CATTLE RAISERS COMMUNITY
Of things that concern cattle raisers…
MEMBER NOTES
Cattle Health By Claude Koontz, Association Promotion Committee chair
I
N RECENT ISSUES, WE HAVE DIS- cussed the benefi ts, as our
directors and members have defi ned them, of being a Texas
and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) member. If you have attended a Ranch Gathering, then you will know we make a point of providing both a legislative update from a member of our Austin-based team, as well as asking the local special ranger to re- view law enforcement issues affecting area cattle and land owners. An important benefi t that does not get as much focus is the association’s work on cattle health on behalf of its members, and preserving the individual rancher’s ability to raise livestock. Every rancher wants to ensure the health, welfare
and productivity of his or her cattle. To help accomplish this, TSCRA represents ranchers in front of numerous state and federal agencies, including the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Veterinary Medical Diag- nostic Laboratory, USDA, FDA and many more. TSCRA staff and volunteers monitor new and existing regula- tions, attend hearings, offer testimony on regulatory changes and promote member-established policies when infl uencing rule changes at these agencies. TSCRA educates elected offi cials on the effect animal
health legislation and policies have on cattle produc- ers. From funding of state and federal agencies to new laws that address animal health priorities, TSCRA staff work closely with elected offi cials and their staff to ensure the health, productivity, welfare, mobility and marketability of Texas livestock aren’t jeopardized by animal diseases. TSCRA’s animal health efforts address a wide vari- ety of existing and emerging diseases, including fever
12 The Cattleman December 2016
ticks, screwworm, tuberculosis, brucellosis, trichomo- niasis and more. Related issues such as the Veterinary Feed Directive and animal rights are also monitored by TSCRA staff. The average TSCRA member is probably unaware
of the extent of actions taken by TSCRA staff and volunteer leaders on behalf of members and ranchers statewide. The actions listed above are a small subset of TSCRA’s legislative and regulatory activities but provide signifi cant value to TSCRA members and the cattle industry. A rancher may not give much thought to eminent
domain rules until he or she receives notice of a pow- er line being built across a front pasture. However, TSCRA works tirelessly to protect landowner rights on this issue. Likewise, until a rancher experiences a cattle health issue — such as the brucellosis situa- tion in the spring and summer of 1983 or the current fever tick problem — little focus or thought may be on what TSCRA is doing or can do on behalf of ranchers affected by such cattle health issues. From a personal standpoint, back in May and June of 1983, I can re- member my father being on the telephone almost daily with then-TSCRA President Frates Seeligson to address the brucellosis situation. From that time on- ward, I have respected and appreciated the ongoing efforts in terms of money and time that this associa- tion expends on cattle health. So when you encounter that guy or gal in the feed
store parking lot, in addition to highlighting member benefi ts such as law enforcement (special rangers) and legislative work (Austin team), you now have another member benefi t to add… cattle health! Let’s visit more at the next Ranch Gathering!
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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