October 7, 2005

USDA: Denmark's new BSE regulations

The Danish Minister for Family and Consumer Affairs announced new regulations for the culling of cattle in herds connected with confirmed cases of BSE. The new rules took effect on Sep 21, 2005.

The former regulations required the euthanization of all herdmates of cattle found to have BSE. This included all cattle that were in the same herd at any time during the BSE animal's lifetime. 

This practice had been severely criticized. Researchers at the Danish Food Research Center have developed more precise risk estimates to identify animals, which can develop BSE, based on the fact that the disease is spread through the feed and not from cow to cow.

According to the new regulation, only herdmates born within a certain time period before and after the diseased cow was born will have to be euthanized. Given the fact that older cows are the animals most likely to develop BSE, significantly fewer cows will have to be culled in response to future cases of BSE. 

The Danish Chief Veterinary Office states that this new regulation is still more restrictive than the minimum requirements of the EU.

For the latest (14th) case of BSE in Denmark, which was confirmed (September 9) for a nine-year-old cow (See DA5009), no other cows from the current herd will be culled.

All of the other cows in this herd of almost 300 cattle are less than 5 years old.  However, a few cows from the BSE-infected cow's original herd will be killed because they do fall within the risk parameters laid down by the new regulation. 

For the full USDA report, click here.