News Update

News Update
May 4, 2007

Canada Confirms Another BSE Case

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed late Wednesday the diagnosis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a mature dairy cow from British Columbia.

According to CFIA, no part of the animal entered the human food or animal feed systems, and the agency now has control of the carcass. Preliminary information suggests the animal was 66 months of age and was exposed to a small amount of infective material, most likely during its first year.

Investigators are now trying to identify the animal’s herdmates at the time of birth and the potential pathways by which it might have become infected, CFIA reports.

Canada Beef Export Federation (CBEF) President Ted Haney told Meatingplace.com the finding could delay the reopening of the Taiwan market, which was expected to take place by late May.

According to CFIA, Canada is planning to implement an enhanced feed ban, expected to take effect July 12. The ban is supposed to prevent more than 99% of potential BSE infectivity from entering the country’s feed system, agency officials note.

Order Black Books now

Now is the time to place your order for the 2008 Beef Record Service (BRS)/AngusSource® Black Books. The pocket-sized books include a 2008 calendar, as well as space to keep management records on your cow herd.

The books make a great promotional tool or gift for commercial bull buyers. You can custom-order your books for $2.50 each, which includes your operation’s logo and contact information foil-stamped onto the back cover. Custom orders require a 100-book minimum order. Smaller quantities with the Association’s logo on the back cover are available for $2.50 each.

BioZyme, through the Angus Foundation, is a major partner in the production of these books, and a VitaFerm® ad will appear on the inside front cover, which reduces book costs to producers. Custom orders must be placed by July 15.

To place orders, contact the Association and ask for Kristin Toll or send e-mail to ktoll@angus.org, the BRS/AngusSource Black Book representative. Books will be shipped to you by Nov. 15 — just in time to distribute to your customers during the fall marketing and holiday seasons.

NJAS Newspaper Positions Available

National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members between the ages of 14 and 21 who are talented writers, editors, proofers, graphic designers, photographers, cartoonists, puzzle wizards, humorous columnists, sales people and managers are encouraged to apply for staff positions on the first-ever National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) Daily Newspaper.

Do you already have experience on your school newspaper staff? Or are you just getting started in journalism and creative work and want to learn more? Not coming to Tulsa? That’s A-OK! There are also positions for “correspondents in the field.”

Visit www.njas.info and click on the “Help Wanted” icon to download the staff application. Your “Daily News” staff application must be sent by mail and postmarked by May 15.

Applications can be mailed to Julie McMahon French, 1262 Van Dyke, Beaverton, MI 48612. For any further questions, contact French at 989-435-2599 or juliefrench@nethawk.com.

Science Group Endorses FDA Assessment on Livestock Cloning

A sign-up letter distributed by the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) garnered the signatures of more than 200 scientists supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) draft risk assessment on the safety of food from cloned animals and their offspring.

According to FASS, the document states that “We support and agree with the FDA’s conclusion as stated in the science-based draft risk assessment that edible products from healthy cloned animals and progeny of cloned animals pose no additional food consumption risks relative to corresponding products from other animals.”

The full text and list of signers can be found at www.fass.org/DefendScience.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.