FOR RELASE:
March 25, 2008

For More information contact:
John Henn
Livestock and Meat Marketing Program Manager
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2847

Tom Lacock
Senior Marketing and Public Relation Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2834

Wyoming Verified Program adds another claim

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Business Council’s Wyoming Verified Program has added another marketing claim to certify Bovine Viral Diarrhea Persistently Infected (BVD-PI)-free status.

The BVD-PI virus can cause cattle to abort fetus, suffer a fever of 105 degrees or greater, or endure lameness, diarrhea, immunosuppression or pneumonia. The disease can be spread through nose-to-nose contact or in an airborne manner.

“This marketing claim is aimed at the buyer,” said Wyoming Business Council Livestock and Meat Marketing Program Manager John Henn. “The claim verifies that the calves being sold have been tested for disease and they know they aren’t buying cattle that are going to get sick or shed this disease to other cattle.”

The Wyoming Business Council developed the Wyoming Verified Program as a service to Wyoming producers in 2006. The program’s verified auditing process is free to Wyoming ranchers.

“Of the 16,000 plus calves enrolled in the Wyoming Verified Program in 2007, the average added income was $14.41 per head,” said Henn. “As the livestock markets address consumers’ needs which can add value to Wyoming livestock, we will continue to evaluate marketing claims for the Wyoming Verified Program”, added Henn.

For more information on the Wyoming Verified Program contact John Henn at 307-777-2847 or john.henn@wybusiness.org.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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