INDUSTRY NEWS

Dickinson research center analyzes livestock ID tags Researchers have been testing radio identification tags on cattle, to see which frequencies work best. "Other research centers and agencies are studying different frequencies, and we are in the position as one of the leads at this point," said Mick Riesinger, a livestock and biosecurity specialist at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Center. The animal ID system is aimed at protecting against the spread of disease. Larry Schnell, an owner of the Stockmen's Livestock Exchange in Dickinson, said the program, though not mandatory, is not popular with cattle producers. "It's a pain and fairly expensive - and the cost is all on the producer," Schnell said. "It's just another job they have to do." Riesinger tells ranchers that the goal is to track only the origin of the animal....The allure of Federal grants can corrupt university researchers.
Seventy-two live cattle over 30 months of age come into North Dakota from Canada In spite of R-CALF's filing for an emergency restraining order Nov. 16 to keep the border closed, truckloads of live Canadian cattle older than 30 months of age begin coming across the border Nov. 19. R-CALF USA, headquartered in Billings, Mont., had heard nothing from the court as of Nov. 21, said the organization's communication director Shae Dodson. “We've heard nothing yet,” Dodson said. “We do know some cattle trucks crossed the border yesterday (Nov. 19).” Ed Curlett, spokesperson for the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said more than 500 live cattle over 30 months of age crossed the border at five ports by Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. CT. He said the cattle were inspected and the paperwork verifying the age was checked. “There's no test for BSE in live cattle,” Curlett said but these cattle were born after a feed ban on animal parts was put into place....
State imposes new rules on Canada's cattle The Montana Department of Livestock has issued new guidelines for Canadian cattle coming into Montana. The regulations took effect Monday, the same day a new federal rule allowed cattle over 30 months of age and beef from the same to enter the United States. The new state regulations do not apply to Canadian cattle passing through the state on their way to feedlots or slaughter elsewhere, but only to animals being imported to Montana. "We are making sure all the bases are covered," said Christian Mackay, executive officer of the Livestock Department. "We do not want to be more liberal with Canada than we are with other states." The regulations apply to the diseases brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis and trichomoniasis, and they set out the testing requirements and certification needed....