USDA Officials: CWD Standards Going to Public Comment Soon
USDA Officials: CWD Standards Going to Public Comment Soon
September 20, 2013
USDA/APHIS invited several industry leaders to Washington D.C. to discuss
concerns regarding the agencies rules and regulations and their impact on the
cervid industry . Wednesday, September 18th, two representatives from each of
the four national associations, which included the North American Elk Breeders
Association, North American Deer Farmers Association, Exotic Wildlife
Association, and the Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association, and long time
cervid industry veterinarian Dr Glen Zebarth, met with the USDA/AHIS
representatives for several hours. The general discussion was centered on
exploring possible opportunities for the continued growth of the cervid industry
and how the USDA could assist with this future growth. Ongoing challenges and
hurdles, within the cervid industry, were the main topic of discussion.
Dr Zebarth and Ray Burdett said the cervid industry could thrive if the
USDA could find research money to help develop a live CWD test and/or vaccine.
All the cervid leaders asked for the USDA to assist with positive messaging,
especially in those states that were continually being bombarded with negative
messaging concerning the farmed cervid industry. This would be especially
helpful based on the fact that the USDA does support the cervid industry and
wants to see its future growth. Charly Seale, Travis Lowe, and Eric Mohlman,
focused more on the immediate need to loosen regulations. They said it was the
current regulations in place and fear of more regulations through the standards
that are causing us to lose more and more cervid farmers in all our states,
today. This discussion led to a discussion on the current proposed CWD Standards
and when they would be und for public comment. The USDA said it would hopefully
be next month.
There is still a tremendous amount of anguish among some industry
representatives regarding how many changes, beneficial to the cervid industry,
will be made in Version 23. It was noted there are over a dozen industry
concerns noted on the American Cervid Alliance Rule vs. Standards Comparison
Chart that must be resolved. USDA's Dr TJ Myers asked that the cervid industry
make a strong showing during the public comment period pointing out both the
positive and negative areas of the Program Standards.
JUST SAY NO !
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
***cwd - cervid captive livestock escapes, loose and on the run in the
wild...
LIKE I said before, in my opinion, the only reason that the shooting pen
owners want the USDA et al as stewards of that industry, it’s the lack of
oversight by the USDA to regulate them properly, thus, CWD will spread further.
this is just another fine example of just that $$$
livestock. These commenters noted that APHIS' authority to prevent,
control, or eradicate diseases, pursuant to the AHPA, specifically refers to
livestock. These commenters pointed out that that the legal definition of
livestock is highly variable among States; many States do not define captive
native species as "livestock," since livestock is not always within the sole
jurisdiction of their fish and wildlife agencies. Thus, the commenters stated,
in some instances captive cervids of native species may not fall within the
Federal definition of livestock. The commenters recommended removing the
references to livestock in the regulations or yielding to a State's definition
when referring to cervids in this way. We appreciate the commenters' concerns.
Clearly, farmed and captive cervids are not traditional livestock; they are
often referred to as alternative livestock. We understand that State fish and
wildlife agencies in many States are responsible for the management of all
cervids within their State, not just those that are wild but also those held on
farms or in other captive 18 situations. Nonetheless, these agencies may not
have experience working within the context of a program designed to control an
animal disease in farmed or captive animal populations. The AHPA charges the
U.S. Department of Agriculture with the responsibility of controlling or
eradicating any pest or disease of livestock, and defines "livestock" broadly as
"all farm-raised animals." This means that all farmed or captive cervids fall
under the AHPA definition of livestock. Under this authority, we have determined
that it is appropriate to establish requirements for the interstate movement of
farmed or captive cervids to help prevent the spread of CWD. To the extent that
State fish and wildlife agencies are responsible for farmed or captive cervids
in their States, they will need to cooperate with APHIS in the administration of
the CWD regulations. We will work with State fish and wildlife agencies to help
them to understand their responsibilities and to ensure that we can cooperate
well. It is important to reiterate that States retain the authority to manage
fish and wildlife populations, including wild cervids, under this final rule.
USDA TO PGC ONCE CAPTIVES ESCAPE "it‘s no longer its business.”
Commission, sportsmen pay for fences around deer farm
Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013, 8:54 p.m. Updated 12 hours ago
Sportsmen have paid to keep wild deer from accessing a farm connected to
the discovery of chronic wasting disease this past fall.
The bill, to rebuild fences, was not theirs to pay. But pay it they did,
through the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The farm is located in York County. No wasting disease was found there. But
it was one of the first four put under quarantine by the Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture because of its connection to an Adams County farm where the
disease was discovered. The quarantine means, among other things, that fences
are to be maintained so that wild deer cannot move onto the property and perhaps
contract the disease.
The department of agriculture — in response to questions in a letter from
the Pennsylvania federation of Sportsmen‘s Clubs — indicated re-fencing should
occur. It said its quarantine order allows for criminal and civil penalties
against deer farmers who don‘t live up to its mandates.
“This provides a very strong incentive to re-fence such areas,” its letter
to the Federation reads.
But with no fences rebuilt months after the disease‘s discovery and no
indication that they would be any time soon, the Game Commission decided it
couldn‘t wait any longer. It paid to re-fence the farm in an attempt to protect
wild deer.
“We would have waited a long, long time ... putting free-roaming deer at
risk,” said Cal DuBrock, director of the commission‘s bureau of wildlife
management. “It was an investment worth making.”
Commission executive director Carl Roe did not say how much money the
agency spent, but said “it was an expense.”
In the meantime, the commission is taking a more aggressive approach to
dealing with escaped deer.
Two such animals got loose from deer farms this fall. The department of
agriculture — again, to the consternation of the Federation — did not notify the
public of the escapes. It explained its silence by saying that once a deer is
outside a fence, whether it got there intentionally or not, it‘s no longer its
business.
“The department … defers to the Game Commission once a deer is considered
wild or free ranging,” reads its letter to the Federation. Because such escapes
are “numerous” in any given year, DuBrock said, the commission has asked the
agriculture department to immediately notify executive director Carl Roe,
DuBrock and veterinarian Walt Cottrell of them. From there, wildlife
conservation officers have the green light to shoot those deer as soon as safely
possible “and figure out the ownership later,” DuBrock said.
Bob Frye is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at
bfrye@tribweb.com or via Twitter @bobfryeoutdoors.
“Two such animals got loose from deer farms this fall. The department of
agriculture — again, to the consternation of the Federation — did not notify the
public of the escapes. It explained its silence by saying that once a deer is
outside a fence, whether it got there intentionally or not, it‘s no longer its
business.”
LIKE I said before, the only reason that the shooting pen owners want the
USDA et al as stewards of that industry, it’s the lack of oversight by the USDA
to regulate them properly, thus, CWD will spread further. this is just another
fine example of just that $$$
Sunday, January 06, 2013
USDA TO PGC ONCE CAPTIVES ESCAPE "it‘s no longer its business.”
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Characterization of the first case of naturally occurring chronic wasting
disease in a captive red deer (Cervus elaphus) in North America
Friday, August 09, 2013
CWD TSE prion, plants, vegetables, and the potential for environmental
contamination
*** The potential impact of prion diseases on human health was greatly
magnified by the recognition that interspecies transfer of BSE to humans by beef
ingestion resulted in vCJD. While changes in animal feed constituents and
slaughter practices appear to have curtailed vCJD, there is concern that CWD of
free-ranging deer and elk in the U.S. might also cross the species barrier.
Thus, consuming venison could be a source of human prion disease. Whether BSE
and CWD represent interspecies scrapie transfer or are newly arisen prion
diseases is unknown. Therefore, the possibility of transmission of prion disease
through other food animals cannot be ruled out. There is evidence that vCJD can
be transmitted through blood transfusion. There is likely a pool of unknown size
of asymptomatic individuals infected with vCJD, and there may be asymptomatic
individuals infected with the CWD equivalent. These circumstances represent a
potential threat to blood, blood products, and plasma supplies.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Prion2013 Chronic Wasting Disease CWD risk factors, humans, domestic cats,
blood, and mother to offspring transmission
Sunday, July 21, 2013
*** As Chronic Wasting Disease CWD rises in deer herd, what about risk for
humans?
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Cervid Industry Unites To Set Direction for CWD Reform and seem to ignore
their ignorance and denial in their role in spreading Chronic Wasting
Disease
Thursday, July 11, 2013
The New Hornographers: The Fight Over the Future of Texas Deer, Captive
shooting pens, and the CWD TSE prion disease
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsman of Florida support a
Florida ban on the importation of captive deer and cervids into Florida
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Missouri House forms 13-member Interim Committee on the Cause and Spread of
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Cervid Industry Unites To Set Direction for CWD Reform and seem to ignore
their ignorance and denial in their role in spreading Chronic Wasting Disease
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Iowa Brakke Family Farmed CWD livestock update July 3, 2013
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Wisconsin 16 MONTH age limit on testing dead deer Game Farm CWD Testing
Protocol Needs To Be Revised
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Effects of Chronic Wasting Disease on the Pennsylvania Cervid Industry
Following its Discovery
Sunday, September 01, 2013
hunting over gut piles and CWD TSE prion disease
sub-clinical CWD !
Friday, September 20, 2013
Missouri State records show gaps in oversight of captive deer farms,
ranches
Friday, September 20, 2013
PENNSYLVANIA ADJUSTS CWD RULES Release #069-13 September 20, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD surveillance, deer feeding ban continues in
southeastern Minnesota
Thursday, September 19, 2013
North Carolina Wildlife Commission Seeks to Test 3,000 Deer for Deadly
Disease CWD
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Illinois Chronic Wasting Disease: 2012-2013 Surveillance and Management
Report
Friday, December 14, 2012
DEFRA U.K. What is the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD being introduced
into Great Britain? A Qualitative Risk Assessment October 2012
snip...
In the USA, under the Food and Drug Administration’s BSE Feed Regulation
(21 CFR 589.2000) most material (exceptions include milk, tallow, and gelatin)
from deer and elk is prohibited for use in feed for ruminant animals. With
regards to feed for non-ruminant animals, under FDA law, CWD positive deer may
not be used for any animal feed or feed ingredients.
*** For elk and deer considered at high risk for CWD, the FDA recommends
that these animals do not enter the animal feed system.
*** However, this recommendation is guidance and not a requirement by law.
Animals considered at high risk for CWD include:
1) animals from areas declared to be endemic for CWD and/or to be CWD
eradication zones and
2) deer and elk that at some time during the 60-month period prior to
slaughter were in a captive herd that contained a CWD-positive animal.
Therefore, in the USA, materials from cervids other than CWD positive
animals may be used in animal feed and feed ingredients for non-ruminants.
The amount of animal PAP that is of deer and/or elk origin imported from
the USA to GB can not be determined, however, as it is not specified in TRACES.
It may constitute a small percentage of the 8412 kilos of non-fish origin
processed animal proteins that were imported from US into GB in 2011.
Overall, therefore, it is considered there is a __greater than negligible
risk___ that (nonruminant) animal feed and pet food containing deer and/or elk
protein is imported into GB.
There is uncertainty associated with this estimate given the lack of data
on the amount of deer and/or elk protein possibly being imported in these
products.
snip...
36% in 2007 (Almberg et al., 2011). In such areas, population declines of
deer of up to 30 to 50% have been observed (Almberg et al., 2011). In areas of
Colorado, the prevalence can be as high as 30% (EFSA, 2011).
The clinical signs of CWD in affected adults are weight loss and
behavioural changes that can span weeks or months (Williams, 2005). In addition,
signs might include excessive salivation, behavioural alterations including a
fixed stare and changes in interaction with other animals in the herd, and an
altered stance (Williams, 2005). These signs are indistinguishable from cervids
experimentally infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
Given this, if CWD was to be introduced into countries with BSE such as GB,
for example, infected deer populations would need to be tested to differentiate
if they were infected with CWD or BSE to minimise the risk of BSE entering the
human food-chain via affected venison.
snip...
The rate of transmission of CWD has been reported to be as high as 30% and
can approach 100% among captive animals in endemic areas (Safar et al., 2008).
snip...
In summary, in endemic areas, there is a medium probability that the soil
and surrounding environment is contaminated with CWD prions and in a
bioavailable form. In rural areas where CWD has not been reported and deer are
present, there is a greater than negligible risk the soil is contaminated with
CWD prion.
snip...
In summary, given the volume of tourists, hunters and servicemen moving
between GB and North America, the probability of at least one person travelling
to/from a CWD affected area and, in doing so, contaminating their clothing,
footwear and/or equipment prior to arriving in GB is greater than negligible.
For deer hunters, specifically, the risk is likely to be greater given the
increased contact with deer and their environment. However, there is significant
uncertainty associated with these estimates.
snip...
Therefore, it is considered that farmed and park deer may have a higher
probability of exposure to CWD transferred to the environment than wild deer
given the restricted habitat range and higher frequency of contact with tourists
and returning GB residents.
snip...
see full text report here ;
see much more here ;
Friday, December 14, 2012
DEFRA U.K. What is the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD being introduced
into Great Britain? A Qualitative Risk Assessment October 2012
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations BSE TSE
PRION 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Review and Updates of the USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) National
Chronice Wasting Disease (CWD) Program 2012-2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America updated report
August 2013
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America with Canada seeing
an extreme increase of 48% between 2008 and 2010
Comment from Terry Singeltary
Document ID: APHIS-2011-0032-0002
Document Type: Public Submission
This is comment on Notice:
Agency Information Collection Activities;
Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Chronic Wasting Disease Herd
Certification Program Docket ID: APHIS-2011-0032 RIN:
Topics: No Topics associated with this document View Document: Less
Document Subtype: Public Comment Status: Posted Received Date: January 24 2012,
at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time Date Posted: January 25 2012, at 12:00 AM
Eastern Standard Time Comment Start Date: January 24 2012, at 12:00 AM Eastern
Standard Time Comment Due Date: March 26 2012, at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Tracking Number: 80fa2c68 First Name: Terry Middle Name: S. Last Name:
Singeltary City: Bacliff Country: United States State or Province: TX
Organization Name: LAYPERSON Submitter's Representative: CJD TSE PRION VICTIMS
Comment: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions,
and Approvals: Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (Document ID
APHIS-2011-0032-0001) I believe that any voluntary program for CWD free herd
certification from game farms will be futile, as was the partial and voluntary
mad cow feed ban of August 4, 1997. That failed terribly, with some 10,000,000
of banned blood laced MBM being fed out in 2007, a decade post August 4, 1997
partial and voluntary ban. Game farms are a petri dish for CWD TSE Prion
disease, with Wisconsin having documented 9 CWD infected game farms, with one
having the highest CWD infection rate in the world, 80% CWD infection rate. I
believe that all game farms should be SHUT DOWN PERMANENTLY. CWD TSE prion
disease survives ashing to 600 degrees celsius, that’s around 1112 degrees
farenheit. you cannot cook the CWD TSE prion disease out of meat. you can take
the ash and mix it with saline and inject that ash into a mouse, and the mouse
will go down with TSE. Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious
after Biodiesel Production as well. the TSE prion agent also survives Simulated
Wastewater Treatment Processes. IN fact, you should also know that the CWD TSE
Prion agent will survive in the environment for years, if not decades. you can
bury it and it will not go away. CWD TSE agent is capable of infected your water
table i.e. Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a
CWD-endemic area. it’s not your ordinary pathogen you can just cook it out and
be done with. that’s what’s so worrisome about Iatrogenic mode of transmission,
a simple autoclave will not kill this TSE prion agent.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD WISCONSIN Almond Deer (Buckhorn Flats) Farm
Update DECEMBER 2011
see full text ;
=================================================
Comment from Terry Singeltary Document ID: APHIS-2006-0118-0100 Document
Type: Public Submission This is comment on Proposed Rule: Chronic Wasting
Disease Herd Certification Program and Interstate Movement of Farmed or Captive
Deer, Elk, and Moose Docket ID: APHIS-2006-0118 RIN:0579-AB35
Topics: No Topics associated with this document View Document: Less
Document Subtype: Public Comment Status: Posted Received Date: May 16 2009, at
05:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time Date Posted: May 19 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern
Daylight Time Comment Start Date: March 31 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight
Time Comment Due Date: June 01 2009, at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time Tracking
Number: 8099740b First Name: Terry Middle Name: S. Last Name: Singeltary City:
Bacliff Country: United States State or Province: TX Organization Name: CJD
WATCH
Comment: APHIS-2006-0118-0096
Greetings APHIS et al,
I would kindly like to comment on ; Docket ID APHIS-2006-0118 Docket Title
Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Document ID
APHIS-2006-0118-0096 Document Title Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification
Program and Interstate Movement of Farmed or Captive Deer, Elk, and Moose with
great sadness, my comments are as follows ;
DUE to the likelihood of CWD transmission to humans as a zootic disease,
and proven transmission of CWD to other species via the lab, and the highly
environmental transmission routes of CWD, the threat that game farms pose to the
wild is great.
RECENTLY, in the May 2009 CDC warns of this potential of prions to humans
via CWD and Nutritional Supplements from ELK ANTLER VELVET.
ALSO RECENTLY, a multi-state recall of ELK MEAT PRODUCTS FROM A CWD
POSITIVE ELK. (they are not recalling all this meat for the well being of the
dead cwd positive elk.)
SOME of these game farms have proven to have a high infectious rate for
CWD. Some as high as 79% infection rate.
A NEW 2nd strain of CWD i.e. (THE WISCONSIN STRAIN of CWD?), and what will
this curtail i.e. as in transmission ???
we found out with BSE in cattle, that the atypical strains, some are more
virulent in transmission. FOR all these reasons, it is urgent to keep the
failures of the CWD factory farming industry of 'big rack' deer and elk, to
spreading to the wild.
I urge that 100% CWD testing of elk, deer, and all animals on game farms
tested for CWD/TSE. ANY positive should result in complete herd eradication. ANY
GAME farm with one positive CWD animal must be shut down for good due to the
ramifications of environmental infection risk factors, and future infection
there from, there of.
THE land there from, must be contained, and quarantined for 5 years, with
no introduction of any game and or farm producing livestock for humans and or
animals, and or crop production. Then a reevaluation of that farm/land and
environmental risk factors there of must be done for a reassessment, before any
use of that farm/land could go forward.
ANY and all water run off must be contained at owners expense.
ALL elk and deer and or any animal from game farms, must be identifiable
and traceable, at all times.
THIS all should be mandatory, and regulated by the federal government,
because the chance of different regulations, and lack of enforcement, state by
state, would enhance the spreading of CWD.
WE must stop CWD before it spreads to all STATES, and until a validated
100% CWD TSE live test is available, one that can be used at birth, and until
there is a way to completely decontaminate land that has been infected with the
CWD agent, in my opinion, these draconian measures are the only plausible
measures which i know of that can be taken, which might stop this spread of CWD
to every state. see ;
see full text submission here ;
Comment from Terry Singeltary This is a Comment on the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Notice: Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Chronic Wasting Disease Herd
Certification Program
DOCKET-- 03D-0186 -- FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Use of Material From Deer
and Elk in Animal Feed; Availability
Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 11:47:37 –0500
EMC 1 Terry S. Singeltary Sr. Vol #: 1
PLEASE SEE FULL TEXT SUBMISSION ;
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
To: "INFORMATION DEPT"
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: CWD AMERICA ???
hello Dr. Jebara,
many thanks for your swift and kind reply.
if i am not mistaken, it was the same email address. it was 3 or 4 weeks
ago i wrote, as it is, i don't save 'sent' emails anymore, unless very
important.
my main concern (besides the fact that a potential TSE has been in the USA
cattle for some time, but the APHIS do not test to find), is that the CWD could
very well be transmitting to humans, and i just did not see to much posted about
it on OIE site.
Coming back to your question, Chronic Wasting Disease is not an OIE
listed disease. Please see OIE disease lists at
why is this TSE (CWD) not listed and followed as with BSE ?'
Article 1.1.3.2. 1. Countries shall make available to other countries,
through the OIE, whatever information is necessary to minimise the spread of
important animal diseases and to assist in achieving better worldwide control of
these diseases.
The USA CWD is an important animal disease.
why is it not followed?
The decision to add or delete a disease from the OIE lists, come through
proposals made by Member Countries and it has to be adopted by the International
Committee.
i _urgently_ suggest a proposal to the OIE to follow this disease very
closely, and to propose _more_ testing in the USA for TSEs in the USA
cattle...
kindest regards, terry
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
O.I.E. BSE, CWD, SCRAPIE, TSE PRION DISEASE Final Report of the 80th
General Session, 20 - 25 May 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is Now Accepting Comments on Rule
Proposals for “Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)”
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
TSS
posted by Terry S. Singeltary Sr. at
11:48 AM
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