N.C. Farmers Take Written Approach To Protect Nation's Beef Supply From Mad Cow Disease
Posted — UpdatedThe major beef-buying companies such as IBP, Conagra and McDonald's Corporation are requiring packers and stockyard operators to have farmers sign a certificate stating that none of their cows have been fed protein derived from mammal or ruminant tissues, which is suspected to have caused themad cow problemsoverseas.
Farmers at the Carolina Stockyards in Siler City understand that their good reputation is a stake.
"It's a good time for the beef industry now, and we need to do everything that we can do to keep it good times by using certification," says farmer Nicholas Allen. The calves sold at the stockyards will generally move West to feed lots or to farms in Indiana, Ohio or Nebraska to be grown to market size and that certification will stay on file all the way till slaughter providing a tracking system and peace of mind. -->
To prevent mad cow disease, theFood and Drug Administrationadopted a rule in 1997 that prohibits farmers from feeding cow meat or bone meal from other hoofed farm animals.
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