Dear Producer:

In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration adopted a regulation, 21 CFR 589.2000, prohibiting the feeding of any ruminant derived protein (meat & bone meal) to cattle and other ruminants. This regulation resulted form efforts to control any possible introduction or spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or "Mad Cow Disease" into the domestic cattle herd of the United States. 

Because of recent worldwide media attention of the BSE issue and a desire to reassure consumers that all possible steps are being taken to continue to deep BSE out of the United States, a number of beef packers/processors and retail operations have established certificate programs for their suppliers to insure that they are not receiving cattle that have been fed ruminant derived protein materials.

Participating packers in the certification program have made it clear that they will not purchase any cattle form producers who have not signed a certificate certifying that none of their cattle or other ruminant animals have been fed any feed containing protein levels of drug residues. Thus, for some packers and buyers to purchase your cattle, we will need to have the a certificate signed and on file prior to or at the time you bring your cattle to the market for sale.

We very much regret the concern and inconvenience that the packer certification requirement may cause you, but we very much value you as a customer and look forward to continuing to meet your marketing needs. With your help we will continue to make the U.S. Beef Industry the safest in the world. If you have any questions or concerns in this regard, please do not hesitate to give us a call.

Sincerely,

Jim, Jay, Jim Jr., Jon & Donnie

Suggestions for complying with FDA Regulation, 21 CFR 589.2000:

* Prohibited feed (feed containing ruminant derived protein) must be identified with a warning label and the use of any prohibited feed in cattle rations must be avoided.

* Ruminant feed suspected of containing prohibited ingredients, should not be accepted. Producers should buy feed products only from companies that comply with FDA rules.

* If mixing feed for both cattle and non-ruminant animals, such as hogs and poultry, and you use prohibited materials in the non-ruminant feed, you must either use a completely separate mixer for the cattle feed or carefully clean out your mixer to be sure no prohibited materials contaminates the cattle or ruminant feed. Even if your do not mix your own feed but purchase feed for both cattle and non-ruminants, you must take steps to make sure that any prohibited material intended for your non-ruminant animals is not accidentally fed to your cattle or other ruminant animals.

* You must keep records for a minimum of one-year concerning all animal protein ingredients you buy and use with your cattle. Keep at least one representative copy of the label from each type of feed you buy.

* On-farm inspections may be performed by the Food and Drug Administration to verify that prohibited materials have not been fed to cattle.

Auction
712-643-5761

Jim Schaben, Jr
712-643-2249

Jay Schaben
712-643-5895

Jon Schaben
712-643-5580

Don Stessman
712-263-7505