Some Preparation Is Vital in Today's World
Steve Dittmer | AFF Sentinel
Colorado Springs, CO
Originally sent to subscribers 02/15/24
Perhaps nothing illustrates the cattle industry’s vulnerability to foreign animal disease than the hordes of people arriving on foot from dozens and dozens of countries from around the world. The chance of none of them coming from countries that have foot-and-mouth disease, for one, is essentially zero.
From a national security standpoint, hundreds of thousands of people from we know not where with unknown intentions is mindboggling. Whether accidental introduction of animal disease, military weapons of conventional nature or biological weapons -- we cannot rely on our federal government alone to protect our industry. We need to do whatever we can to protect ourselves.
Arizona rancher Jim Chilton recently described to a Congressional subcommittee how Mexican cattle have crossed over into his pastures through gaps in the border wall or no wall areas. Fences and barriers that he has reinforced and bolstered have been cut and breached all the time by cartels and border crossers and the cattle come through the gaps left behind.
The bank of vaccines for FMD is one thing forward-thinking people have already done and continue to pursue. But vaccinating or eliminating animals cannot be done to stop the spread of any disease unless we know when it happens, where and which animals. And we’ve already had a demonstration of what it’s like when commerce and an economy is shut down. We cannot afford anything like that for the beef industry for very long.
The $10 billion in annual export sales that we could lose some portion of overnight for an unknown period of time ($425+ for every fed steer and heifer) is critical. In addition, losing the value-added exports would flood the domestic market with supply and drive down prices for producers all the way back to the ranch or farm. The effects extend from muscle cuts and variety meats to hide values (USMEF and USDA data).
It should also be noted that the porous border and huge numbers of border crossers have not escaped the notice of the world. We need to have a thorough animal disease traceability (ADT) system in this country before our export customers consider us an animal disease risk. Some of our export competitors already have traceability systems in place, some for many years.
USDA and APHIS are planning on finalizing a Rule to deal with an ADT system.
Step by step, the cattlemen and cattlewomen of NCBA are inching forward towards supporting a program that provides the protection and response tools the industry needs in a chaotic and unpredictable world.
The NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well Being Committee was one of the most attended and interesting meetings of the recent convention.
At least ten state cattlemen’s associations submitted a resolution to the committee. A thorough discussion of what the resolution actually called for was helpful, as scuttlebutt and misinformation around the country had confused the issue for some folks. The aims of the group were to keep as many things under industry control as possible, utilize USDA’s capabilities and authorities where necessary and keep the practical hassles and costs to a minimum.
The resolution has a long list of recommendations but key points include keeping cattle ID information confidential; utilizing low-cost tagging devices and readers supplied by federal and state government funds where possible; operation at the speed of commerce; non-interference with state brand activities and allowance for cattle movement between adjoining states on pasture-to-pasture permits, at the discretion of the involved state animal health officials.
In addition, the resolution supports electronic devices on interstate movement of intact cattle older than 18 months, show and rodeo cattle and dairy cattle. It also supports a private, industry-managed, non-governmental Independent Database Collaborator to handle the data for animal ID number, time, date and location. The system must coordinate with the USDA’s Animal Health Event Repository and follow a defined process for animal health officials to interact with the Independent Database Collaborator in the event of a disease event of national significance.
NCBA now has updated committee and board guidance in place, ready for the issuing of USDA’s Final Rule.
This issue has been debated and discussed for years. While some have not wanted to deal with any hassle or any cost involved with an animal disease traceability system, the risks and potential costs to the industry have become unfathomable.
Domestic demand is obviously at stake. Today’s consumers are more easily spooked than ever. Exports are now 10-15 percent of our production, with foreign retail and foodservice customers having little knowledge of our production systems or food safety precautions.
There is such a thing as the cost of doing business, the price of admission to a market system.
And the cost of losing the market and your business.
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