I am the first to admit I know little about best practices for dealing with potentially serious widely-spreading diseases among farm animals.
The image that pops into my mind when this subject comes up is of the huge piles of dead cows in England during the early 1990s, as a response to outbreaks of Mad Cow disease. Each day, it seemed, the problem expanded, and more farmers were forced to slaughter their animals as a preventive measure to contain the disease.
As it turned out, a good part of the problem was associated with the farm animals being fed diseased parts from other farm animals. But though the matter has been studied for years in England, authorities aren’t in agreement about either what occurred or what should be done in the future, as an article in a British newspaper makes clear.
“The crisis changed for ever official estimate of risk. Years of lax controls, poor oversight of slaughterhouse practices and political complacency, then secrecy, changed attitudes among civil servants and politicians. They are now more ready to consider worst-case scenarios critics would say too ready.” In other words, regulators may well have shifted from being too lax to being overly cautious.
It would be nice if such matters were a subject for public discussion. But in Canada and the U.S., the regulator approach is brutally simple: We know best and we’ll decide what to do and everyone better listen to us…or else.
Ontario raw dairy farmer Michael Schmidt is simply seeking an avenue for discussion about an aspect of this issue that could be sensitive but important to many farmers and consumers alike–the wholesale elimination of rare sheep species, without consideration of possibly alternative avenues of investigation. He is prepared to accept destruction of the animals if they are actually found to be harboring disease.
BUT, as in the case of raw milk, he’s unwilling to accept a dictatorial approach, with no provision for serious publicconsideration or discussion of ways tosimultaneouslyensure public safety, while protecting animals whose heritage is endangered. In Schmidt’s view, it’s a situation not all that different from what’s been happening in Michigan, with the wholesale destruction of heritagebreeds of pigs.
So the authorities threaten Schmidt with violations of laws regarding obstructing inspectors and moving animals under quarantine, including conspiracy charges. (See the page above, from the search warrant used last Friday to carry out an all-day search of his farm; Robert Pinnell, who is mentioned in the warrant, is a founder of the Practical Farmers of Ontario, which was formed last spring; Miro Malish is owner of the Ontario farm where authorities eventually found many of the disputed sheep, which had been moved from Montana Jones’ farm.)
Schmidt’s response? “I most likely will be charged for conspiracy. Who is in fact conspiring? Those who destroy the genetic pool and approve GMO corn , soy, alfalfa…..”
He challenges those who sympathize with him: “Are we mentally prepared to face the reality of severe punishment? Raising the awareness through actions, not any more talk.”
His prediction? “To turn the tide, public debate now in the courtroom instead of parliament, because of biased politicians.”
I participate in the scrapie program here in Minnesota. I have the tags to put in my sheep and goats ears (don’t actually do that tho) and record what is born, brought in, sold, died. Every animal–in theory–that is born here can be traced back to the farm at any point in its life if found to be infected. At that point EVERY animal on my place would be under quarantine. If I had brought in an animal that was found to be infected, then my farm and the farm it came from would be under quarantine–and quite likely any other farm they sold animals to as well.
While I think this is something that should be gotten rid of, I am not in favor of destroying entire herds and flocks. But at the same time, for someone like me who is not holding a rare flock but relies on that flock to produce milk, meat, and fiber, I do not see any other way.
Let me paint this a bit different–if I had a flock of say, 30 sheep and they were quarantined, I could feed them for a bit while being tested. Not for a few years to see what happened tho. BUT at the same time if this were on my farm I would not want to sell any potentially sick animal to anyone or a meat or milk product either. So what is the best solution?
A person holding a rare pr preservation flock I think should be able to hold them safely in quarantine if they can afford to do so. Perhaps under strict supervision from the govt or such, but we need genetic diversity. Even in breeds not used in modern programs. Or in something that many of us would not bother with raising.
If this happened on my farm and I were to find that there was a positive animal that CAME from my farm–not brought in–I would most likely destroy my entire flock and burn them on the property. Destroy everything that was wood, treat the soil (yeah, probably poison it), kill off any poultry and get rid of all other animals. Then move.
BUT if this was one that I sold years prior that came up positive or brought in from another farm and came up positive, I would want to be able to do more testing and such. There really does not seem to be an in between program in place.
I test my animals for diseases. I will not allow a Johnes animal on the place and have never seen one near me. I quarantine everything when it comes here. I try to keep the farm open to visitors but I do worry about diseases being tracked in, especially when people come from auctions or bring animals to breed to my bucks and rams. And there are no routine tests for scrapie or mad cow–or chronic wasting in the deer populations around here either.
There won’t be any easy way to change this in either the US or Canada. People will say that it can be cooked out of the meat/milk or it will be safe as long as no organs are eaten or the spinal cord is not tapped, or that it doesn’t cause any problem with the milk. Well I don’t want to take that chance. I do not use certain herbs on my animals because they can cause abortions, mad cow and scrapie can cause much worse. They have not linked it to milk (they also have not linked Johnes to causing problems yet either) but why take the chance?
There are many farmers out there who will not sell a sick or injured animal. BUT there are MANY who do. Remember the down cow videos? Just check out youtube for some. There are downed farm animals and they are sold into the food supply. There are animals with antibiotics in them sold into the food supply. There are farmers who know the product is not the best and will still sell it on into the food supply. Farmers are no different than any other person or corporation.
When the milk was bad in the early to mid 1900’s, it was farmers and farm hands and other people who KNEW it was not good and they kept selling it on. At one point there was a 46% mortality rate of children under 5. There are people today selling products less than great–and they know it but do it anyway. People are people and times may change but human nature does not.
Some farmers will kill the animal on the farm, others will put it in the system. And there is no way to check. So the govt. has had to come in and do something about it. We are not an honest society, we are very disconnected from each other as well as out food. When this changes, maybe we will be able to have a safe food supply overall.
Oh, I don’t use the scrapie tags unless selling over state lines. Most of my does are retained for future use and most of the bucklings are killed before they reach 18 months–and do not need the tags prior to that. IF selling at an auction they would have to be tagged but the vast majority of my critters are sold privately or contracted directly to a slaughter house in Virginia. All breeding/show animals are permanently id’d by tattoos in the ears. So they are still traceable back to the herd, just no tags hanging!
Tracy
Tracy
Indeed, they are, and for profits. I fear it is going to take many many people to stand as one for any success for our freedoms. Strength in numbers.
There is no democracy or process….there is no evidence required. There is no reason. It is a one sided attack on process and rights. This is absolute power weilded by those in power…nothing less.
This reminds me of the State of CA Vet authority. It is literally unfettered, unlimited and unchallengeable. It is a failsafe method to assure compliance with anything that is deamed a problem for the state.
TB has been a great example of this. Although TB has not been found at OPDC, if for some reason it was ever found in one of our cows….the entire herd, even the cows that are entirely fne and Negative….would all be slaughtered. I have checked with our State Vet on this to set up a protocol, Just In CASE…she was very kind but said she would have to wait and see what happened if it ever came to pass.
So we gamble…we wait and we hope that TB is never found at OPDC. Only OPDC and Claravale are tested for TB each year. None of the other 1700 dairies are tested for TB every year.
Fairness is not part of the paradigm of this state run food system.
mark
“study found an association between chronic diacetyl exposure and certain brain protein processes,”
Guilt by association? And the govt who is SUPPOSED to be looking out for the masses turns a blind eye……..BTW this has been known for years.
Duh! Sometimes their stupidity is unbelievable. Another thing that has been known for years.
miguel
“So what were seeing here are the presence of antibiotics and other drugs in feather meal, which is spread around as a fertilizer or fed to many species of domestic animals as an additive. Its difficult to keep up with these additional feed additivesin addition to feather meal, many animals could also receive distillers grains in their diet, ethanol by-products which are another potential source of antibiotic residues.
This, my friends, is a clusterfuck.
Though Ive focused on the U.S. data here, the paper notes that the Chinese samples are relevant as wellwhile most feather meal used here is domestically produced, we do import some, and about a quarter of what we import is from China, where antibiotics that are restricted or banned in the U.S. may still be in use. Furthermore, farmers may not even know this is in the feed theyre using, as many mixes are proprietary. (And if farmers dont know, you can imagine how difficult it is for a researcher to determine if this is playing a role in antibiotic resistance or other public health issues on these farms)”
Teaching them the truth does not have to be traumatic. Do you want to teach your kids to be Brownshirt snitches that worship the system as most seem to do? That will ensure more tyranny that never goes away.
Though we may disagree in tactics I wish you luck in your battle Michael. Remember that HE came to bring us the sword because sheep end up being food for wolves.
Sounds like you are going to be on the Alex Jones Show in a few minutes 8/6/12:
http://www.gcnlive.com/
Sue K Nixon
Va Beach, VA USA
I love this Site and although we have here in Hermany fairly good and healthy food, I just want to support you all, just by signing up and giving you my support and vote! Bless you all..
John
The Crown just Royaly screwed themselves.
Briar Patch indeed.
“Swords into Plow Shares” and “Lemons to organic sweat lemonade”.
Jury trials, when you can get one, are a joke most of the time. Our entire legal system and government in general is a joke. If enough people wake up then perhaps things will change.
I appreciate your thoughtful reply. I think, though, it contains a fallacy of argument and an inconsistency.
You state,
Some farmers will kill the animal on the farm, others will put it in the system. And there is no way to check. So the govt. has had to come in and do something about it.
Your argument goes something like – problem, thus government must intervene. But this doesn’t logically follow. On the contrary, if people didn’t depend on the government to “fix” (ie, generally make permanent) particular problems, they would solve themselves far faster.
Traffic is a perfect example, where people think government is needed… but it isn’t. It makes things worse, not better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFOo3e0nxSI&feature=player_embedded#!
Communities and other social organizations are far more adept at solving problems than government ever will be… without all the destructive side effects. Government is like big-pharma in most every way – big pharma is a poor substitute for real medicine and healing. Government is a poor substitute for real governance and problem solving.
Second point to consider, you state multiple times,
“We are not an honest society” and ” People are people and times may change but human nature does not.”
May I ask, who is the government you call on to rectify the problem?
Are they not these same dishonest people? If so, how does then giving a smaller portion of our dishonest, greedy for gain society greater power with even less accountability (because of the protection afforded to those who work for the government by the government itself) improve things?
I think, if you look at the full history and especially what is currently happening, as documented by many posters on this blog, you will see it merely makes things worse… far worse. Fast tracked GMOs. Gulf dead zones. Protectionist “food safety” policies like NAIS.
Many of these problems have much better voluntary social organizational solutions, like Consumer Labs, or one of the coolest and best examples, Underwriter’s Laboratory (ul.com).
Aggression (government) rarely solves anything.
You can also do an internet search of “Montana Jones Shropshire Sheep” to find more information.
I appreciate the seriousness of scrapie, but based on the evidence presented, I think quarantine and surveillance are a more reasonable course. The Canadian ag authorities should take note of the 2001 FMD outbreak in the UK. It was so bungled they had to completely scrub the department. MAFF became DEFRA after that.
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http://www.seanjordanengineering.com/