GIVE US YOUR TIRED, WEARY, DISEASED,LIVESTOCK

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000139 SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY, BOGOTA FOR APHIS/CHEHREZAD, BRASILIA FOR AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2024 TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD PGOV VE SUBJECT: GIVE US YOUR TIRED, WEARY, DISEASED,LIVESTOCK Classified By: Randall Hager, Agricultural AttachQ, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. According to knowledgeable industry representatives, Venezuela continues to import cattle without appropriate controls against animal disease. The most recent example brought to our attention is cows purchased from Cuba that suffer from leucosis, for which there are tests. Apparently, politics trump animal health. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) According to Mr. Manuel Cipriani (protect),a leading cattle industry representative, several hundred head of breeding livestock were recently imported directly from Cuba to a cattle station in President Chavez' home state of Barinas, bypassing at least some standard controls. Although the cost per head is unknown, rumors on the street were that the price was higher than expected for what is apparently only average quality stock. ¶3. (C) Effective tests are available for leucosis, which does exist in Venezuela, and importers could have taken appropriate measures to avoid importing sick animals. However, their status became known only after at least one-third of the animals had died. ¶4. (C) We understand from the livestock industry that ill cattle are also imported from Brazil via the southern border, again without proper controls. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The importation of diseased livestock is unsafe and careless, and the loss of many animals, and the funds needed to purchase them, could have been prevented. Political expediency and bilateral agreements with Cuba trump the safety and development of ONE of the agricultural sectors the government purports to help. CAULFIELD