For all the animals destroyed and
tested they have never found a second case of mad cow in Canada. The cow was in
Sask was a black angus.
That one cow has devastated the beef
industry. Farmers can not make any money on their beef or sell it, the US closed
the boarders and they are just starting to reopen under many
controls.
80% of Alberta beef used to be
exported to the US.
The 2 packing plants in
Alberta are paying nothing for the beef from the farmer but the
consumer at the grocery store is paying higher then ever.
The government is looking into the
plants gouging consumers. This crisis has been very profitable for the packing
plants. Farmers must sell off cattle or they can't afford to feed them
all.
It has been ugly and following the
drought it has put many of our ranches and beef industry workers into
crisis.
I was surprized when talking to my
US friends that most were not even aware of the situation. News does
not filter south very much.
I hope the governents of both
countries will find a way to deal with this before it destroys the
ranching industry beyond repair.
The rendering plants now charge for
removal of dead stock. Most people are just doing the 3 S's
