To Wyoming Livestock Producers:

In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration adopted regulation 21 CFR 589.2000, prohibiting the feeding of any ruminant derived protein (meat and bone meal) to ruminant animals. This regulation resulted from governmental and industry 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 on the BSE issue and a desire to reassure consumers that all possible steps are being taken to continue to keep BSE out of the United States, a number of packers/processors and retail operations have established certification requirements for their suppliers to ensure that they are not receiving livestock that have been fed ruminant-derived protein materials.

Packers participating in the certification requirements have made it clear that they will not purchase any UNCERTIFIED livestock after April 1, 2001. PRODUCERS MUST SIGN a certificate stating that none of their livestock have been fed any feed containing protein derived from ruminant tissues and/or that none of the livestock being sold have illegal levels of drug residues. Therefore, before some packers and buyers will purchase your livestock, you may need to furnish a signed certificate providing these assurances at the time of marketing the livestock.

In the interest of maintaining the highest quality livestock industry and providing the highest level of quality and health assurance to our consumers, the WYOMING LIVESTOCK BOARD, WYOMING STOCK GROWERS ASSOCIATION, WYOMING WOOL GROWERS ASSOCIATION AND THE WYOMING LIVESTOCK MARKETS are providing a suggested "Livestock Owner's Certificate" for your use. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to give any of us a call.