US may pay for farmers to hand over sick cattle

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/03/wcow03.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/03/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=111703

The American government is considering paying farmers to bring in sick or crippled cattle to be tested for mad cow disease, as part of its campaign against the deadly infection.

The discovery of mad cow disease in a cow in Mabton, Washington state, has halted beef exports worth $3.2 billion (£1.8 billion) a year and slashed cattle prices.

However, restaurant and grocery chains say consumer demand for beef in the country has not wavered in the 10 days since the disease was found.

Until this week, the Department of Agriculture has focused its tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on cattle intended for human food, because humans can contract a form of the disease by eating infected meat. "Providing some financial incentive (to farmers) . . . is one of many" options under discussion, Ron DeHaven, the chief veterinary surgeon, said. "Right now, all options are on the table."

[R Hickey]

1. The farmers that brought in sick cows would get their herds destroyed

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[ozymandius]

2. I first read this as: "US may PRAY for farmers to hand over sick cattle"

Up until now, hasn't my mis-read been the disease control strategy?

[54anickel]

3. They paid the deer farmers here in WI for the deer ordered destroyed due

to Chronic Wasting Disease. Paid the going rate, but I can't remember if that was 500 or 1500 a head. I read in one of the articles posted on this yesterday that it's customary for the gov't to reimburse costs such as these for their "imposed" public saftey issues. :shrug:

[zanana]

6. Deer farming makes me sick

I know it's off the subject, but don't we slaughter enough animals to please our palates already? Don't get me wrong; I eat fish every day, so I'm not innocent, either. I was taking a scenic drive in northern New Hampshire a few years ago when I saw a field full of deer. I thought it was beautiful until I realized it was a farm. UGH!

[MrPrax]

4. Why would 'cattlemen' do that?

And why would the public be any safer knowing that 'honest' cattlemen turned their 'products' in, while other ones didn't.

It looks like the Bush admin is going to handle the situation with PR and 'stay the course' on this one...

[loudnclear]

5. How much more "welfare" are farmers going to get in this country?

the farmers that really need the help don't get it but there is a cadre of farmers who make millions by not farming and by not doing the right thing.