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Updated Harvard BSE risk analysis released July 26, 2006 Yesterday, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) held a briefing about the updated BSE risk assessment (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp) it commissioned from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. A Reuters article about the news leads with the report finding that “The U.S. government virtually eliminated the threat of mad cow disease to consumers by requiring the removal of brains, spinal cords and other high risk items from older cattle” (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060725/3/2nm0y.html). Representatives from the Consumer advocacy groups Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Consumers Union (CU) were quoted in the Reuters story. Caroline Smith DeWaal from CSPI said the government hasn’t been as proactive as it could be while CU’s Michael Hansen claimed the report was designed to find what the government wanted it to. Harvard conducted its initial BSE Risk Assessment in 2001 and then updated it in 2003. This time, FSIS asked the Harvard risk modeling experts to gauge the effectiveness of new safeguards implemented since December 2003 and determine the need for further controls. Even assuming a much greater rate of BSE incidence than the authors say is likely and imperfect feed ban compliance, the report finds the food safety measures enacted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture all reduce potential human exposure to BSE infectivity. Although the Authors detail the risk reduction achieved by individual safeguard measures – removing downer cattle from the human food supply and removing specified risk materials (SRMs) – they also remind that these are reductions relative to what already is a small risk. Harvard also looked at the additional feed ban controls proposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Review Team recommendations. The authors say banning ruminant blood in ruminant feed and dedicated production lines would have little effect on disease spread. Instead, the report finds that removing SRMs from dead stock prior to rendering and banning all animal-derived protein from cattle feed would be most effective in reducing the already low risk of BSE spreading in the U.S. cattle herd. Harvard has always attributed its findings to the strong safeguard measures the United States started implementing early on. The United States was the first country in the world to institute a feed ban before any BSE cases were found. In addition, the U.S. started its active BSE surveillance program in 1990. Since then, the United States has tested nearly 1 million cattle, particularly older cattle that are at greater risk for the disease, and found only two cases. As a result of industry and government actions beginning in 1989 and, now quantified in the Harvard report, BSE risk in the United States is very low resulting in the full protection of public and animal health. ...More


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INDUSTRY COUNTS ON STOCKERS TO ENSURE CATTLE QUALITY
Genetics were selected years ago; calving and weaning are complete, so the next place that really matters in the beef production chain is the feedlot. Right?
GELDINGS ARE A HAPPIER WORKING PARTNER
Horse owners often decide early in the colt's life whether he shows the promise of being a quality stallion or will be a happier and more willing work partner as a gelding.
FREEZE BRANDING OFFERS PRODUCERS AN ALTERNATIVE
Hot iron branding of livestock is the oldest form of permanent identification, practiced on other continents for hundreds of years, and was adopted very early in the American West as proof of ownership. Freeze branding is a relatively new innovation, developed at Washington State University in 1966 by Dr. Keith Farrell.
MONITOR FEEDING REQUIREMENTS OF EARLY WEANED CALVES
Meeting the nutritional needs of a young calf might sound familiar to parents of young children: feed well, feed often and prepare for pickiness.
LARGE CROWD GATHERS FOR SALACOA VALLEY FEMALE SALE
A large crowd gathered on a beautiful Georgia afternoon for Salacoa Valley Farms Brangus female sale.
NEMAHA VALLEY ANGUS PARTNERS WITH CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF LLC
A northeast Kansas diversified farm became the first in that corner of the state to license with Certified Angus Beef LLC in the Feedlot Licensing Program.
IT'S THE PITTS - TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
I hate it when people I don't even know call me terms of endearment such as honey, darling, pet, precious, sugar or angel.
USE OF SEXED SEMEN IN BEEF CATTLE CAN BE BENEFICIAL
The first sex-selected calf conceived from frozen sexed semen was born in the early 1990's, and in 2004 this technology became commercially available.
BLACK INK - SORTING
Low-stress cattle handling is becoming a mainstream practice, but have you ever thought about the ultimate low-stress sorting system—right from your computer?
PUREBRED VS. COMMERCIAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS MAY DIFFER
In the beef cattle industry there has been discussion in many shapes and forms concerning feeding and nutrition of purebred cattle. In many cases, the perception of purebred breeders is that purebred cattle have significantly different nutrient requirements than commercial cattle. This may be true in some respects but possible not for the reasons the producer suspects. This article will discuss some of these perceptions.
NEW FENCING TECHNOLOGY ADDS LIFE TO OPERATION
Cattlemen value longevity, whether it's the genetics that roam the pastures or the equipment needed to get the job done. Many operations have a dinosaur like pick-up that drinks fuel way too fast and can be cantankerous on certain mornings, but owners are quick to defend by saying it will last another year. Fences are the same way.
HUNTIN' DAYLIGHT - - FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU STAND
Look at any chart depicting average cow-calf profitability through the years and a thinking person has to ask the obvious questions: Why on earth would anyone be in the cattle business and how could anyone remain in the business over the long haul if they wanted to?
PLAN EARLY TO INSURE REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN THE BREEDING HERD
It is never too early to be looking ahead; in fact it is a necessary management skill. For the cow/calf operation, calving season means looking ahead to the breeding season.
DON'T OVERLOOK WATER AS AN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT
It's July and those sweltering summer temperatures continue to creep higher and higher. As the sweat beads trickle down and clothes stick to the body like glue, one of the first things a person wants to reach for – besides the air conditioner knob – is a tall glass of ice cold water. Water is essential to our survival, whether it's helping us cool down or providing essential nutrients needed to sustain life.

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