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BEEF'S COW CALF WEEKLY    September 26, 2008  |  A PENTON MEDIA PUBLICATION
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    Table Of Contents
> Profiting From Global Warming
> Finding Perspective – How Much is $700 Billion?
> Curly Calf
> BEEF Daily Debuts
> Readers Weigh In On Presidential Election
> A Homer For Ike Relief Efforts
> Antimicrobial Use And Animal Health Issues
> Beef Board Cuts Checkoff Spending
> CEO Of NCBA Resigns
> CME Changes Live Cattle Delivery Procedures
> COOL Debate Continues
> California Loses TB Status, New Mexico Urges Split-State
> Congress Trying to Leave Town
> Draft Guidance On Genetically Engineered Animals
> Fatigue, Worry Underlie Livestock Relief Efforts
> House Passes Bill To Curb Energy Futures Speculation
> Japan, U.S. Beef Import Picture; Brazilian Exports
> Johne’s Disease Testing Brochures Available
> Johnson Named Acting Under Sec For Food Safety
> New Slaughterhouse Rules For EU On Tap For Spring
> Ohio Corn Conditions Mixed Following Wind Storm
> Small Farms And Farm Bill
> Trans-Pacific Partners & U.S. FTA Negotiations
> Visual Inspection For COOL Cattle

    Our Perspective
    Profiting From Global Warming

Set aside the question about whether or not global warming is actually occurring (the science shows the earth, as a whole, hasn’t warmed at all in the last decade), and most certainly set aside the debate about whether or not global warming is man made and the result of greenhouse gasses. For the moment, just accept that what we are told is almost universally accepted as fact.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this story by Troy Marshall



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      Finding Perspective – How Much is $700 Billion?

Let’s put a little perspective on the recent financial bailout contemplated by Congress. If there are 300 million people in the U.S., $700 billion equates to $2,300/person or $9,200 for a family of four. The state of Florida’s gross domestic product is roughly $700 billion. It is likely to be about equal to the cost of the Iraq War, which has cost nearly $600 billion. It is equivalent to adding 7% to the national debt, which is (brace yourself), $9.6 trillion. According to economist Niall Ferguson, as percent of the nations GDP, it is equivalent to the Marshall Plan when we rebuilt Europe after WWII. Of course, compared to the projected shortfalls in Social Security system, $700 billion is just a drop in the bucket.

On a related note, the bailout will have consequences for the upcoming election. Above and beyond the huge bump in the polls that Obama has received, it is expected to eliminate any chance of McCain implementing his tax cuts and or Obama raising taxes or increasing spending to the degree promised. The new president will essentially have his hands tied.
-- Troy Marshall

      Curly Calf

The seedstock industry has been buzzing with the announcement of the Curly Calf genetic defect by the American Angus Association. This genetic defect is lethal, and has been linked to one of the most heavily used sires in the Angus breed, GAR Precision 1680.

It appears that this genetic defect is a simple recessive (similar to the red and black genes that control coat color), so once a genetic test for it is developed it should be relatively easy to minimize any additional ill effects. Only half of the animals out of Precision will be carriers and even a smaller percentage of grandsons and granddaughters. It would require the mating of two carriers before the lethal outcome will be realized and even then only one-fourth of the resulting offspring would be affected.

This defect has gotten a lot of publicity because it is out of one of the more heavily used sires within the Angus breed, but we have seen similar defects discovered in the Red Angus, Maine-Anjou, Shorthorn, Holstein, and Quarter Horse breeds recently. While molecular genetics has made it possible for the industry to manage these genetic defects vastly better than in the past, it also points out the disadvantage of inbreeding. Improved genetic tools have allowed us to select animals that excel in a particular trait, but it has also resulted in less genetic diversity, more inbreeding and more potential problems like this because of the lack of genetic diversity. The goal is to have the genetic test available before the upcoming spring bull sale season gets in full swing.
-- Troy Marshall



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      BEEF Daily Debuts

Through the years, BEEF magazine has constantly tweaked and retooled to maintain its currency and use for our readers. That has meant expanding beyond our monthly print product to add focused websites such as beefmagazine.com, beefstockerusa.org, beefcowcalf.com and AmericanCowman.com, as well as focused newsletters – BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly, BEEF Stocker Trends, American Cowman Update, and more recently, Nutrient Management.

The intent is to provide our readership of 100,000 cattle-industry professionals with the news and analysis they need to remain informed and competitive in this rapidly changing business landscape. This month, BEEF editors are adding a new wrinkle – we’re going daily.

BEEF Daily is an online roundup of beef-industry news and commentary presented each morning from Monday through Thursday. Together with BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly (published every Friday afternoon) BEEF Daily will provide BEEF readers with daily news updates five days each week.

Serving as BEEF Daily Editor will be Amanda Nolz, 2003 National Beef Ambassador and a fifth-generation rancher from Mitchell, SD. A senior majoring in journalism at South Dakota State University, Amanda already has a long record of advocacy for the U.S. beef industry – producing her own blog – chewingthecud.org – since 2006 and her own weekly radio program, in addition to regular freelancing to beef-industry publications.

Just how much of an advocate is Nolz? Perhaps you heard of a young FFA member who led a walkout of several thousand members from a Carrie Underwood concert a couple of summers ago in protest of the country singer’s anti-meat positions and association with the Humane Society of the United States. That young person was Amanda.

Check out her work on BEEF Daily at www.beefmagazine.com.
-- Joe Roybal

    Readers Weigh In On Presidential Election

A survey of BEEF readers finds a vast preference for John McCain over Barack Obama in November.

If BEEF magazine readers had their say, John McCain would win the Nov. 4 election for U.S. president rather handily. By a margin of 81.5% to 9.9%, respondents to an exclusive email survey of BEEF readers said they planned to vote for the Republican candidate for U.S. president over the Democratic Party nominee, Barack Obama.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this story by Joe Roybal



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      A Homer For Ike Relief Efforts

The home run comes from Houston Astros slugger Carlos Lee, a native of Panama who owns a ranch in his native country as well as a ranch south and west of Houston. Lee toured the coastline earlier this week in a helicopter with Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples and, struck by the hurt that is out there in ranch country, donated $25,000 and 300 bales of hay to the ranch relief efforts.

"As a cattleman, this can happen to anybody," Lee said. "That's why I'm here today, to make a donation and to help. I'm going to donate $25,000 to this cause. That can help us get started. If everybody does a little bit at a time, I think we can help. If this happens to you, you want to feel like there's help out there."

Lee and Staples estimated they saw to 2,000 to 3,000 stray cattle from the air as they toured the hardest hit areas along the coast between Galveston and the Louisiana border.
-- Ron Hays, Radio Oklahoma Network

      Antimicrobial Use And Animal Health Issues

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held a hearing to review advances in animal health, particularly the use of antimicrobials in the livestock industry. Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA), chairman of the subcommittee, said, “It is clear from today’s hearing and the testimony of producers and veterinarians in the field, that antimicrobial use decreases mortality of animals, decreases disease, reduces cost of food and increases food safety. Healthy animals bring us healthy food, and science plays a huge role in that.”

At the hearing, the National Pork Producers Council urged Congress not to restrict the use of antibiotics in pork production saying antibiotics are a necessary tool to protect animal and public health. Others testifying included the Animal Health Institute, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Milk Producers Association, National Turkey Federation, and the American Veterinary Association. A number of bills have been introduced in Congress that would prohibit the use in livestock of certain antibiotics. This legislation is expected to be reintroduced next year.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent



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      Beef Board Cuts Checkoff Spending

During the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer conference in July, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board approved a program budget of $43.5 million for Fiscal 2009, which begins Oct. 1. That figure was a 6.6% reduction from this year’s budget. Last week, they cut even deeper.

“We realized that the 2009 revenue projections we made in July actually were still too optimistic,” said Operating Committee Chairman Dave Bateman, “so we had to cut back even more than we anticipated.”

The result is a $42 million budget that will be presented to USDA for approval. In addition, about $8.1 million from state funds will be put toward national beef checkoff programs, bringing the combined total for approved programs to about $50.1 million, down from a combined total of about $57.4 million in the current fiscal year.

The approved budget:
  • About $23.3 million for promotions. Promotion efforts include consumer advertising, retail marketing, foodservice marketing, new product and culinary initiatives, the National Beef Cook-Off, and other activities.

  • Almost $7.7 million for research projects, including beef safety research, product enhancement research, nutrition research and market research.

  • Just over $6.2 million for consumer information programs, including a Northeast public relations initiative, national public relations and nutrition influencer support.

  • About $2.2 million for industry information projects, such as beef and dairy quality assurance programs and dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from anti-beef groups.

  • About $7.7 million for foreign marketing efforts.

  • Some $1.9 million in producer communications.
Cuts in program budgets were spread across various categories to minimize the overall effect of the budget reduction, according to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Some deeper cuts were required, however, with funding for producer communications hardest hit.
-- Cattlemen’s Beef Board release

      CEO Of NCBA Resigns

Terry Stokes, chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), announced Thursday he will resign from his position following the 2009 Cattle Industry Convention, Jan. 31, 2009.

Stokes said representing cattlemen and championing their cause has been the greatest honor and most fulfilling job of his career, but he explained it is also all-consuming. He said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and exploring new opportunities.

Stokes joined NCBA 12 years ago as chief financial officer and was appointed CEO in 2002. During his tenure as CEO, NCBA grew revenues 41%. Membership grew more than 17% in the past three years.

“So much of Terry’s work has been behind the scenes. He’s not a ‘look-at-me’ kind of leader. So I’m not sure how many people realize what a difference he has made to NCBA and the beef industry. That said, I respect his personal decision to find the next mountain to climb,” said Gary Voogt, cattle producer from Marne, MI and NCBA president-elect.
-- NCBA news release

    CME Changes Live Cattle Delivery Procedures

Beginning with deliveries on the October 2008 CME live cattle futures contract, all cattle in the delivery unit must be born and raised exclusively in the U.S., according to the CME. In addition, at the time of delivery, the seller must provide an affidavit attesting to the origin of the cattle being delivered.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this story by Burt Rutherford



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      COOL Debate Continues

Thirty Senators have written Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer stating their concerns with how USDA is going to implement mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). The main issue is how much U.S. product will be labeled as mixed origin. Their concern is USDA’s interim final rule which would allow product from U.S. animals that could be combined with animals from multiple countries.

The Senators stated in the letter, “USDA’s interim final rule appears to allow product from animals exclusively born, raised and slaughtered in the United States to instead be combined with the other labeling category, which is intended for product that is from animals from multiple countries; that is, U.S. product would be labeled jointly with other countries. It is not the intent of Congress that all U.S. product or such product from large segments of the industry be combined with the multiple countries of origin category nor was it dictated by statute. Consumers and producers are expecting to see exclusively U.S. origin product labeled as such.” The letter was originated by Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Enzi (R-WY).
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

      California Loses TB Status, New Mexico Urges Split-State

USDA last week issued an interim rule to change California’s classification to modified accredited advanced for bovine tuberculosis (TB). Previously, California had been classified as accredited free, but with the discovery of three affected dairy herds since November 2007, the state no longer meets the requirements for that status.

Since the investigation began in December 2007, more than 145 herds and more than 180,000 cattle have been tested and seven infected cattle have been identified, according to the Salinas Californian. All cattle from two of the affected herds have been removed and the third herd is under movement controls and a testing program to remove infected cattle, the paper reports.

With the drop in status, breeding cattle or bison leaving California will require a negative tuberculin test before they move. Spayed heifers and steers, cattle from TB-accredited free herds, cattle moving to packing plants, cattle or bison less than six months old, and intact heifers moving directly to a feedlot can move to most states without testing.

USDA will consider comments until Nov. 17. For info, go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-21814.htm.

Meanwhile, New Mexico’s legislative delegation is urging USDA to expedite approval of an application for split-state status for bovine TB. New Mexico lost its TB-free status recently as well.

Split-state status would place movement restrictions only on animals within the two eastern New Mexico counties experiencing TB problems and would lessen the economic repercussions to New Mexico’s livestock producers, according to the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

“The downgrade of New Mexico’s status is estimated to cost our producers more than $4 million/year and could actually impede efforts to eliminate bovine TB as resources are shifted to operations that pose little or no risk,” the state’s Congressional delegation told USDA Secretary Ed Schafer in a letter.
-- Burt Rutherford

      Congress Trying to Leave Town

At press time, Congress had a number of items to finalize before leaving for its October recess in preparation for the Nov. 4 election. The main issue facing the Congress and administration is the Wall Street bailout package. The administration is warning that if Congress does not act it will have a devastating effect on the economy. Other issues Congress is trying to finish include a continuing resolution, tax extenders, and a stimulus package.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

    Draft Guidance On Genetically Engineered Animals

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week released draft guidance on the regulation of genetically engineered (GE) animals. The guidance document is intended to clarify the FDA's regulatory authority in this field, as well as the requirements and recommendations for producers of GE animals and products derived from GE animals.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this story by Cattlemen’s Capitol Concerns

    Fatigue, Worry Underlie Livestock Relief Efforts

Almost two weeks after Hurricane Ike struck the upper Gulf Coast of Texas, shock is being replaced by worry, fatigue and nagging questions among affected ranchers. Massive efforts are ongoing to find and care for surviving domestic livestock, dig out from under debris and fallen trees and rebuild homes and ranching businesses.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this TSCRA release

      House Passes Bill To Curb Energy Futures Speculation

The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to increase the transparency, oversight, and anti-manipulation authority over commodity futures and options markets. The legislation (H.R. 6604) strengthens trader position limits on oil and other futures markets as a way to prevent potential price distortions caused by excessive speculative trading. The legislation would:
  • Require foreign boards of trade to share trading data and adopt speculative position limits on contracts that trade U.S. commodities similar to U.S.-regulated exchanges.
  • Require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to set trading limits for all agricultural and energy commodities, in order to prevent excessive speculation.
  • Limit eligibility for hedge exemptions to bona-fide hedgers.
  • Codify CFTC recommendations to improve transparency in dark markets by disaggregating index fund and other data in energy and agricultural markets as well as requiring detailed reporting from index traders and swap dealers.
  • Call for a minimum of 100 full-time CFTC employees to enforce manipulation and prevent fraud. Despite record trading volume in the futures and options markets, CFTC staffing is at its lowest level since the agency was created in 1974.
  • Authorize CFTC to take action if it finds disruption in over-the-counter markets for energy and gas.
  • Require the CFTC to study the effectiveness of establishing position limits in over-the-counter markets.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

      Japan, U.S. Beef Import Picture; Brazilian Exports

Australia now dominates the Japanese beef market, with exports for the first eight months of 2008 totaling 179,130 tons, an 80.07% share of total imports into Japan. The U.S. exported 20,641 tons or 9.23% of total imports, while New Zealand’s share was 17,825 tons or 7.97% of total Japanese imports. Australia has dominated the market since the ban on U.S. beef in 2003. Having proven its reliability and quality, Australia now has the Japan market firmly in its control.

Meanwhile, the total volume of beef imports (manufacturing beef and cooked meats) into the U.S. in the first eight months of 2008 totaled 492,578 tons. The breakdown goes like this:
    Argentina – 5,435 tons; Australia – 118,601 tons; Brazil – 31,736 tons; Canada – 166,693 tons; Central America – 22,755 tons; México – 11,625 tons; New Zealand – 125,209 tons; and Uruguay – 9,825 tons.
This year the U.S. expects to have exports exceed imports, the first time since 2003. In fact, the U.S. Meat Export Federation announced last week that, for the first seven months of 2008, exports exceeded imports of beef for the first time since 2003, at an export value of $1.94 billion. Mexico is still the main market and received 40,930 tons of beef in the month of July, while Russia purchased 7,649 tons. USDA forecasts a 28% increase in beef exports for 2008 over the previous year.

Regarding Brazil exports, the European ban on Brazilian beef has significantly impacted Brazilian beef exports into Europe in the first eight months, though exports overall are forecast at more than 1 million tons, or the equivalent of 1.5 million tons of carcass weight, for the year. Currently, 200 ranches have been approved for export into the EU.

Nonetheless, Brazilian firms JBS-Fribol and Mafrig have found the domestic market as good as the export market this year for prime cuts, with the economic boom in Brazil increasing the demand for meat.

In addition, Chile is expected to open its doors to Brazil in November, a market normally serviced by Argentina.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes, Argentina

      Johne’s Disease Testing Brochures Available

It’s estimated that one out of 10 cows going through a livestock auction facility has Johne’s disease (pronounced “Yo-nees”) – and a vast majority of producers have no idea the animals they sell are infected with the disease. Producers simply know that the animals are thin and have unresponsive chronic diarrhea. In dairy cows, milk production is significantly down; in beef cattle, weaned calves are lighter than they should be.

Johne’s disease experts maintain that dairy and beef cows are leaving herds way too fast – before they are tested for Johne’s disease. They note producers who have culled one or more animals for unresponsive chronic diarrhea combined with reduced milk production and thin condition should suspect and test for Johne’s disease.

“Johne’s disease is a slow and progressive bacterial disease of the intestinal tract that affects ruminants and is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis,” states Dr. Michael Carter, National Johne’s Disease Control Program Coordinator, National Center for Animal Health Programs, USDA-APHIS-VS. “Infected animals can shed large numbers of the disease-causing bacteria in their feces, leading to contamination of feed and water sources without ever showing clinical signs. Infected animals can also shed the bacteria in their colostrum and milk, and infected dams can pass the disease on to their offspring.”

Johne’s disease is estimated to be present in 68% of U.S. dairy operations and in eight out of 100 U.S. beef herds. A 1996 National Animal Health Monitoring Systems study found that dairy herds with a low Johne’s disease clinical cull rate experience an average loss of $40/cow while herds with a high Johne’s disease clinical cull rate have on average a $227/cow loss, with losses resulting from reduced milk production, early culling and poor body condition at culling. Although a dollar amount has not be estimated for Johne’s disease in beef herds, Johne’s-infected beef cows are known to produce less milk resulting in lighter calves at weaning and can be slower to breed back.

To obtain your copy of Johne’s prevention and control brochure, or to learn more about Johne’s disease, visit www.johnesdisease.org or call the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) at 270-782-9798.
-- NIAA release

      Johnson Named Acting Under Sec For Food Safety

Beth Johnson has been named USDA Acting Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety. Johnson currently serves as Chief Assistant to Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. She is a registered dietitian and was on staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee in the 1990s.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

      New Slaughterhouse Rules For EU On Tap For Spring

All abattoirs in the European Union now have to adhere to stricter rules, in relation to the handling of animals. The laws have not been amended since 1993. The stunning of animals tops the list of changes in order to ensure animals don’t regain consciousness after initial stunning and entering the kill line.

Live shackling of poultry is also under review for change, along with new laws in relation to fish farming.

Each plant is required to employ an animal welfare expert on staff and comply with all the new regulations, which take effect in spring 2009.

Each year, 360 million cattle, pigs, sheep and goats are slaughtered in the EU, along with billions of chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes

      Ohio Corn Conditions Mixed Following Wind Storm

After the wind storm from Hurricane Ike, Ohio farmers are finding their corn in one of two states: either standing relatively well or taking a beating, and it pretty much depends on the stage of maturity as to how difficult the crop will be to harvest.

Wind damage appears most severe in drought-stressed corn that had died prematurely, resulting in weak stalks, and late-planted corn that had shallow, limited root systems.

"It’s not uncommon to see considerable variability in stalk lodging within cornfields, with those areas of fields where corn ponding occurred in June followed by drought stress in July and August exhibiting the worst damage," said Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University (OSU) Extension agronomist. "It’s also remarkable how well corn is standing in many fields despite the high winds."

Thomison said that, while evidence of wind damage is widespread, severe damage, which may result in significant yield losses, seems more localized rather than statewide. "Growers are likely to see three scenarios with wind-damaged corn: the tops blown off above the ear (there is minimal damage associated with this condition), breakage below the ear, and plants broken off at the base," Thomison said. "With the last two situations, harvesting the corn for grain will be difficult to near impossible if the grain is still very wet and corn is nearly flat on the ground."

Thomison said that harvest losses could range from a modest 1-5% per field, up to as high as 40-50%, depending on how badly the crop lodged and what the weather does over the next few weeks.

For more info on Ohio’s crop condition, harvest tips and equipment adjustment, refer to the OSU Extension Agronomic Crops Team website at agcrops.osu.edu.
-- Ohio State University release

      Small Farms And Farm Bill

The House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend the entire 10 acres provision of the farm bill for the 2008 and 2009 crop years. The provision in the farm bill required producers to have a minimum of 10-base acres to receive program benefits.

Congress’ intent was to allow small farmers to aggregate their acres so they would have the minimum base of 10 acres to be eligible for support programs. USDA has indicated that it would not allow aggregation of acres. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) plans to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

      Trans-Pacific Partners & U.S. FTA Negotiations

The United States, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore announced the launch of negotiations for the U.S. to join the comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (known as P-4). The Trans-Pacific agreement went into effect in late 2006 between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore.

There is a difference of opinion among U.S. agriculture on the importance of these negotiations. The National Pork Producers Council said, “This is an important step toward maintaining and expanding U.S. pork exports to the Asia-Pacific region.” The National Milk Producers Federation wants full exclusion of New Zealand’s dairy products under the agreement.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent

      Visual Inspection For COOL Cattle

As the industry looks at the looming deadline of Sept. 30 for implementation of country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements, questions abound. Among them is how USDA will handle the so-called gap cattle already in the country.

Part of that problem was handled with the designation that all cattle in the U.S. as of July 15 are considered to be of U.S. origin. Beyond that, USDA is allowing, for only one year, visual inspection of cattle to qualify them as either U.S. or non-U.S. origin, according to Marty O’Connor, chief of the Standardization Branch of USDA’s Ag Marketing Service.

“We may declare as U.S. origin if no official identifying marks from any other country are exhibited on those animals when visually inspected by anybody other than the receiving packing company,” he said. Official identifying marks can be brands from Mexico or Canada, eartags and other markings.

The inspection has to be conducted prior to delivery to the slaughter facility and an affidavit must still accompany the cattle. The procedure will remain in place until July 15, 2009.

According to O’Connor, USDA will consider all comments received during the comment period, which ends Sept. 30, and considers the first six months of mandatory COOL to be a period of education and outreach. Once the six-month honeymoon is over, USDA will begin to audit retailers and packers to ensure compliance with COOL labeling requirements.

While live animals aren’t considered a covered commodity under the COOL law, packers are the initiator of the COOL declaration and will require cattlemen to have sufficient records to ensure confidence that their supply of animals meets expectations and that USDA can trace them back to their ranch of origin, he added.

For info on COOL implementation, including a Q&A for cattlemen, go to www.ams.usda.gov/cool. Comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov; type “country of origin labeling” in the search box.
-- Burt Rutherford

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