f
BSE Found In Washington State
CHARLENE M. SHUPP
ESPENSHADE
Lancaster Farming Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C.
USDA Agriculture Secretary
Ann Veneman announced Tues
day the confirmation of a positive
case of bovine spongiform en
cephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow
disease” in an adult Holstein cow
in Washington state.
As part of the USDA’s re
sponse plan, the farm has been
placed under quarantine. The
farm is located in Mabton, Wash,
about 40 miles southeast of Yaki
ma, Wash.
“Despite this finding, we re
main confident in the safety of
our beef supply,” said Veneman.
“The risk to human health from
BSE is extremely low.”
The cow was a “downer” cow
that was sent to Verns Moses
Lake Meats in Moses Lake,
Wash.
Samples were taken Dec. 9
from the suspected cow as part of
USDA’s targeted BSE surveil
lance system and sent to the
USDA’s National Veterinary
Services Laboratory in Ames,
lowa for testing. Positive results
were returned on Dec. 22 and
Dec. 23.
Samples have been flown by
military aircraft to the Central
Veterinary Lab at Weybridge,
England for confirmation. Vene
man said results will be known in
three to five days.
USD A has initiated a compre
hensive investigation working
with state, public health, and in
dustry counterparts to determine
the source of the disease. USD A
will also work with the Food and
Drug Administration as they con
duct an animal feed investiga
tion, the primary pathway for the
spread of BSE.
BSE is a progressive neurologi
cal disease among cattle that is
always fatal. It belongs to a fami
ly of diseases known as transmis
sible spongiform encephalopa
thies. BSE has been linked to
variant Creutzfeldt Disease
(vCJD) in humans, which is be
lieved to be caused by eating ani
mal tissue from BSE-infected cat
tle.
The U.S. has conducted a BSE
surveillance program since 1990.
“The safety of our food supply
and public health are high priori
ties of this administration and
high priorities of USDA. In the
A. Jonas King’s
9:00 A.M. Mule Sale 9:00 A.M
Sale held at Mel’s Stable, 834 Wallace Rd., New Holland, PA
2 DAY SALE
Jk Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Ml Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Location: From Route 23 in New Holland, take Brimmer Ave, South
approx. 2 miles to Hill Rd. Turn left to sale on left, OR from Intercourse,
take 340 East to New Holland Rd., turn left to Hill Rd , turn right to sale
on left
TUesday starting at 10 00 a.m we will be selling mares bred to jacks &
weanling mule colts 1
Wednesday starting at 9.00 a m we will be selling 2 yeai olds & mature
mules'
Already consigned '2O maies bred to a big jack from Terry Givens
i j ■*4o yearling mule colls fiom Terry Givens k i
JgL - 1 40 - 2 year olds from Teiry Givens
Approx. 500
W** Head of Mules
II you die looking to sell mates bred to lacks oi mule colls, please call
(717) 786-7990 at 8 (X) AM or (717) 354-6431' II you are looking toi good
big acclimated mules, don't miss these sales
Next Mule Sale; Wednesday. February 4, 2004
Terms by:
Jonas S. King and Mel Hoover
Cash or Honorable PA Checks Only
All Announcements Sale Day Take
Precedence Over All Advertising.
Not Responsible for Accidents
Food on Premises
jWf < Auctioneer: Mel Hoover ML
AU-003111-L m : T*'
D 717-354-8397 Home Business 717-354-6431 IT** s **.
last year we have tested 20,526
head of cattle for BSE, which is
triple the level of the previous
year of 2002. The presumptive
positive today is result of our ag
gressive surveillance program.
This is a clear indication that our
surveillance and detection pro
gram is working,” said Veneman.
National Cattle Beef Associa
tion (NCBA) commends USDA
for their vigilance in monitoring
the beef industry.
“NCBA has fully supported an
aggressive surveillance program
in the U.S. to assure that if BSE
were introduced it would be de
tected and eliminated. We ap
plaud the swift action taken by
the U.S. Department of Agricul
ture to announce the finding of
this possible case and its aggres
sive investigation of the circum
stances,” said Terry Stokes, chief
executive officer of NCBA. “The
U.S. cattle industry remains com
mitted to eliminating this disease
from North America. As such, we
will work closely with the USDA
to carry out a full investigation
and determine what additional
preventive measures, if any, need
to be taken to continue to protect
animal and public health.”
The Pennsylvania Beef Coun
cil also backs USDA’s handling
of the case. “Currently this is a
suspected case in one animal and
the USDA is aggressively investi
gating this case. The Pennsylva
nia Beef Council supports a full
investigation and the necessary
steps to eliminate this disease
from North America and protect
the health of U.S. cattle. Mean
while, consumers should continue
to eat beef with confidence,” said
Paul Slayton, executive director,
Pennsylvania Beef Council.
“While the one case of BSE in
Washington State is unfortunate,
systems have been built over the
past 15 years to prevent this dis
ease from spreading and affec
ting either animal health or pub
lic health. The dairy cow in
question was quickly identified
and the infectious agent con
tained, and the farm of origin has
been identified and quarantined
this proves that the system to
detect and eliminate BSE is effec
tive. The 2001 Harvard Universi
ty Center for Risk Assessment re
port concluded that ‘measures
taken by the U.S. government
and industry make the U.S. ro
bust against the spread of BSE to
animals or humans should it be
introduced in this country.'”
In response to the BSE finding,
the Washington-based meat
packing plant has implemented a
recall for beef produced on Dec.
9.
While USDA remains confi
dent in their findings and isola
tion of the disease, the fallout for
exported beef began hours after
confirmation. According to the
Associated Press, Australia,
Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia,
Russia, Singapore, South Korea,
and Taiwan took steps to sus
pend imports only a few house
after the U.S. government an
nounced their findings.
According to USDA statistics,
the countries that have enacted
bans on U.S. beef account for
more than 60 percent of Ameri
can beef exports this year. Japan
is the largest overseas market for
U.S. beef, with sales that totaled
$842 million in 2003, according
to the U.S. Meat Export Federa
tion.
In the U.S. beef markets, after
having a strong price in the fall,
are preparing for the impact BSE
could have on beef prices. Live
Cattle and Feeder Cattle Futures
closed at a loss of $1.50 across the
board at the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange. The markets ended
trading at 10:50 a.m. CST,
Wednesday. The U.S. Commodi
ty Futures Trading Commission
(CFTC) is monitoring the mar
kets.
James E. Newsome, chairman
of the U.S. Commodity Futures
Trading Commission said, “We
are aware of the USDA an
nouncement of a presumptive
positive test result for BSE in a
single Holstein cow on a farm in
Washington state. We have been
in close touch with the USDA,
the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association, and the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange ever since
that report.
“Any time there is an an
nouncement of this kind, it be
comes a market fundamental and
you expect markets to react to
fundamentals. We fully support
the CME’s decision to keep the
live and feeder cattle markets
open for business tomorrow and
Friday, so that they can fully pro
cess this fundamental informa
tion. Should there be excess vola
tility in the market, both cattle
contracts have daily price limits
in place to contain that vola
tility. And the commission
will be stepping up its surveil
lance of these markets over
the coming days to guard
against any activity of a po
tentially manipulative nature.
“In addition, it should be
noted that the cow involved
is not of the type that is deliv
erable on the CME’s live cat
tle contract. The Commission
and the Exchange will con
tinue to work closely together
to allow the markets to ab
sorb this event in as orderly a
fashion as possible.”
&J 3 PUBLIC AUCTION
~ Private Collection ~
Approx. 600 Winross
6 Trucks & Others
Sat., Jan. 17, 2004 • 9 a.m. |
H iuulk 1 ML Hall
:i 1 I Mmi Si I l"I ) I»\
\ppm\ h Milks I [si ill 1 MIL (1)1 Hi 2
Sale Imh : Joan Holtzapple
MILLER Si SIEGRIST AUCTIONEERS
(717) 687-6857 • AU-1723L
www. millersiegrist. com
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 27 2008-A37
PDCA Judging School Set
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The Pennsylvania Pure
bred Dairy Cattle Association
will conduct a judging school at
the Pennsylvania Farm Show
Saturday. Jan. 17.
Participants will have the op
portunity to judge many breeds
of cattle during the school. Regis
tration will begin at 8:30 a.m.,
with classes starting at 9 a.m.
The PDCA approved judges
list is sent to county extension of
fices and is available to local fair
boards for use in locating judges
for their shows. Participants, by
I
iddrc:
Phone
Make checks payable and send to
** Due b> January 5, 2004
I I
Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection
WASHINGTON. D C . Dec 19 - (USDA-NASS) - Total icd meat pio
duction undci tcdeial inspection loi the week ending Satuiday, Dec 20,
was estimated at 923 5 million lbs. accoulmg to the USDA's Agncultuial
Maikelmg Service This w'as 3 0 peiccnt higher than a week ago and I 2
percent lower than a year ago Cumulative meat production loi the yeai
to date was I 3 percent lower compared to the previous year
MEAT PRODUCTION (million pounds)
(excludes condemned)
Calf/Veal Pork (2)
3 9 445 3
3 9 430 0
Week Ending (1) Beef
20-Dec-03 470 0
13-Dec-03 458 2
2.6%
494 4
Change
21-Dec-02
-4 9%
25.364 4
26,148 5
-3 0%
Change -4 9% 3 2%
2003 YTD 179 5 19,178 2
2002 YTD 184 8 18,977 3
Change -2 9% I 1 %
1- Previous week estimates may be levtsed Yeat ago data are actuals
2- Excludes lard
3- Totals may not add due to rounding 2003 totals arc subject to icvision
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER (head)
Cattle Calves/Vealers Hogs Sheep/Lambs
634.000 20,000 2,225,000 61,000
620.000 20,000 2,147,000 62,000
2 3% 0% 3 6% -16%
650.000 22,000 2,177,000 62,000
-2 5% -9 1% 2 2%- -16%
34.022.000 949,000 96,791,000 2,770,000
34.377.000 992,000 96,598,000 3.022,000
-10% -4 3% 0 2% -8 3%
AVERAGE WEIGHTS (lbs.)
Cattle Calves/Vealers Hogs Sheep/Lamb
1245 322 270 140
1242 321 270 140
1265 308 268 135
Week Ending
20-Dec-03
13-Dec-03
Change
21-Dec-02
Change
2003 YTD
2002 YTD
Change
Week Ending LIVE
20- Estimate
13-Dec-03 Estimate
21- -02 Actual
DRESSED
20- Estimate
13-Dec-03 Estimate
21- Actual
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SLAUGHTERED BY CLASS
CATTLE HOGS
Wk Ending Steers Heiteis Cows Bulls/Slags Barrows/Oills Sows Boais/Stags
06- 46 6% 29 5% 217% 22% 96 7% 3 1% 02%
07- 45 8% 34 4% 18 2% 16% 96 4% 34% 03%
placing well at the judging
school, have the chance to get
their name on the approved list.
The cost for the school is $2O.
This fee covers school costs.
If you would like to participate
in the 2004 Pennsylvania PDCA
Judging School, complete the ap
plication form and return it by
Jan. 5 with your $2O payment.
For more information, contact
Ken Raney, PDCA Secretary at
839 Benner Pike, State College
PA 16801 (814) 234-0364 or
email at contact@paholstein
s.com.
,
2004 PDCA JUDGING SCHOOL
PA PDCA
839 Benner Pike
State College PA 16801
3 6%
431 6
745
743
764
Eastern Cornbelt Direct
Sheep Weekly Summary
Springfield, 111.
December 19. 20(13
Report Supplied Ily USDA
L astern Cornbelt Direct Sheep Weeklv Report (includes lambs sold
in II .IN OH , Ml) /This report will not be issued next week in ob
servance of the Christmas Holiday / Compared to last week heavy
slaughter lambs were 100 4(H) lower m light market test l.ambs
under 100 lbs were unevenly steady Slaughter ewes finished the week
firm to 200 higher Goats were mostly steady Demand was moderate
to good 1 rading activity was moderate Strong demand from the eth
me trade and good demand ahead of the upcoming holiday period
supported light lamb goat and ewe prices this week ( allot lamb ear
eass prices ended the weak sharply higher ( onlmned sales this week
about 1V( slaughter lamhs 27 r < ewes and an additional 706 head of
goats lotal sheep and lambs sales 000 last week H2S and year at»o
12S0
SI AUGHT I U 1 \MBS Choice 2 1 110 MS lbs 84 00-87 00
nS-tSO lbs 80 00-84 00 Good and C hoiee M 40 SO lbs 12*00 80 S**
lbs OO 98 00
SI AUGHT hR I \M S Utility and Gnml 1 * 4h 00 M 00 tew up to
StOO ( ulland Llilitv I 2 *8 (HI 46 00 ( nil 1 kwMMMI IS (Mi
Si Al C I IIIF K (,()\IS (e wt ) Kids Se Ice non 2 20 40 lbs
KHOO 10800 40 60 1b I HI <lO OH 00 Selection * 2(1 60 lbs '(MIO 62 SO
Yearlings ScleUmn 2 7(| ou lbs s - ' no 72 SO I)ocs/Nannies and
Bucks/Uilhes S 2 sll 6” Ml lew T) 00
I his report conus sheep uul i unbs sold diuu off il«e (arm ihiough
local countiv stations Sole ueeipts do noi covti lot il movement m
the area
Lamb/Mutton Totals (3)
4 3 923 5
4 4 896 5
-2 3% 3 0%
4 2 934 3
24% -1 2%
186 9 44,909 0
203 7 45.514 0
-8 3% -13%
201 71
201 71
199 68