Mad Cow

Jim Oltjen: Effect on cattle producers

Jim Oltjen

Jim Oltjen is a UC Davis Cooperative Extension animal scientist specializing in management issues affecting the beef industry. He conducts educational programs for beef producers focused on improving the quality of their herds and using computer software for making management decisions. He discusses the impact of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy incident on cattle ranchers and feedlot operators.

Q. How will this mad cow incident affect cattle ranchers?

A. Cattle ranchers will be most affected by lower prices for their cattle, and those who own cattle near harvest age will suffer most. Whether prices will rebound by the time most California ranchers sell calves next summer is unknown. Also, there will be a push to make identification of all cattle mandatory, and ranchers will have to determine how to accomplish this in their operations.

Q. How are beef ranchers changing their operations, in light of the mad cow finding?

A. Besides the need for cattle identification, beef ranchers will maintain extra vigilance regarding the source of new cattle. They will make sure they do not purchase cattle from BSE-affected regions, including imported older cattle from Canada. They also will be extremely careful about the source of feed, so that there is no chance that meat and bone meal might be fed to their cattle.

Q. How are beef feed lots being affected?

A. Beef feedlots are severely affected now, with each animal marketed losing about $200 for the next few months. Otherwise, they will be least affected except that they will be sure that their already good record keeping systems are accurate and secure for animal disease control and trace-back potential.

Q. What advice would you offer to cattle ranchers in light of the mad cow finding?

A. I would advise them to assess their finances and prepare for a time of lower prices.

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