AR-News: (US) California cattle ranchers still assessing effects of mad cow

[Animalconcerns]

FRESNO, Calif. --

Nearly two weeks after the first scare over mad cow disease in the United
States, California ranchers are facing the new year with apprehension over
weak beef prices and international bans on American meat.

"Everything is up in the air," said Ben Higgins, executive director of the
California Cattlemen's Association in Sacramento. "Sellers don't know
where to price their cows, and buyers don't know where to bid them. There
is a tremendous amount of instability out there."

Beef prices plummeted for five straight days after reports surfaced of a
case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy - commonly called mad cow disease
- in Washington on Dec. 23.

In California, home to the nation's sixth-largest beef industry, many
cattle ranchers prepared for the worst - and then saw it happen.

full story:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040104/APN/401040799

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