Just Down the Road
 by Sandra Rosenberger 

Mad Cow Disease (MCD) - as if our beef and dairy industries don't have enough problems already! One deceased Holstein cow has caused quite a stir. After the first case of MCD in this country was announced, the biggest buyers of beef around the world banned the importation of US beef products.

 Humans who eat infected beef can develop an always-fatal brain-wasting 
disorder. Nearly 150 people died after developing MCD in Great Britain, then a nation with substandard meat production monitoring and deceitful officials who tried to cover up the seriousness of the epidemic. Many thousands of cattle were ordered destroyed in an effort to eliminate the disease and curtail the public health crisis. In May 2003, after a single cow in Canada was diagnosed with MCD, the US and other countries banned importation of Canadian beef products. 

 Our present MCD scare is causing quite a commotion among health officials, meat producers, politicians, consumers, and countries. US agricultural officials are scurrying to reassure the public and other countries that our meat supply is safe. Beef producers are bracing for the inevitable dip in product value. Officials of the pork and chicken industries echo similar concerns. 

 Another enormous problem has been thrust at the Bush administration - how to protect the health of both meat consumers and the beef industry. The public deserves healthful food and farmers deserve a fair price for their products. Economic impacts on traditionally conservative Farm Belt states are of major political concern. How the government handles this crisis could make or break President Bush's chances at the polls in November 2004. 

 More than two years ago, a herd of approximately eighty-two Holstein dairy cattle was imported into the United States from Canada. One unlucky cow is now the center of attention. The US contends she was infected in Canada; Canadian officials are trying to prove otherwise. Eating contaminated feed supposedly infects cattle with MCD; where that feed came from is of utmost importance. Frantic detective work is proceeding to track the paths of the other potentially infected cows. 

 Extensive government regulations are mandated throughout our nation's 
agricultural structure. From virtually the bottom of the food chain until products are put in a shopping cart, procedures and standard are monitored to protect the safety of our food supply and health of the American people. In a telephone interview, one of the owners of a local feed mill confirmed that his company's products conform to FDA laws prohibiting the use of prohibited protein products (meat from infected animals, brain and nerve tissue). A few of the mill's customers request specialized feed formulas that sometimes include approved products purchased locally from a large meat packing plant. Media reports indicate compliance among the approximately 1,800 US mills is excellent. Only two (one in Washington State) were caught violating MCD laws.

  A combination of greed, lawless actions, and bad judgment led to this crisis.  A mill sold contaminated feed; a cow ate the feed and eventually developed MCD; this sick cow was culled for slaughter. The processing facility violated strict guidelines decreeing distressed animals must be isolated and individually assessed. Those with potential health problems should automatically be  rejected for human consumption and tested for diseases. Instead, this sick cow's  flesh was mixed with that of nineteen other doomed cows and distributed to  stores in several states. 

 Will I continue to eat beef purchased from local supermarkets?  Yes. 
 Presently, the MCD danger seems to be isolated; supposedly, extra precautions are being taken nationwide to improve the safety of our nation's beef supplies. 

 Might I change my attitude in the extremely unlikely event local supermarket beef becomes suspect?  I would try to purchase beef from local farmers or go without. 

 In addition to grain purchased from our local mill, a neighbor's cattle are fed grass and hay from his farm. His quality beef is already spoken for. Beef obtained from a healthy, closed herd organically raised and/or exclusively grass fed should be very wholesome. For those of us with a few extra acres, raising a few beef each year could be an enjoyable and healthful venture.