I just got a pamphlet in the mail about eradicating scrapie in sheep by 2010. All sheep will have to have ear tags (from your friendly govt official) and be tested for scrapie (at a cost that probably exceeds what you will get for selling the sheep).

Sheep prices are HALF what they were a year ago (and that wasn't a wonderful price then) and our govt is seriously considering the case of New Zealand complaining about limits on their imports into this country. We can't sell the sheep we have here for a decent price.

Thank goodness, DD sold all of her sheep this year. They are trying to implement this on the goats too and I will get rid of my last 3 goats if I have to pay for this god-awful testing that isn't even on the market yet.

Here are some links.

National Institute for Animal Agriculture USDA

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Answers

Has scrapie really been a problem? I agree: this smells.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Plan to cull all sheep if BSE is found

ALL Britain's 40 million sheep may have to be killed if BSE is found in the national flock, the Government will announce today.

http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$IDB0FLAAAGOGBQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2001/09/28/nbse28.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/09/28/ixhome.html

http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=743906&messageid=7582

Hi Beckie,
This is the latest out of the UK.. People are seriously thinking the gov will do it..more bogus bullshit science is the consensus.... Right now the gov is just floating the idea out.. but given what they've already done with F&M, the remaining folks are taking it as serious indication of gov intent

All the Best

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Hi Beckie,

this is some earlier info of a meeting on rendering changes in Canada.. Got this info from a friend who is on an animal producer association..

Agenda – Rendering Industry Issues Meeting – July 9, 2001
Oakwood A Room, Holiday Inn – Guelph, 601 Scottsdale Drive 1300-1600
Purpose
The purpose of the meeting will be to review the time lines associated with forthcoming changes to the rendering industry; identify all significant issues; review viewpoints of various stakeholders; examine possible solutions; and make recommendations. A wide range of stakeholders that may be affected by the changes will be invited. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to make their views known and make suggestions as to possible solutions.
Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Review of issues and identification of new ones
3. Review of legislation
4. (Brief) overview from each stakeholder present
5. Discussion on Disposal Options
 Composting
 Burial
 “Class One” rendering
 Other methods
6. Actions and Recommendations
*A presentation on composting by Dr. Jim Morris is planned

Discussion Paper – Rendering Issues Meeting – June 20, 2001
Prepared by Robert Vanderwoude
Food Inspection Branch, OMAFRA
As a result of a major carbadox recall in Quebec in the fall of 2000, and amid increasing concerns about Foot and Mouth Disease, BSE, Scrapie and Chronic Wasting Disease, there is an increased scrutiny on the quality and safety of rendered products being used in animal feed and pet food manufacture. The rendering industry is moving to identify their high-risk products and eliminate them from the rendering stream in an effort to reduce liability as well as maintain access to markets. Deer, elk, antelope and zoo animals were added to the current list of non-rendering materials of companion animals, sheep, lamb heads, mink and goats. As well, any animals that have been treated with Sulfamethazine (an anti-microbial agent) within 14 days prior to death will not be accepted for rendering materials. One major rendering company has also added carbadox treated animals to material that won’t be accepted.

In May of 2001, Rothsay, Canada's largest rendering company, sent a letter to deadstock collectors advising them that these changes would be occurring within four to six weeks. In addition, collectors would have to sign a document indicating that they accepted these requirements. Deadstock collectors began advising their clients of the new requirements and are requiring their own certification. The next phase of the new policy would include both provincially licensed abattoirs and federally registered establishments. These would be advised starting in June and have approximately four to six weeks to put measures in place to meet the new requirements. The final phase would include small butcher shops in the fall of 2001. These requirements are being applied nationally.
Issues identified include:
 Disposal of animals treated with Sulfamethazine within 14 days of slaughter or death, as they cannot enter the human food chain, nor the rendering system.
 Approximately 100 metric tonnes of product per week would no longer be accepted for rendering within Ontario, which may be underestimated.
 Segregation of "high-risk" product no longer accepted for rendering at abattoirs and for deadstock collection. Alternate disposal will have to be arranged and paid for.
 Liability issues raised by veterinarians and deadstock collectors.
 Disposal of offal from slaughter of sheep, goats, deer and elk. This will be an added expense.
 Disposal of free-roaming deer accidentally killed in motor vehicle accidents.
 Disposal options for farm-raised deer, elk, and to a lesser extent, sheep and goats. Lamb carcasses may be added to this list.
 Impact of change in rendering requirements on other legal (on-farm burial, composting) and illegal (improper disposal) options for dealing with on-farm mortalities.
 Disposal of offal from large numbers of hunted game dressed in abattoirs and butcher shops each year.

To resolve these issues, the provinces and Canada in general will need to move toward a system where abattoir wastes and on-farm mortalities are increasingly treated as wastes rather than recyclable materials.
Long-term solutions may include centralized composting, incineration facilities and “Class One” rendering..
The time frames involved are very tight (August 2001?). Both livestock producers and abattoirs must find ways to dispose of carcasses and materials that may no longer go to rendering. Regulatory agencies must ensure this material is disposed of in a satisfactory manner.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

U.S. Issues Declaration of Emergency for Mad Cow Disease

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/newthread.php?action=newthread&forumid=9&s=975bf3c3ddfe62889510625378692aac

Folks .. this is shaping up over here.. very similar to in over in the UK... We are for various "health' related reasons..going to put our livestock business, out of business, i think..

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001