KANSAS STUDY SAYS PRIVATE COW TESTING COULD BE VALUABLE

Profits would more than pay for costs

A recently released Kansas Department of Agriculture economic study says voluntary BSE testing could provide economic gain to the beef industry despite additional test costs. The study also showed the U.S. beef industry has lost $3.2-4.7 billion over the last year.

Slow progress in reopening the Japanese market probably means these numbers will expand significantly. The report, which looked at regulator costs, losses and consumer reactions after the 2003 discovery of a BSE cow in Washington State, showed profits from beef exports would more than pay for voluntary testing, estimated to cost about $640 million for all cattle slaughtered in the U.S.