Company
Feedlot name
Inside address
City, State, Zip

Dear Cattle Feeder,

As a cattle feeder, you recognize the value and positive impact that growth enhancement technologies have on the beef industry. Growth promoting implants and feed additives enable you to increase an animal’s performance and efficiency, resulting in an economic benefit of $40 to $80 per head. Oklahoma State University economists estimate that these lower production costs and the resulting cost competitiveness relative to other protein sources, have increased beef’s market share by 2.8 percent, which amounts to $1.4 billion in beef purchases.

Years of research have demonstrated that growth enhancement products are safe for the animal, safe for the beef consumer, safe for the environment and deliver a significant economic benefit to consumers. Recently, however, these positive messages about the benefits of growth enhancement technologies and other beef production practices are being displaced by messages from uninformed consumer groups or activists whose primary agenda is the elimination of the beef production industry.

Recognizing this renewed effort by activists and the media, several beef producers who are also involved in the marketing of branded beef products, formed an advisory committee that met in Kansas City in the summer of 2002. The consensus of the advisory committee was that the use of growth enhancement technologies and related production practices was being threatened and that it was important to take the initiative in defending the beef production industry. An industrywide, growth enhancement information working group was then formed and held its first meeting at the NCBA offices in early October. The group’s mission was to identify the key issues or challenges the beef industry was facing with regard to growth enhancement technologies. Representatives from Elanco, Fort Dodge, NCBA, Intervet, Pharmacia, Schering Plough and VetLife identified six key issues/myths that activists were raising with regard to growth enhancement technologies and then prepared factual information that the beef industry could use to address these questions or issues when they arise.

To receive a copy of “Issues and Facts About Growth Enhancement Technology”, call Doug Swanson at McCormick Company (515-251-8805), e-mail him at doug@mccormickcompany.com or, if you prefer, contact your local representative from any of the participating companies. An abbreviated version of the facts document is enclosed. I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the issues and the facts and then share the information with others in your organization. The card will serve as a convenient reference and will help you respond to challenges by individuals or groups whose agendas include the disruption of the way we produce the safest and most wholesome beef product in the world. You may request additional copies of this card from Doug Swanson at the address and phone number on the previous page.

The animal health companies represented on the Growth Enhancement Technology Information Team are sending this letter to you and other leading cattle feeders across the nation as part of an ongoing awareness-building and information program. We hope you will find the materials helpful. For additional information, please contact one of the company representatives. Thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,