July 30, 2007

Recent Canadian BSE traced to feed

The tenth mad cow case in Canada was most likely due to commercial feed that it ate after weaning, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The Holstein cow which was tested on May 2 was confirmed to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow disease. The infection probably came from commercial feed that got mixed with contaminated materials and was eaten during its first year.  No part of the carcass entered the human or animal food chain, says the CFIA.

The cross-contamination of the feed either came from the feed mill or during transportation.

The CFIA investigated 155 of the 66-month-old cow's herdmates and their feed and results show five of the animals have since been slaughtered for undisclosed reasons. Another 87 had already been slaughtered and five had tested negative for BSE. There were 23 animals that could not be traced, and the remaining 41 live animals have been quarantined and will be killed in the next few months. Their carcasses will be incinerated at the CFIA's facility in Alberta, says Argue.

The feed ban implemented in 1997 (no longer allowing ruminant animal products to be fed to other ruminants) is effectively keeping BSE out of Canada's food system.

Additional regulations to enhance Canada's feed ban were enacted on July 12, 2007. The most important change is the removal of specified risk materials -- brains, eyes, tonsils and other select tissues from older cattle, even bone dust generated when their spines are split open -- from all animal feeds, pet food and fertilizer.