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U.S. ends BSE testing, not Canada ban
DES MOINES (DTN)--Though the U.S. Department of Agriculture has completed its investigation of one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), officials still plan to keep the U.S. border closed to Canadian live cattle.
Dr. Ron DeHaven, a USDA veterinarian, said Feb. 9 that the BSE investigation is over after none of the herd mates to the BSE cow tested positive for the disease.
"As far as reducing the ban on live Canadian cattle, we still are at the same place as before," DeHaven said. "We are still analyzing that, no definitive decision, but it's an item that remains active."
U.S. officials hope the end of the BSE investigation will spark the interests of trading partners.
After revealing a cow in Washington state was infected with the disease, U.S. beef exports were blocked by many countries.
At the conclusion of the investigation, 255 cows believed to be linked to the infected cow's birth herd were found by the USDA, all of which were sacrificed and properly disposed of, DeHaven said.
USDA officials said they identified and located only 29 of 80 cattle that were shipped to the U.S. with the infected BSE cow in September 2001.
When asked why the investigation was concluded when so few cows have been found, DeHaven said there was good reason to believe little risk remained.
"Many of these animals were moved into U.S. years ago, the paper trail has ended, and based on critical analysis, a number of those animals could have gone to slaughter already," he said.
Based on international standards the USDA found more of the birth herd cows than was expected, DeHaven said.
"We do think the ones not found represent very little risk. Instead, we plan to focus on future surveillance programs, and the international sub- committee recommended the same," DeHaven said.
Meanwhile, USDA officials announced 2,000 tons of bonemeal was still being held. The bonemeal will not go into the feed cycle, rather it will be disposed of.
Date: 3/4/04
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