December 29, 2003

US Shifts Mad Cow Blame To Canada

United States authorities have suggested that the Holstein infected with mad cow disease in Washington state was imported from Canada.

Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinarian for the Agriculture Department, said that preliminary evidence indicate that the cow was one of a herd of 74 cattle shipped from Alberta, Canada into the U.S. via Eastport Idaho in August 2001.

"These animals were all dairy cattle and entered the U.S. only about two or two-and-a-half years ago, so most of them are still likely alive," DeHaven said.

Investigators are working hard to track down the whereabouts of the other 73 animals. DeHaven said, "We feel confident that we are going to be able to determine the whereabouts of most, if not all, of these animals within several days."

The U.S. has already lost 90% of its exports because of the single mad cow case with more than two dozen nations already banning the import of U.S. beef. Further losses of up to US$15 billion are anticipated. Hence, confirmation that the sick cow originates from Canada will be crucial to the U.S. beef industry as it could then retain its disease-free status.

Canadian authorities have vehemently denied that the U.S. mad cow was imported from Canada. Dr. Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said it is premature to draw any conclusions about the cow's origins because Canadian and U.S. records that ostensibly refer to the same cow don't agree on key details.

Canadian records show that the diseased cow was 6 1/2 years old - older than the 4 or 4 1/2 years claimed by U.S. officials. The age of the cow is significant because both the U.S. and Canada have banned feed that could be the source of infection since 1997.

If indeed the cow was 4 or 4 1/2 years old, the repercussions on the Canada's beef industry, which is still reeling from massive losses as a result of the discovery of an infected cow, will be significant.

Canadian producers have already lost $1.45 billion in exports since the discovery of mad cow disease in May.