Return to TFB Main Page
Return to Current Edition
Texas Agriculture Archive

June 6, 2003

Canadian 'mad cow'
case effect unknown

USDA moved swiftly to impose a ban on imports of cattle, sheep, goats, beef, beef products and animal feed from Canada with the May 20 announcement that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) , better known as "mad cow" disease, had been confirmed in a cow in the Alberta province.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said in a statement released the same day that she believed the case was isolated and appropriate precautions had been implemented.

"Information suggests that risk to human health and the possibility of transmission to animals in the United States is very low," she said.

Markets initially fell on the news, but livestock futures rebounded the following day.

"Based on the market reaction Wednesday (May 21) morning, which is very encouraging, I'd say our message is getting across that the system in place is the best in the world," said Todd Domer, spokesman for the Kansas Livestock Association. "It is very effective."

According to Canadian agriculture officials, all 192 cows that made up the herd of the one cow found to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have tested negative for BSE.

In addition to the 192 cows that tested negative, another 180 have been slaughtered for testing, said Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

"It may ultimately not be possible to determine the source herd with absolute certainty," Evans said. "We will not stop until we're absolutely clear the trail has gone cold."

A team of USDA inspectors is working with Canadian officials investigating the infected animal's origins, such as where it was sold, what other cattle came into contact with it and what it was fed. Contaminated feed is viewed as the most likely cause of BSE.

On May 27, a voluntary withdrawal of dog food was underway by its Canadian manufacturer. The concern was that meat and bonemeal potentially containing material from the infected cow was used in the production of dog food. The CFIA issued a public information notice regarding the dog food and Health Canada advised that there is no risk to human health from handling this product and that dogs are not susceptible to BSE.

According to a statement from the Texas Beef Issues Team, representing collectively the Texas livestock industry, the eight-year-old cow diagnosed with BSE was part of a 150-head herd located in northern Alberta. The cow was presented for slaughter on Jan. 31, 2003 and was condemned by Canadian inspectors for being underweight and having pneumonia. The carcass did not enter the human food supply.

Although Canadian officials did not suspect BSE, the disease was confirmed by a lab in the United Kingdom. Canadian officials said the affected herd will be depopulated.

In addition, the Canadians, aided by a team from USDA, will conduct a comprehensive investigation to trace the origin of the cow and determine how it was processed, which will provide information to control any potential spread of the disease. Records at the farm level, at slaughter, the rendering plant and feed mills will be thoroughly scrutinized.

U.S. beef industry procedures to prevent BSE from entering this country involve three critical points:

• Since 1989, the U.S. has banned imports of all beef and cattle from any country that has diagnosed BSE. The ban will extend to Canadian imports pending review of the recent isolated case. In the meantime, the Texas Animal Health Commission and USDA are initiating appropriate regulatory activities regarding Canadian cattle that have already been imported to the U.S. and Texas.

• The U.S. beef industry cooperates with USDA on ongoing surveillance tests on cattle that meet profiles of the disease. In 2002, USDA tested 19,990 cattle for BSE using targeted surveillance designed to test the highest risk animals, including "downer" animals that are non-ambulatory at harvest, animals that expire on the farm, older animals and animals exhibiting signs of neurological distress. A U.S. case has never been diagnosed.

• Since 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned feed supplements containing meat and bone meal. BSE is not spread contagiously animal to animal. Scientists believe it is spread through contaminated meat and bone meal.

According to the Texas Beef Council, producers in the Lone Star State, through their cattle and agricultural associations, have pledged to continue these stringent guidelines to protect the U.S. beef supply.

"Twelve years of active surveillance in the United States have kept our herds free of BSE," said John Dudley, cattle rancher and chairman of the Texas Beef Council. "U.S. producers remain constantly vigilant and mindful of our obligation to produce safe beef supplies for the American consumer."

Meanwhile, the announcement of the disease could have a huge impact on the U.S. beef market...and consumers will decide if that impact is positive or negative, a Purdue economist said.

In a story reported on AScribe—The Public Interest Newswire—Agriculture Economist Chris Hurt said if consumption goes down because of consumer fears, beef prices could drop. However, if consumers maintain faith in U.S. beef, he said "this could turn out to be a good thing for cattle producers."

In 2002, 1,075,000 head of cattle were imported from Canada into the U.S. for slaughter—3 percent of total U.S. cattle slaughter. About 4 percent of U.S. beef is imported from Canada.

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Indonesia also closed their borders to imports of Canadian beef, which could cause U.S. exports to rise along with prices.