Cattle Controversies

Cattle Controversies Here in the states the presence of BSE in Canadian cattle continues to create concern and passionate debates among opposing factions within the cattle industry. In Spain it isn't any different, cattle are at the crux a national controversy as well, one that pits those who raise the sheep, that make up the bulk of Spain's culinary and livestock industry against the ranchers that raise the fighting bulls for a sport that provides the country a $1 billion dollars worth of annual income, while continuing their centuries old cultural heritage. Spanish bulls are being infected with Blue Tongue, a disease that cattle can carry without ill effects but that can be devastating to sheep . The government has ordered the majority of ranches that produce fighting bulls to keep them quarantined to help contain the disease, meaning they might miss this season of bull fighting. It appears that many Spaniards simply can't fathom a year without bullfights and are simply irate over governmental actions. It remains to be seen if sheep will win prevail .But I know who the bulls are routing for. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought. Source: The New York Times Sunday April 10, 2005 Cattle Disease Threatens Bullfighting for Spaniards.