June 5, 2009

The US ban on usage of Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) in animal feed has left some concerns as carcass disposal becomes a costly business.

 

Rendering costs have increased since the implementation of the ban in April 27, 2009.

 

The FDA forbade the use in animal feed the brains and spinal cords of cattle at least 30 months old, and any tallow that is derived from those materials and contains more than 0.15 percent of insoluble impurities. Any parts of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) positive cattle and mechanically separated beef derived from banned materials are also forbidden from use in feed.

 

These changes were made to reduce the risk of BSE spreading.

 

Renderers, who are also made responsible for conducting any necessary recalls, have reacted by halting pickup of cattle carcasses containing the banned materials because of the cost or difficulty in removing them.

 

Although implemented earlier in the year, the FDA has pushed the compliance date to October 26 to provide more time for affected parties to identify alternate methods to dispose carcasses.

 

Cattle carcasses have been out in the open longer since renderers stopped picking them up, and composting has increased the work for farmers, said Dr. Robert W. Cloninger, a district director for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

 

Cloninger said he wished the FDA had considered the ramifications of the ruling before implementing it, particularly when the risk of BSE is very low and the risk cannot be completely eliminated.

 

Dr. Donald E. Hoenig, president of the USAHA, said many people involved in the livestock sector are concerned about unintended consequences of the rule, and he has wondered about its need.

 

The rule was proposed during enhanced surveillance for BSE, and no additional BSE cases have been identified in the US since the enhanced surveillance ended, Hoenig said.

 

If fewer cattle carcasses are submitted for necropsy because of costs associated with carcass disposal, the ruling could reduce surveillance for other concerns such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), he said, adding that he is also concerned about the potential environmental impacts of carcass disposal.

 

Hoenig said authorities will likely find more BSE cases in the US if they continue looking but the feed has been effective.