News Update

NEWS
June 19, 2006

Japan to decide this week on U.S. beef imports

Japan plans to decide this week on when to remove a ban on U.S. beef imports imposed over fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, www.meatingplace.com reported today.

"We want to show a sense of direction next week. By taking into account the various opinions that have been exchanged, we are going to take the next step," Agriculture Minister Shoichi Nakagawa told reporters Friday.

He said his ministry will develop measures to ensure safety, such as a potential dispatch of Japanese inspectors to U.S. meatpackers.

Meanwhile, consumer groups have expressed opposition during public hearings, saying there were not enough safety guarantees to ensure U.S. cattle are free of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Japan agency mulls safety checks on beef imports

Japan's Food Safety Commission is considering implementing safety inspections for beef imported from outside North America — essentially regions for which it does not assess risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Friday, according to www.meatingplace.com.

As a general rule, Japan allows beef imports only from countries where BSE has not been discovered. Imports have been growing from countries such as Mexico, Chile and China since Japan first banned U.S. and Canadian beef in 2003. However, the commission believes that the safety of such imports hasn't been sufficiently confirmed.

More than 90% of Japan's beef imports currently derive from Australia and New Zealand.

Early weaning for drought relief

With the dog days of summer comes the return of drought concerns in many parts of the country, www.drovers.com reports.

One management tool for drought-stricken producers to consider is early weaning. Kansas State University Extension Specialists Dale Blasi and Twig Marston note that many producers do not realize they can wean calves more than 90 days old or greater than 200 pounds with minimal complications.

Calves that are fed balanced rations in drylot will weigh similarly to mother-reared calves throughout their lifetime. The specialists offer these points to consider in early weaning decisions:

Early weaned cow-calf pairs consume approximately 25% less feed than normally weaned pairs.
Calf performance is not compromised.
Dry, early gestation beef cows require only 60% of the energy and 50% of the protein of lactating cows.
Dry cows will consume 30% less forage than lactating cows.
It is more efficient to feed calves directly than to feed cows to sustain milk production.
It is much cheaper to maintain or regain cow body condition during the summer and fall months than to attempt to increase cow weights during the winter and spring months. By avoiding thin cows, suboptimal reproductive rates will be avoided.
Dry cows require 60% less water than lactating cows.
Young cows (first and second lactation) are the ideal candidates for early weaning. This is because of their additional requirements for growth besides maintenance and lactation.

— compiled by Micky Wilson, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.