Canada's seventh mad cow Posted by Jean at 07/11/06 04:18 PM

Canada's seventh mad cow (still only suspect but likely to be confirmed), the fifth in Alberta and the second this month, was only 4 years and two months old, the youngest Canadian cow yet. Still the Canadian authorities assure the public that this proves that their feed ban, instituted five years before this cow was born, is effective (!!!!!). They plan to tighten it a bit next year. Canada has the same kind of very small surveillance program as the US--this cow was tested because it collapsed.

Live Canadian cattle and beef under 30 months (2.5 years) may enter the United States. Mammals that are in the early stages of the disease and are asymptomatic can still transmit the disease to other mammals. We do not have country of origin labeling so we wouldn't know if we are eating Canadian beef. Canadian beef when slaughtered in the US go into the feed supply for US pigs and chickens, and the pig and chicken remains are fed back to US beef and dairy cows.

Read more: "Mad cow suspected in Alberta dairy cow".

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