040144 Cattle Industry Reaffirms Commitment to Consumers

Billings, MT - Members of R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), a national cattle association representing thousands of men and women who produce U.S. cattle, reaffirmed that consumers are their first priority during the organization's fifth annual convention held in Denver, Colo., Jan. 22-24, 2004.

"This was a very successful convention in every sense," said Leo McDonnell, R-CALF USA President. "We're proud that the first cattle industry convention held in the wake of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) incident recommitted itself to our greatest asset -- the consumer. This sends a strong message to consumers that we value their continued confidence and we intend to work even harder to preserve their trust."

The first resolution passed on the floor of the convention where voting members must own cattle stated, "Members of R-CALF USA reaffirm consumer safety and confidence in beef is our highest priority." It also reaffirmed the cattle industry's support for mandatory country of origin labeling to provide important information to consumers.

R-CALF USA members unanimously passed a resolution supporting an expanded BSE testing program. The resolution also calls for the establishment of a BSE Committee to develop proposals on the nature and extent of testing that would be appropriate to secure consumer confidence and the safety of the food supply on an expedited basis.

In addition, policy was passed that calls for the testing of all imported livestock feed for meat and bone meal contamination prior to its arrival in the U.S. R-CALF USA members made clear their intention to ban the use of ruminant blood meal, bone meal and ruminant tallow in ruminant animal feed, milk replacer, colostrums and pet food, while supporting the banning of litter and residue from ruminant animals, poultry and pork from being used as a feed source in ruminant animal feed.

R-CALF USA members unanimously reaffirmed their opposition to the reopening of Canadian borders to live cattle imports "to reduce ongoing extreme risks to the health of the U.S. cattle industry and thereby reassure international trading partners that safety of the food system is our primary interest." Further, members resolved to urge USDA and Congress to maintain the identity of the U.S. cattle industry rather than referring to it as the "North American cattle industry."

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