Dairy industry rides out mad cow scare | Kansas City Star

[Ediacara]

Posted on Mon, Jan. 26, 2004
Dairy industry rides out mad cow scare
By SCOTT CANON The Kansas City Star


SCOTT CANON/The Kansas City Star
Bobbi Rauch and her husband, Mike,
run a small dairy farm near Billings,
Mo. The couple said low prices for
milk are a bigger worry for them
than the aftermath from a Canadian-
born cow being discovered with mad
cow disease in Washington state.
“That was just one more thing. I've
got more pressing things to keep me
occupied,” Bobbi Rauch said.

BILLINGS, Mo. – Mad cow disease has struck twice in North America. Both confirmed cases hit Canadian-born dairy cattle.

That two of Bobbi and Mike Rauch's cows were born in Canada — they'll begin milking a third after a calf is born this spring — hardly matters to the couple.

Times aren't great. The Rauch family is overwhelmed by health insurance bills, discouraged at the price paid for their milk and glum about their chances of competing with factory-scale dairies.

More at the Kansas City Star

[Gin]

1. I gownloaded the MADCOW free book..and saw that they grind up road kill

along with the downer cows...Lord knows what they throw in there.

[sybylla]

3. evidence? link? or just bullshit?

At DU, you will need a little more than wild-ass generalizations. Well, at least for me and no doubt a few others. I would like to read the book of which you speak? What is the exact title and author?

Now if you want a really good expose on issues with our meat supply, try Mad Cow, USA by John Stauber. It was written about 5 years ago and very thoroughly discusses problems with our current processing regulations. In fact, he predicted some of the problems we are seeing now, including Mad Cow.

Lastly, Road Kill? Sorry but I don't buy it. If it's labled beef, it has to be beef. Not alot of road kill cows around here but I could see where a cow hit by a car could be used for meat depending upon the circumstances surrounding its death and the amount of time it takes to get to slaughter. Most likely, though, it would end up in dog food.

Generalizations are a problems with our meat processing industries. You see there are regulations set up by the FDA & USDA as well as by each state. Some states have stricter regulations and inspection regimes than the feds. Certainly there are always businesses who think regulations are for the other guys. But as an industry standard, which you implied in your title, "road kill" could not be used in the processing of meat.

And of course there are always people and entities ready to take advantage of fear and ignorance by writing books full of half-truths and fear-mongering.

[sendero]

2. While I have little respect.....

... for the beef industry in general, I feel sad that as a nation we have not made small agricultural operations a priority.

Yes, I'm talking "picking winners and losers" and other stuff that Republicans like to decry except when it suits their own (Halliburton) interests.

A reasonable argument can be made that family farms add value and strength to our nation, and not just for the family farmers.

But, in the land where the last nickel rules every single decision made, I guess that is a naive wish :(