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Some meat processors have deer-disease fears
By JULI PROBASCO-SOWERS, Des Moines Register Staff Writer
09/02/2002
A handful of Iowa meat locker owners will discontinue deer processing because of a fear of a deadly disease found in Wisconsin deer herds, while other business owners will cautiously continue handling the meat.
The threat of chronic wasting disease, a brain and central nervous system ailment, prompted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to begin testing brain tissue from road-kill deer in May.
Terry Little, wildlife research supervisor for the state, said all samples from Iowa deer have tested negative for the disease.
"There is no evidence chronic wasting disease exists in Iowa. We certainly don't want meat processors to stop processing deer," Little said. "There is no known case of the disease passing from deer to humans through meat consumption or any other way."
Little said he plans to hunt and eat deer this winter, just as he always has.
Despite the state's assurances, some meat locker owners say they won't process deer until more is known about the disease.
Jack Zugg, owner of Z Meats and Farmer's Processing in Centerville, which normally handles up to 300 deer a year, said his business no longer will process deer.
"How can you guarantee one won't have it? Until I know more about the disease, I'm not going to do deer," Zugg said. "I hate it because of the income part, but if someone got sick, I could be held responsible."
Zugg estimates he will lose about $30,000 by refusing to handle deer meat, but figures it's worth the cost to protect his business, customers and employees.
"How do we know some deer haven't come across from Wisconsin? Do you think them deers stop just because of a river or a border?" he said.
Zugg's locker is one of 209 meat lockers in Iowa. No one keeps track of how many lockers process deer, because the Iowa Department of Agriculture doesn't regulate wild animal processing, said Dr. Gary Johnson, a veterinarian with the department. He said his experience has shown many lockers will process deer.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has in most cases forbidden Iowa lockers from processing deer and elk from diseased areas, including parts of Colorado, western Nebraska and Wisconsin. Officials confirmed the first Minnesota case of the disease Friday, after a farm-raised elk in Aitkin County tested positive.
Iowa lockers are allowed to process the meat if the bones, spinal cords, brains and lymph nodes are removed before the meat is brought into the state, because the disease appears to confine itself to brain tissue, lymph nodes and spinal column fluids. Hunters and meat processors are urged to wear gloves and avoid cutting through the spinal column when processing deer.
Terry Kern plans to process deer this winter at Edgewood Locker Inc. in Edgewood, which he co-owns with his brother. Last year, the business processed 2,200 deer, in addition to meat brought in from another 2,000 deer.
"There are obviously concerns, but so far there is not one case of this being transmitted to humans," Kern said. "Although we need to be prudent and cautious, we still foresee a basically normal venison season."
Before December, when the bulk of deer hunting and processing takes place, he plans to review his deer-processing methods to decide whether to make changes.
Bob Hoeger, owner of Westlinden Locker in Dyersville, decided to discontinue processing deer after reading information from the state and talking to meat inspectors. He used to handle about 160 deer a year.
"I understand that if the disease shows up, say at my locker, it is very difficult to get rid of. It could ruin my business," he said.
Wildlife specialist Little said chronic wasting disease, caused by a mutated protein, takes more effort to eradicate from a meat locker's equipment. Little said soaking equipment in a 40 percent chlorine bleach solution for 15 minutes, or exposing equipment to extremely high heat, will kill the protein.
Robert Stoll, a deer hunter from Cascade who used to take his deer to the Westlinden Locker, said he likely will process deer at home this year. "We generally like to take deer to the locker to have sausage made," he said. "The big question is whether deer is going to be safe to eat anyway."
Reporter Juli Probasco-Sowers can be reached at (515) 284-8134 or
By JULI PROBASCO-SOWERS, Des Moines Register Staff Writer
09/02/2002
A handful of Iowa meat locker owners will discontinue deer processing because of a fear of a deadly disease found in Wisconsin deer herds, while other business owners will cautiously continue handling the meat.
The threat of chronic wasting disease, a brain and central nervous system ailment, prompted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to begin testing brain tissue from road-kill deer in May.
Terry Little, wildlife research supervisor for the state, said all samples from Iowa deer have tested negative for the disease.
"There is no evidence chronic wasting disease exists in Iowa. We certainly don't want meat processors to stop processing deer," Little said. "There is no known case of the disease passing from deer to humans through meat consumption or any other way."
Little said he plans to hunt and eat deer this winter, just as he always has.
Despite the state's assurances, some meat locker owners say they won't process deer until more is known about the disease.
Jack Zugg, owner of Z Meats and Farmer's Processing in Centerville, which normally handles up to 300 deer a year, said his business no longer will process deer.
"How can you guarantee one won't have it? Until I know more about the disease, I'm not going to do deer," Zugg said. "I hate it because of the income part, but if someone got sick, I could be held responsible."
Zugg estimates he will lose about $30,000 by refusing to handle deer meat, but figures it's worth the cost to protect his business, customers and employees.
"How do we know some deer haven't come across from Wisconsin? Do you think them deers stop just because of a river or a border?" he said.
Zugg's locker is one of 209 meat lockers in Iowa. No one keeps track of how many lockers process deer, because the Iowa Department of Agriculture doesn't regulate wild animal processing, said Dr. Gary Johnson, a veterinarian with the department. He said his experience has shown many lockers will process deer.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has in most cases forbidden Iowa lockers from processing deer and elk from diseased areas, including parts of Colorado, western Nebraska and Wisconsin. Officials confirmed the first Minnesota case of the disease Friday, after a farm-raised elk in Aitkin County tested positive.
Iowa lockers are allowed to process the meat if the bones, spinal cords, brains and lymph nodes are removed before the meat is brought into the state, because the disease appears to confine itself to brain tissue, lymph nodes and spinal column fluids. Hunters and meat processors are urged to wear gloves and avoid cutting through the spinal column when processing deer.
Terry Kern plans to process deer this winter at Edgewood Locker Inc. in Edgewood, which he co-owns with his brother. Last year, the business processed 2,200 deer, in addition to meat brought in from another 2,000 deer.
"There are obviously concerns, but so far there is not one case of this being transmitted to humans," Kern said. "Although we need to be prudent and cautious, we still foresee a basically normal venison season."
Before December, when the bulk of deer hunting and processing takes place, he plans to review his deer-processing methods to decide whether to make changes.
Bob Hoeger, owner of Westlinden Locker in Dyersville, decided to discontinue processing deer after reading information from the state and talking to meat inspectors. He used to handle about 160 deer a year.
"I understand that if the disease shows up, say at my locker, it is very difficult to get rid of. It could ruin my business," he said.
Wildlife specialist Little said chronic wasting disease, caused by a mutated protein, takes more effort to eradicate from a meat locker's equipment. Little said soaking equipment in a 40 percent chlorine bleach solution for 15 minutes, or exposing equipment to extremely high heat, will kill the protein.
Robert Stoll, a deer hunter from Cascade who used to take his deer to the Westlinden Locker, said he likely will process deer at home this year. "We generally like to take deer to the locker to have sausage made," he said. "The big question is whether deer is going to be safe to eat anyway."
Reporter Juli Probasco-Sowers can be reached at (515) 284-8134 or
