[Jacob-list] New USDA mandatory program

[Neal and Louise Grose]

First, we need to keep in mind that the Federal government recently couldn't find a #$%^& hurricane with a load of ice. Also, there is not likely to be a lot of money approved for this program. It has been opposed by the American Beef Cattle Association. Speaking of corporate ag... this program has been opposed by ranchers out west, and been supported by small beef operations in the Southeast. The people for the Certified Angus Beef program are already doing much of what is required to comply.

Smaller dairy operations have greeted this with a big yawn. Most of them tend to be registered and already comply.

The original program was sidetracked when some wise soul pointed out that chickens did not often have ears to tag.

We need to keep in mind that small farms are just as likely to be vectors in the spread of Avian Influenza and Foot and Mouth disease as are large ones. This is the spark that has accelerated the move toward universal ID.

We need to be aware of what is going on and not over-react. At the same time, we need to be able to counter offer ways to insure that things are handled reasonably. Premise ID is important and reasonable. Tagging all animals at birth is reasonable. Instant messaging of health of animals is NOT. In fact, i suspect that the state vet office would not be happy if we all voluntarily began to call everytime a sheep got sick. Hmm...

Some people from PETA have threatened to bring Foot and Mouth Disease in and contaminate large cattle operations.

Under the original guidelines for reacting to a F&M outbreak, all domestic stock in a 10 mile radius would have to be killed, and all livestock movement in a twenty mile radius would be quarantined, and all livestock movement in the state would stop, including milk, feed and meat sales. I pointed out that it would make more sense to immediately start a feral deer eradication program. NC Ag is working toward a more sensible program of limited reaction and recovery.

Neal Grose
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Hobsickle at aol.com 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 10:33 AM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] New USDA mandatory program 


  Neil wrote: "It should not be much beyond what is currently required for the 
  scrapie program."

  It's the word should that bothers me.  I just checked the official web site (http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/newsroom/index.shtml) and looked briefly at the draft standards (dated 04/25/05)  and I don't see anything simple or unobtrusive.  

  -Dan


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