April 30, 2012

The USDA said Thursday (Apr 26) that the dairy cow found infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was 10 years and 7 months old and came from a dairy farm in California.

The department said in a statement the dairy cow ''was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, did not enter food supply channels, and at no time presented any risk to human health.''

The department also said it is continuing its epidemiological investigation and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

The positive animal was tested as part of targeted BSE surveillance. Samples were sent to a Californian laboratory for testing and forwarded to a national laboratory on April 20 for confirmatory testing.

The department said Tuesday (Apr 24) it has confirmed the country's fourth case of mad cow disease, marking the first BSE infection since 2006.