Mad Cow News, May 2009

US: New techniques developed for TSE testing

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemist Eric Nicholson and veterinarian Robert Kunkle have found a way to facilitate the diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a deadly group of diseases that can develop in a range of mammals, including humans. USDA Link

BSE case confirmed in ALBERTA

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an 80-month-old dairy cow from Alberta. No part of the animal’s carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.
The animal’s birth farm has been identified, and an investigation is underway. The age and location of the infected animal are consistent with previous cases detected in Canada. Canadian Food Inspection Agency

UK: 'Mad cow' disease kills 22-year-old Bilsthorpe man


A 22-year-old Bilsthorpe man has died from a suspected case of the incurable

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) — better known as 'mad cow' disease.
Andrew 'Rew' Hawker died at King's Mill Hospital on 7th May after being struck down by pneumonia while he fought the degenerative neurological disorder. Chad.co.uk. Link

WEST VIRGINIA: Seven more deer test positive for CWD


Seven more deer sampled in Hampshire County test positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. Since it was first discovered in a road-killed deer near Slanesville in 2005, the DNR has been aggressively targeting the dangerous virus. To date, 45 deer taken from the containment zone have tested positive. West Va Outdoor News

CANADA: Are we eating American beef raised on chicken manure?

When you think of cattle feed very few of us probably imagine chicken manure. Certainly it would be the last thing that would enter the mind of most of us from farmers to eaters. Some time ago the NFU was approached about the possible practice of feeding chicken litter to cattle in the United States, and potentially in other nations that export their beef to Canada. I say possible because it is really difficult for a farm organization in Canada to nail down what exactly is happening with this issue. Having spent a great deal of personal time trying to research this issue it has proven impossible to find the "smoking gun" of how widespread this practice is. Frankly it is going to take an enterprising news agency or journalist to follow this issue further. At this point it is hard to know where the truth really lies. Here's what we do know. Canada has banned this practice. The United States has not banned the practice of feeding chicken manure to cattle -- quite the opposite in fact. You can find the following recommendation from the University of West Virginia (as an example) on the web by simply Googling "feeding chicken litter":The following rations are based on free choice feeding and is adequate for both dry and lactating cows. Because chicken litter is high in minerals, no salt or minerals need to be fed with this ration -- 70% chicken litter and 30% hay. The Sun Times Link