Re: downer cows

Posted by ChrisinMO on March 15, 2009 at 19:01:14 from (207.119.183.182):

In Reply to: downer cows posted by Chris in ND on March 14, 2009 at 14:45:56:

I decided to post another reply in the interest of peace.

My friend's cow went down after an ice storm a little over a year ago. He did not intend to sell this cow retail, but he didn't want to waste the beef. I don't know whether it was a federal or state regulation which prevented the butcher from accepting the cow. It could be the butcher's idea. Again, I don't know. I didn't think to ask about it at the time.

I take a number of hogs each year, as well as some lambs to a different butcher (who is much closer to our farm). My wife sells the meat by the pound to her egg customers and at farmers' market. My kids are actually raising a couple of bottle calves (Holstein cross) this year, the meat from which they hope to sell at farmers' market sometime next year. My butcher is very upfront about the fact that he will NOT ACCEPT ANY animals which cannot walk off the trailer by themselves.

I understand the need of people in large metropolitan areas to feel that their food supply is safe. Personally, I'd rather buy direct from the farmer/rancher than a grocery store. But I guess some people see things differently. I used to see nothing wrong with grocery store meat until we started raising our own.

The point of my earlier post was that blanket regulations on a national level WILL have consequences. People will be disadvantaged and even hurt. Not just rancher/farmers (and yes, even feedlot operators) but also consumers. Think of the folks on limited budgets. Ground beef is obviously...uhh....I can't think of a kind way to say this......something people with less money can afford. I should know. The reason we started raising hogs was the ever escalating price of meat in the grocery store. If you shrink the supply of ground beef type animals, you WILL raise the price of ground beef. I'm not suggesting diseased animals should be consumed by people. However, before blanket regulations are enacted, folks should really think about what they are doing.

I hope this reply contributes something of substance to the disussion.

Christopher

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