One cow does not make an 'outbreak'

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

January 8, 2004 -- As the nation's leading beef producing state, Texas would suffer severely if an outbreak of "mad cow disease" occurred. The recent discovery of a single Holstein cow with mad cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), in Washington state has sent shockwaves through the entire beef industry, but "we need to look at things in perspective" explained Ron Gill, Texas Cooperative Extension beef specialist.

"This is just one cow out of a national herd in excess of 90 million head," said Gill. "There is no outbreak of mad cow disease in the U.S. as some media outlets are claiming. Unfortunately the truth rarely makes for good news, but the truth is that the safeguards we have in place in the U.S. to help prevent BSE in the domestic cow herd are working."

Gill also pointed out that the BSE-infected cow was not raised in the United States and "virtually no meat and no byproducts from this cow have made it into the human food chain." Gill added that even if some meat has been consumed there is no risk of getting BSE from red meat.

"I do not think that any long-term impacts (for producers or the industry) from this will be that great, but the psychological impact (among consumers) will last for a while," stated Gill.

In a briefing on Dec. 30, Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinary officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, warned against overreacting to the BSE situation.

"We are concerned that thus far the response to a country reporting a case of BSE has been a response not based on science or on international standards, but a response based on public concern and overreaction," he said.

One Central Texas cattleman, who did not want to give his name, explained he is more concerned about the media and the public overreacting to BSE than the disease itself. "We all just need to get the facts straight," he said.

The financial impact of BSE is beginning to be felt as the price for cattle, marketed shortly after the announcement of the "mad cow" case on Dec. 23, declines and access to export markets is cut off; but the majority of industry professionals interviewed for this article are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"I think as soon as we can prove to our export markets that our meat is safe and they lift their bans on U.S. beef the better off we will be," said Adele Uptmore, owner of West Auction Barn in West. "I just don't think this (mad cow case) is going effect us a great deal."

"Besides," she explained, "no one could expect this year's market to be as strong as last year, no matter what issues arose in the industry, but I believe those of us in the cattle industry knew that before any of this mad cow thing came about. "

Alonzo and Barbara Peeler of Jourdanton own and operate the Peeler Ranch, Inc., located in Christine and Texana Feeders in Floresville. "Needless-to-say, we would like to see this issue resolved quickly and we are dubious about the media's mad cow coverage thus far," stated Barbara.

"BSE has hurt us financially, mostly due to the lack of exports," she explained, "but our main concern at this time is that the food supply be safe for the consumer."

Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierscke believes the detection of BSE confirms that the safety measures built into the U.S. inspection system are working.

"Consumers should remain confident that all possible steps to protect the safety of U.S. beef have been taken," stated Dierscke. "Years of planning for this contingency have produced the world's best system for early detection and containment of BSE. The U.S. beef supply remains safe."