Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirms bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in Alberta

[Pathfinder]

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Confirms Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a beef cow from Alberta. No part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting human and animal health and takes the management of BSE very seriously. Immediately upon confirmation of this case, the CFIA launched an investigation and is working closely with provincial and industry partners.

BSE is a progressive, fatal neurological disease in cattle. Canada's last confirmed BSE case was reported in 2011. This latest case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program, which continues to play an important role in Canada's strategy to manage BSE.

As part of the investigation, the CFIA is seeking to confirm the age of the animal, its history and how it became infected. The investigation will focus in on the feed supplied to this animal during the first year of its life. The Agency will also trace out all animals of equivalent risk. Equivalent risk animals will be ordered destroyed and tested for BSE.

Canada remains a "controlled BSE risk" country, as recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Accordingly, this case should not affect current exports of Canadian cattle or beef.

The case will be reported to the OIE, in line with Canada's international obligations and our commitment to transparency. It will be reported on the CFIA website, as part of the Agency's monthly reportable diseases update.

Additional Information

• Questions and Answers - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta
• Transcript - Briefing (February 13, 2015)

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/.../1423797327027

 

[Pathfinder]

BSE cow born on Alberta farm, says Canadian Cattlemen's Association

Mandatory cattle identification tag on cow's ear traced animal back to birth farm

By John Cotter, The Canadian Press Posted: Feb 17, 2015 2:39 PM MT Last Updated: Feb 17, 2015 2:40 PM MT

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association says a beef breeding cow found with mad cow disease on an Alberta farm was born in the province at a different farm.

Association spokesman John Masswohl says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency identified the birth farm.

Mad cow case in Alberta won?t harm exports, officials say

"They've got the birth farm, which is important," Masswohl said Tuesday. "I understand that everything is in Alberta."

The food agency has not told the beef industry when the cow was born or how many other animals from the same herd may have consumed the same feed in their first year of life, he said.
...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ys-canadian-cattlemen-s-association-1.2960730

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-...-was-born-two-years-after-feed-ban-1424305479



Canada Says BSE-Infected Cow Was Born Two Years After Feed Ban
Officials say cause is under investigation; no other mad-cow cases have been detected
By Chester Dawson
Feb. 18, 2015 7:24 p.m. ET

CALGARY, Alberta?Canada said Wednesday a beef cow confirmed to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy was born in March 2009, two years after the country enacted a ban on cattle feed containing animal proteins in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease...

 

[Pathfinder]

Peru, Taiwan, Belarus ban Canadian beef in wake of mad cow case

OTTAWA/WINNIPEG, Manitoba Mon Feb 23, 2015 3:40pm EST

(Reuters) - Three more countries have blocked imports of Canadian beef or beef products, following Canada's discovery of mad cow disease earlier this month, its first in four years.
...
The CFIA had earlier reported that South Korea had banned Canadian beef and Indonesia banned non-edible byproducts from Canada.
...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-canada-beef-idUSKBN0LR21520150223