July 13, 2006

Canadian farmers nervous as they await results of mad cow test 

Canadian authorities have quarantined a farm in Edmonton, Alberta where a suspected case of mad cow disease was identified this week.

Since the dairy cow was only 50 months old (4 years 2 months), it was born well after Canada's feed ban which went into effect in 1997.

George Luterbach, head veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said that the animal may have eaten feed left over from the ban, or feed that was processed in facilities contaminated with other feed.

Authorities are trying to trace calves the cow may have delivered, as well as its herdmates. 

Canadian ranchers are understandably nervous about the finding.

The USDA has said that trade in live animals under 30 months would continue unless 11 or more infected cattle are found in Canada over a four-year period.

If the case is confirmed, it would be Canada's seventh since 2003. That meant a limit of four more cases with one-and-a-half years more to go. 

The finding again raises concerns about Canada's feed programme, which could scuttle hopes that the US border would be opened to cattle over 30 months of age.

Since the US closed its doors to older cattle, there has been a glut of older cattle with very little value in Canada. However, these are very much in demand by American processors for use in lower-quality beef products such as sausage and ground beef.