Illinois to increase BSE surveillance to include farm-produced feed
November 28, 2005
Meatingplace.com
Pete Hisey
Illinois has been awarded $233,528 by the Food and Drug Administration to increase its monitoring of cattle feed. Under the program, the Illinois Department of Agriculture will test feed supplies produced on Illinois farms in addition to ongoing testing of feed produced commercially.
"We already inspect Illinois feed mills and are confident our commercial cattle feed is wholesome," said Chuck Hartke, Illinois agriculture director. In addition to farms, the state will inspect equipment used to blend, mix and transport feed to guard against the introduction of specified risk materials (SRMs) to the state's cattle feed supply.
Illinois has recently hired 10 additional inspectors and three staff veterinarians for the Bureau of Meat and Poultry and has instituted a mileage reimbursement for farmers who bring non-ambulatory cattle to its laboratories for testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
