News Update
Jan. 6, 2010

Angus YouTube Channel Views Hit 100,000

The American Angus Association’s YouTube.com channel achieved a significant milestone this week, charting 102,000-plus video views since the page was introduced 17 months ago. More than 75% of those views have taken place during the last six months.

Currently, the video channel contains 120 videos — all of which were produced in-house by Association staff. Read more.

Joint Statement From USTR, USDA on Taiwan’s Actions to Restrict U.S. Beef Imports In Violation of Our Bilateral Agreement

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tuesday released a statement regarding the decision by Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to bar import of some U.S. beef and beef products. The following statement is from Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Demetrios Marantis and Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Jim Miller:

“We are deeply disappointed with the decision by Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to amend the Food Sanitation Act (FSA) to unjustifiably bar the import of certain U.S. beef and beef products.

“As we noted in our statement on December 29, the FSA amendment’s provisions do not have a basis in science and constitute a unilateral violation of a bilateral agreement concluded in good faith by the United States with Taiwan a little over two months ago. The protocol was negotiated on the basis of the guidelines laid out by the World Organization for Animal Health (the OIE), as well as the findings of Taiwan’s own risk assessment, which concluded that all U.S. beef and beef products are safe.

“The decision by Taiwan authorities to place domestic politics over science raises serious concerns. This action will also undermine Taiwan’s credibility as a responsible trading partner and will make it more challenging for us to conclude future agreements to expand and strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.

“The decision to violate our bilateral agreement is particularly disappointing, as the United States has long been one of Taiwan’s most important trade and investment partners, as well as the strongest supporter of Taiwan’s active participation in the global trading system, including its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). In light of the continuing importance of our bilateral economic relationship, we urge Taiwan to honor its commitments and to implement the beef protocol as negotiated.”

— Release provided by USDA News.

NCBA Announces Speaker Line-up for 2010 Cattle Industry Convention

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is pleased to announce the line-up of speakers for the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention. Christopher Gardner, author and inspiration for the 2006 film, The Pursuit of Happyness, will officially kick off the convention with keynote remarks at the opening general session, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. During the session, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Gardner will share an inspirational message, based upon his own life experiences, about the power of positive role models and overcoming obstacles through hard work and dedication.

“We’re thrilled with the line-up of speakers set to participate in this year’s cattle industry convention,” said Gary Voogt, NCBA president. “This diverse and knowledgeable group will help set the tone for a productive and engaging week ahead in San Antonio.”

Gardner is the head of the successful brokerage firm Gardner Rich LLC in Chicago, Ill. Just 20 years ago, Gardner was homeless and trying to support his son as a single parent. Gardner’s first book, The Pursuit of Happyness, chronicles his inspirational life story and serves as the basis for a blockbuster film by the same name starring Will Smith. Gardner currently volunteers with a number of programs serving the homeless. He also serves as a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative — which seeks to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed fathers.

The Policy Division Forum on Thursday, Jan. 28, will feature Edward Avalos, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA. Avalos provides leadership and oversight for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which addresses animal and plant pests and diseases; the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which provides standardization testing and marketing of commodities and specialty crops; and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), which promotes marketing of livestock, cereals and meats, as well as fair trade practices.

Thursday’s General Session II, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health, will feature an expert panel focusing on the future of the cattle industry. Panel members will include Paul Bennett, Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, Va.; Homer Buell, Shovel Dot Ranch, Bassett, Neb.; Dave Delaney, King Ranch, Kingsville, Texas; James Herring, Friona Industries, Amarillo, Texas; Wesley Batista, JBS, Greeley, Colo.; and Molly McAdams, H-E-B, San Antonio, Texas.

For more information on the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, visit www.beefusa.org/convregistration.aspx.

— Release provided by NCBA.

FASS Shares AVMA’s Concerns Regarding Pew Report on Industrial Farm Animal Production

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) has analyzed the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production’s report “Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America,” as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) response to the report. After a review by the FASS Scientific Advisory Committees, FASS agrees with AVMA that there are significant flaws in the Pew report.

As an organization dedicated to sound science as the foundation of any policy recommendations, FASS is concerned that the process utilized by the Pew Commission to ensure an unbiased work product was insufficient. As pointed out by the AVMA, the process for gaining scientific expertise in the technical reports was biased and did not incorporate the findings and suggestions of a significant number of participating scientists. This represents a fundamental problem in the way the report was constructed.

In addition to procedural deficiencies, there are substantive problems with many of the recommendations in the report. For example, the Pew report recommends restricting the use of antimicrobials in food animal production to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance to medically important antibiotics. Banning the use of antibiotics before science-based studies and risk-based evaluations are done to determine if there is an actual risk to human health would be detrimental to animal and human health. Additional research is needed to determine what, if any, policy changes to antibiotic use are appropriate.

In the area of animal welfare, the Pew report seems to assume that all intensive farming operations are inherently inhumane. It is possible to have good animal welfare in both small- and large-scale production systems and there are positive and negative trade-offs when choosing among different production systems. FASS also believes that housing type cannot be considered in isolation from other important factors that influence animal welfare, including management, feeding systems, environmental features, and animal type.

FASS encourages policymakers and other interested parties to consider both the Pew report and AVMA response when looking at policies for animal agriculture. FASS appreciates that both Pew and AVMA recognize the value of more research. It is important to maintain a continued dialogue on these issues and increase support for additional research in the area. Science must be the foundation as animal agriculture looks to the future.

— Release provided by FASS.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.