MFU Supports Limiting Canadian Cattle Imports

GREAT FALLS, MT (Nov. 19, 2007) – The Montana Farmers Union today released the following statement regarding Canadian cattle over 30 months of age to be imported into the U.S. beginning this morning.

“The Montana Farmers Union strongly opposes the weakening of import regulations regarding cattle over 30 months of age moving into the United States.

“In May 2003, the United States closed the border to cattle from Canada after a confirmed case of mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Since that time, the border reopened for Canadian beef from younger cattle, and since July 2005 live cattle under the age of 30 months have been approved for import.

“U.S. ranchers and their foreign markets have yet to fully recover from the discovery of that BSE case in 2003.

“The main problem with allowing older cattle into the food chain is that they carry a higher risk of having BSE than do younger animals. We do not believe the risk is acceptable to consumers or to beef cattle ranchers throughout the United States.

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