e-Claire

Nix on the "Downers"

WASHINGTON Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Tuesday announced a list of new restrictions to further enhance the safety of the American beef supply, including a meatpacking ban on the use of sick "downer" cattle like the one discovered last week with mad cow disease. She also announced bans against the use of small intestines and head and spinal tissue from older cattle in the U.S. food chain, as well as changes in slaughterhouse techniques with the aim of preventing accidental contamination of meat with cow nerve tissue. Mad cow disease is spread through such brain and spinal cord tissue. "Sound science continues to be our guide," Veneman said.

Bless ya, ma'm.

Under the new regulations, the sick cow slaughtered in Washington state on Dec. 9 would not have been allowed to enter the U.S. food chain.

1. I’m making this comment deep in a secure Undisclosed Location in the Pentagon.  (In other words, I’m lost again.)

   In anycase, Mad Cow Disease doesn’t worry me.  It’s there there Annoyed Cow Disease that does.

   Ever see an annoyed cow?  Not a pretty sight.

   ("I’m not a mad scientist; I’m just slightly peeved!")

   OK, I’ll go take my meds now…

   Posted by  on  12/30/03  at  10:14 AM

2. Since brown cows are the source of chocolate milk are Annoyed Cows the source of sour cream?

   Why did the calf walk around its mommy?
   To get to the udder side.

   Everyone is seriously concerned about BSE because the stakes are high.

   The reason there aren’t any cow politicans is because they suffer from hoof in mouth disease.

   AR - byte the parrot - AR

   *Humor*

   Posted by  on  12/30/03  at  04:05 PM

3. Due to popular demand:

   I forgot, in the cow politican category, to mention that revolutionary hero Cow Tse-Tung.  Who’s favorite dish was - of course - moo goo gai pan.

   Posted by  on  12/30/03  at  04:29 PM

4. As a scientist and as a writer who has researched and written about mad cow, I am concerned.  This is no joke - but time will tell people that.

   Posted by Jay  on  12/30/03  at  11:47 PM

5. Oh for heavens sakes.

   My wife worked on the early antibiotic resistent transfer effect studies in the 70’s and we are both well aware of the dangers of disease and other transfer effects from meat consumption, BSE is only one such.  Furthermore, we know there is a strong chance that BSE can be and has transfered to the deer and elk population here in NM.  This is from a former County Ag Agent who is still hooked into the grapevine. 

   As a writer and scientist you may be able to do something.  As I am ‘just a dude’ I can’t do anything except vote with my $ (which we do by buying locally produced grass fed beef and lamb direct from a very aware rancher).  Otherwise, I can either run around and bash my head against a brick wall or make silly puns.  After 20 years of doing the former I now prefer the latter.

   The US agricultural policy is nothing short of totally insane - but that is the topic of another conversation.

   Posted by  on  12/31/03  at  01:56 AM

6. Whoa Cowboy!  Nowhere did I say avoid puns, or avoid making jokes.  That is the beauty of writing comments on a blog.

   Just as some write amusing comments, mine was somewhat serious, but not to admonish. 

   As for me being able to do something about it, that is highly unlikely.  Most know what needs to be done, but it has been ignored by the industry and the regulators.

   Pardon my comment.  In the future I shall abstain from commenting here.

   Cheers and Happy New Year.

   Posted by jay  on  12/31/03  at  04:06 AM

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