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Confirmation that the US's BSE cow was imported from Canada, but was over six years old and not four as had been earlier reported, is good and bad news. (500 words)

The good news is that it was born before the ban on feeding meat and bone meal to ruminants was imposed and that the ban may still be effective in preventing further infection. The bad news is, of course, that it almost certainly puts the US's plans to open their border to Canadian cattle on ice for some time. Additionally, it increases the probability that infection occurred through feed contamination with the implication that there may be more cases of BSE to be discovered.

The top priority must surely be to ensure that they are detected, reported and do not in some manner enter the food or feed chain. And, while not doubting their integrity or competence, there needs to be a clear incentive for cattlemen to ensure that this happens. The dread of finding BSE needs to be eliminated.

The more straight forward part of this is to make sure that cattlemen get compensated adequately for finding and reporting any suspect cattle. As there are not likely to be many of them, paying a bounty will not prove to be expensive.

Further, detecting BSE cattle from their behaviour before clinical symptoms are evident is not difficult. This is, however, a double edged sword. It means that BSE cattle can be identified before they are moved off farm. But it also gives the unscrupulous the opportunity to move suspect cattle before symptoms are evident.

The more difficult aspect is abandoning the illogical practice, from an epidemiological standpoint, of slaughtering all animals in herds where BSE is found. This is a disincentive for reporting even when compensation is paid. Surely animals in such herds, and particularly those in the same age cohort and have been fed the same feed as calves, are prime suspects. They need to be quarantined, tagged and tested on a continuing basis. But, as the only known means of transmission is through feed, while they are on the hoof they are not a source of infection.

And there lies the challenge. The public, most probably because of deceptive and melodramatic reporting by the press and media, still generally has the perception that BSE spreads like SARS. And indeed this perception has been reinforced by past policies of whole herd slaughter.

Surely such measures as the ban on feeding meat and bone meal to cattle, removing Specified Risk Material from carcases and testing all downers dramatically reduces the chances of the disease being spread or entering the food chain. But ultimately it is the cattleman who is the first line of defence and the most valued ally in the BSE battle. The carrot is a more effective weapon than the stick.

January 9, 2004