Cattlemen's Organizations Modify Convention Forum to Tackle BSE
Five Areas Affected by Animal Disease to be Addressed

DENVER (January 13, 2004) - A special look at bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) and the implications the discovery of that disease in a Washington state cow has for the U.S. cattle industry has been scheduled for the 2004 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 28-31.  The special BSE Forum, with five separate breakout sessions, is sponsored by Pfizer and will be held on Jan. 29.

Titled "BSE: Understanding the Business & Consumer Climate," the program is being coordinated by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the Cattlemen's Beef Board, two of five organizations holding annual meetings at the Convention.  Others are the American National CattleWomen, Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen's Foundation.

The Forum will begin with a 90-minute general session at which the BSE investigation and responses by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be provided.  In addition, Cattle-Fax will give an economic impact of the single discovered case of BSE and U.S. Department of Agriculture actions following the discovery.

The opening session will be followed by breakout sessions covering animal ID, consumer confidence, BSE research, trade implications and a Q&A session with APHIS, FSIS and FDA agency leaders.  Each 45 minute session will be repeated once, meaning attendees will be able to attend two different breakout sessions. 

"We hope to be able to give those who attend the convention a better understanding of the issues surrounding the BSE situation," says NCBA President and Idaho cattleman Eric Davis.  "Having this knowledge will give producers a better base for making better business decisions."

The program will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 29.  Other educational, informational and decision-making meetings and sessions will also be held during the four-day convention.  For more information, contact the NCBA at 303/694-0305.