March 24, 2023

First case of BSE since 2021 reported at England, UK farm

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed in a 17-year-old suckler cow in Cornwall, England, the United Kingdom – the first case of the disease on a UK farm since 2021.

The disease was picked up during routine surveillance and testing of fallen stock cattle aged over 48 months when the in-calf indigenous cow was culled after being found recumbent.

The case will not affect the UK's ability to export beef, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said.

The cow's offspring will, however, be culled and its cohort screened for BSE.

The case, described by Defra as "isolated" and atypical H-type BSE, was confirmed on March 20.

- Farmers Weekly