes mankind.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 26, 2001.

The post on this forum titled "BioDemocracy News #31(American Food Safety Crisis)" may be of some related interest...

-- William in WI (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), January 26, 2001.


As reported. Believe what you will. On our news last night (I live in Texas) was an interview with the rancher whose cattle got the bone meal feed. He noticed the different feed after feeding part of his herd. Those 1,000 cattle are quarantined away from the rest of the herd. The bone meal came from the U.S. It was not imported. The 'bad' feed was picked up from the place the rancher got it from, Purina Mills Feed Mill. The FDA is testing the feed, results next week.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 28, 2001.

We also had this on the evening news with the Purina spokesman saying that they had turned theirselves in to the FDA for this mixing error. So.....just goes to show you that what we were saying was correct, bone and bloodmeal IS used in mills all over the US. Look how many folks on this forum alone, tell us that their goats love laying mash for chickens, and how many folks use rabbitt pellets as a cheaper form of alfalfa pellets! We are just sitting here waiting for the next shoe to drop in the US. Until we ban fully any milling of bone and blood meal, and all forms of offal! Who really wants to have their homegrown hogs, eating dead sheep carcassas, or your hens eating dead chicken carcassas and ground up chicken feathers! Makes you look very differently at your ham and eggs this morning for breakfast! Horses are also single stomached animals who don't fall under the guidelines of the rumenint, yet horses are exported by the thousands to other countries for human consumption, this is very dramatically told on a PETA tape I watched one day. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 28, 2001.

Don't forget about dog food, which many homestead goats and cows like to munch on...

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 28, 2001.

BOVINE FEED CONTAMINATION? - USA (TEXAS): NOT BSE Jan. 26 2001 proMED Date: 26 Jan 01 From: Texas Animal Health Commission Advisory Regarding Possible Feed Contamination During the past 48 hours, the media has focused on a situation in Texas regarding a possible feed contamination issue. We are taking this opportunity to advise you of the facts surrounding this situation, in order to avert undue concern: According to reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about a week ago, some cattle in a Texas feedlot may have consumed some feed [of US origin] containing mammalian protein (meat and bone meal). Since l997, the FDA has banned mammalian protein in feed for ruminants (multi-stomached animals), such as cattle. The error was noted within hours and was reported by the feed manufacturer to the FDA. The use of the lot of feed in question was suspended and the feedlot is voluntarily holding the cattle on site. The FDA is analyzing samples of the feed. The feed analysis should be complete by Monday evening, 29 Jan 2001, at which time the FDA will evaluate the next step regarding these animals. FDA officials expect to make a decision regarding the animals by 31 Jan.2001. Some salient points: This is not a disease situation. The FDA is determining if mammalian protein is contained in this feed. (The meat and bone meal, if present, was derived from US-origin animals.) *This situation is NOT a disease issue. It is a possible contaminated, or adulterated, feed occurrence and is under the jurisdiction of the FDA. The US does not have BSE, and the ban on feeding mammalian protein to ruminants is a preemptive precaution. The FDA has not released the name of the feed company or the feedlot and its location. Please refer interested parties to Mr. Lawrence Bachorik, at the Food and Drug Administration, which is in charge of this situation. Mr. Bachorik's number is 1-301-827-6250.

-- Rick. M. (bovines@connect.ab.ca), January 29, 2001.

They don't want to cause "undue concern" and the cattle "may" have eaten the feed fed to them? Purina is going to go on the national news admitting to mixing and delivering this feed, then quarantine 1500 cattle, because they had nothing else to do that day? This is very simply a wake up folks.

Several months back Ken was saying that he thought that bone and bloodmeal were completely banned from any animal feeding. I knew better after fighting the mills here for years for a custom mix. Now we know differently, and also remember that all animal feeds are mixed in the same mixers, which are not cleaned out between batches of feeds. Oh they may run some corn between medications! You buying that corn? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 29, 2001.



EU farm ministers told mad cow crisis worse than thought

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/frame/direct.asp? SITE=sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/world/afp/article.html? s=singapore/headlines/010130/world/afp/EU_farm_ministers_told_mad_cow_ crisis_worse_than_thought.html

and

Farm Groups Aim for Full Mad-Cow Rule Compliance

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/frame/direct.asp? SITE=dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010129/sc/madcow_usa_dc_4.html

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), January 30, 2001.


Texas BSE Cattle

The FDA has come down with their decision on the 1200 cattle in Texas who are in quarantine for eating suspicious feed. The feed contained traces of banned feed. The FDA says each cow got 1/4 ounce of the feed and it's not a threat. The rancher bought the feed from Purina Mills Feed Mill, and Purina is going to purchase all the cattle to keep it out of the food chain.

So that's the story. Now just what do you think Purina is gonna do with all that beef? What do ya wanna bet that our small critters are gonna be eating it! This case happened to make the news, but how many other manufacturers are doing the same thing!

~Rogo South Central Texas

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 30, 2001.


From a publicity standpoint I see no option for Purina Mills to do anything other than sending these 1,222 head straight to the incinerator.

The FDA rule said only MBM from ruminants could not be put into feed intended for ruminants. It can still be added to feed intended for non-ruminants (horses, hogs, chickens, rabbits, etc.), but it had to be labeled Do Not Feed to Ruminants. Stung by the publicity, Purina Mills said they would stop adding MBM to any of their feeds. However, their largest competitor, Cargill, has not taken such as step. Then there are over 1,000 independent feed mills.

By the way, in Germany sales of beef are down 30% without a lot of hope of any immediate recovery. At some places diners have switched to imported emu, ostrich, croc. and kangaroo meat from Australia.

I don't think now is a good time to be investing in any stocks related to the direct retailing of beef.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 31, 2001.


Ken, There are no cattle in Texas or elsewhere in North America suspected of having mad cow disease. The media loves to get hold of a story like this and run with it for all they are worth. The "facts" they print are not necessarily the truth. Sensationalism sells. As a cattleman, why are you shooting yourself in the foot by spreading rumors?

-- Rick M. (bovines@connect.ab.ca), January 31, 2001.

Rick M....did you see the interview with the rancher who owns the cattle?

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.


Just thought I would look at this from a common sense point of view. First of all, how did it come to light that there was contaminated food? I would think that this one farmer had to have noticed it and complained otherwise, how would Purina know who got the tainted food unless they put out a bulletin announcing the problem and asking possible purchasers to come forward. Now, what are the chances that only this one farmer bought tainted food. Slim to none is my guess. This processing plant supposedly mixed up their stuff and put ingredients intended for non-ruminents into the mix. So they only did it for this one farmer? Not likely. But, luckily for them, no one else was paying close enough attention to what their cows were eating to question what was in it. I would bet anything that if they went around and retrieved food from other farmers who bought food from that processor they would find the same thing. But Purina isn't offering to do that and no one is forcing them to. So they will pretend that somehow this farmer was the only one affected. Now, let's continue this common sense line. Who's advantage is it to control this? Purina's of course, cattle farmers as well because if a panic starts beef purchases will plummet. And obviously the government doesn't want it to go anywhere for the same reasons. So now we know that all of the parties involved have a reason to downplay and hide facts. Hmmmm. Hubby and I have decided, as always you can't rely on the government to protect you. We are no longer going to eat beef unless we know the person who raised it and are confident that they know what they are feeding their cattle. And, we are pursuing doing that with everything we consume by raising all of our own veggies, including during the winter in our greenhouse, and raising chickens for eggs. I can't raise an animal and then kill it (I know I am a whimp) so we will have to pay others to do that for us but if they are doing it responsibly I would just as soon give them our money. We feel that we have no other choice.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 01, 2001.

Colleen:

From news reports the Purina Mill involved contacted the FDA as soon as they realized the mistake. The cost to them to buy and dispose of these 1,222 head of cattle is likely to approach $1 million, even disregarding the negative publicity it generated for them.

I think totally home-grown food is a great ideal. Unfortunately, I have don't have the inclination to do so as a family of one.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 01, 2001.


Colleen: Tainted is assuming that it has BSE contamination which has not been proven at all. If you take your logic and run it through again it could mean, Everyone loses in the long run!!! In Michigan we can tell you about the feds and how fast they jump on something. Try to move cattle or goats out of this state because T.B. was found in a couple of herds up north. Cover up conspiracy theories are keeping this country in turmoil in many areas. We sure don't need this. When you have a media frensy like we do, you can rest assure that if there is a coverup it will come to the surface FAST. (and it won't be the underground press that will do it either)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

There's more of a frenzy here in the U.S. than there is over in England where this mess started! I have friends across the pond, and they haven't been concerned about the few cases of mad cow that they've had. They say they're more concerned that their government will allow U.S. beef to be imported there. They're more afraid of the hormone implanted beef we have.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 02, 2001.

Re: The 1200 cattle in quarantine for possible BSE in Texas.

Heard this report on the radio from one of the Ag officers:

The feed WAS imported. Purina Mills had stored the feed back when it was banned. How do you get rid of banned feed? Can't put it in the land fills. Sooooo, you 'accidently' put it in some cattle feed, call the FDA about the mishap, and then it becomes the FDA's problem to dispose of.

Feedlot cattle are too young to show signs of BSE. It doesn't show up until they're about 3 years old.

There is a company here that has been fined twice for mixing dog food with animal by-products in with the sheep feed for the sheep ranch customers.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.


Received this today.. Vicki

This is scary stuff.....especially since the DPT vaccine is mandated by law.

From an article in the "Milkweed" column by Pete Hardin in the March issue of the Michigan Farm & Country Journal.

"Pharmaceutical companies have been manufacturing human vaccines from cows' blood sourced from nations known to harbor BSE or Mad Cow disease"

"Vaccines included are diptheria, pertussis, typhoid (DPT)..... .....Hepatitis A, anthrax, flu, polio, etc...."

The following is the link to the FDA website discussing this.

http://www.fda.gov/cber/bse/bse.htm

=========

And in regards to imported milk solids and MPC's from Europe:

"....the size of the BSE prion would cause it to remain with the milk solids when the water is "filtered" out. Also, heating causes prions to multiply"

MPC's are being imported illegally and used in such foods as:

Kraft Cheeses Frito Lay chip dip Slim Fast Dr. Atkins diet products

MPC's have no "standard of identity" with the FDA.

They are not GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA.

It is illegal to use MPC's to make cheese, that's why you see many of the products these are used in very carefully labeled to resemble cheese but not to claim to be cheese.

Yet last year the large food conglomerates imported 150 million lbs of this stuff and used it to make "food".

======

Folks this magazine may be the best bargain in the US for farm related issues, they cover stuff you never read about elsewhere. They do extensive coverage of Organic farming, goats, sheep and alternative agriculture. All for $16 a year and you get a free classified ad for that price.

Farm & Country Journal PO Box 278 Imlay City, MI 48444 810-724-0254

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.


I forwarded the last post. I DID NOT WRITE THE LAST PARAGRAPH!!!!

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.

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