MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Canada confirms “mad cow” case

Canadian veterinary officials confirmed a second case of mad cow disease among dairy cattle.

Canada's first home grown case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow disease was found in May 2003 costing the industry billions of dollars in exports since trade partners closed their borders to Canadian beef and cattle.

However United States which is Canada's main beef and cattle client, said that the finding will not affect plans to resume imports of young cattle from its northern neighbour.

US Agriculture Department spokesperson said that the new case did not change the risk assessment of Canada's beef or plans to reopen borders to cattle under the age of 30 months.

However the new case did not come as a surprise to Canadian government or industry because stepped up testing of old and sick animals was expected to turn up a few more cases.

"It was not totally unexpected" said Canadian Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell who revealed he had spoken about the case to his US counterpart Ann Veneman.

"Canada will work with US officials to ensure live cattle resumes next March 7", added Mr. Mitchell.

The first US case found in Washington State in December 2003 also affected a cow that had been born in Canada.

All three cases were born before a US 1997 ban on feeding cattle protein from cattle, sheep and other ruminant livestock, a practice thought to spread the disease.

Canada believes its mad cow cases stem form imports of British cattle before the trade bans imposed in 1999.