Canada Confirms 12^th Case of Mad Cow

Billings, Mont. ~ The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in a dairy cow in Alberta.  This marks the twelfth case of BSE that has originated from Canada since 2003 and the second since the Canadian border opened to over-thirty-month cattle this past November.  The animal was six years old-born five years after the 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban. 

"What I find most disturbing about the BSE issue is that the CFIA has essentially written off the seriousness of this disease," said MCA Executive Director Jeremy Seidlitz.  "Back in December, when the 11^th case of BSE was confirmed in a 13-year-old Canadian beef cow, we were told that the infected cow was born prior to the 1997 feed ban, and that we can expect to see more cases of BSE during the next couple of years as Canada works toward eliminating BSE from its herds."  

Seidlitz continued, "Now we learn that the latest case of BSE has been found in a young cow-born five years after the feed ban-and we are told, ‘...the age and location of the animal are consistent with previous cases detected in Canada...'  I seriously question if the feed ban is working, and take exception to USDA's opening of our borders to older Canadian beef." 

Humans are susceptible to BSE, which is known as Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal neurological disorder which is caused by eating beef from infected animals.  The announcement of three confirmed cases of BSE in the United States (one cow originating in Canada) in 2003 has had serious implications on export markets.

"Our trade representatives have been trying to open the Korean export market for nearly two years.  Even with the ‘controlled risk' classification granted by the World Organization for Animal Health our export markets have suffered," noted Seidlitz.  "I cannot comprehend why the United States continues to serve as the dumping ground for at-risk beef.  We need to employ strict import policy that guarantees the safety of our beef to our consumers."

For more information about the Montana Cattlemen's Association, please call 406-259-5433, e-mail js@montanacattlemen.org, or visit the website at http://www.montanacattlemen.org/.