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R-CALF pushes for Canadian border closure
Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 10:10 AM

by Tyne Morgan

R-CALF USA is again calling for the closure of the Canadian border after Canada confirmed its fifth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy this week.

R-CALF’s President Chuck Kiker says it is vital that the U.S. Department of Agriculture stops allowing Canadian beef and live cattle across the border.

Kiker says the case indicates the problem is growing. According to R-CALF, it proves that BSE in Canada isn’t confined to Alberta alone and it isn’t restricted to animals born before the implementation of the country’s feed ban. This is the second case that occurred in an animal born after the 1997 feed ban. According to R-CALF, this means USDA’s minimal risk rule is operating on the false assumption that Canada's feed ban is effective against BSE.

The cow that was confirmed with BSE was a six-year-old dairy cow from British Columbia.