BSE Update

Got the goat

It also took some time to determine that a goat, slaughtered in France in 2002, had BSE and not scrapie, a closely related disease in sheep and goats. BSE and scrapie are among the brain-wasting diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). “Although this is the first time that BSE has been found in a goat under natural conditions, precautionary measures to protect consumers from this eventuality have been applied in the European Union [EU] for several years,” the European Commission (EC) says in a statement. “The level of TSE infection in goats seems however to be extremely low and any possible risk to consumers is minimal.” The goat, originally tested under the European Union’s regular TSE surveillance program, was one of more than 140,000 goats that have been tested since April 2002. French researchers first announced the finding of BSE last October. The French sent their data to the EC’s TSE reference laboratory in England for evaluation by an expert panel, which confirmed the finding on Jan. 28. The goat and its herd in southeastern France were kept out of the human food and animal feed chains, the EC statement indicates. After the French announcement of the case last fall, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) milk and milk products from clinically healthy goats were unlikely to pose any risk of TSE contamination. But in an animal with mastitis, potentially infected blood might filter into the milk, the statement indicated. Both agencies indicate that there is no evidence of a link between goat meat consumption and an increased risk of vCJD, but such a connection cannot be completely ruled out. Meanwhile, the EC announced that it will increase BSE testing of goats for at least six months in order to find out if the case is an isolated one. Officials hope to test 200,000 healthy goats, focusing mainly on areas where BSE is present in cattle.

North America’s Assessment

At the time of this report, the United States and Canada were juggling a host of BSE issues. The U.S. will delay plans to resume imports of some Canadian beef until a review of recent cases of mad cow disease is completed. Imports of younger Canadian cattle is set to start March 7 will not be affected. The U.S. banned Canadian beef and cattle in May 2003 after Canada discovered its first case of mad cow disease. That action, Johann explains, also addresses concerns over the portion of the minimal-risk rule that would reopen the Canadian border for beef from animals 30 months old and over, while keeping it closed for imports of older live cattle for processing in the United States. At the same time, Johanns says the U.S. will also move forward with plans to allow Canada to ship bone-in beef from younger animals. The U.S. since August 2003 has allowed Canada to ship boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age, which are considered minimal risk for carrying mad cow disease. For groups like the R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America, Johanns’ assurance is not enough. The Billings, Mont.-based cattlemen’s association has asked a federal judge to stop the USDA from allowing livestock and expanded beef imports from Canada until the merits of its case challenging the agency plan are heard. R-CALF claims a stigma will be associated with the U.S. meat supply if it becomes mixed with beef cuts from Canada and that will have a traumatic effect on cattle producers in this country. The ban on Canadian cows had put a damper on business for Tyson Food Inc. (Springdale, Ark.). According to officials, the lack of cattle supplies from Canada is keeping costs high and cuts productivity at its slaughter plants. In early January, Tyson suspended operations at four plants and reduced operations at another, putting 2,100 out of work and reducing its slaughter capacity by 15 percent. Along with Tyson, Swift & Co. and National Beef Packing Co. LLC have cut beef production in part because they have not had enough cattle to slaughter. These meat packers argue that the USDA plan would give Canadian beef packers an advantage by allowing them to slaughter cheaper cattle north of the border and export the beef to the U.S., while denying U.S. companies access to the same Canadian animals. Production, however, will reportedly resume at a staggered schedule at Tyson plants in Denison, Iowa; Norfolk and West Point, Neb.; and Boise, Idaho. Second-shift processing at its plant in Pasco, Wash., was scheduled to resume Feb. 24. “While cattle numbers remain tight, we believe supplies will improve in the months ahead, especially as the anticipated flow of Canadian cattle resumes,” John Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, says in a news release. In a joint statement, Johanns and Canadian Agriculture Minister Andrew Mitchell says they discussed “moving forward in an expeditious manner” to develop a plan that would remove virtually all restrictions on beef trade between the two countries. Ted Haney, president of the Canada Beef Export Federation, told Bloomberg that the USDA’s action is “discouraging and verging on the offensive.” “This is not about animal health, not about food safety or science,” Haney says. “This is about conceding to U.S. protectionist forces and specifically the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.” At press time, Japan, the No. 1 buyer of American beef, had decided to lift its ban on beef imports from the U.S. Total U.S. beef imports, at $3.8 billion in 2003, have fallen sharply since the single case of BSE was discovered in a Washington state dairy cow a little more than a year ago. A Japanese government panel, however, has accepted a U.S. proposal on verifying the age of cattle, but said further study was needed to ensure the method was safe. Under the U.S. plan, beef would be shipped to Japan if it carried an “A40” USDA beef grade, mainly from cattle aged 12 to 17 months. Johanns has also requested an “action plan” for resuming beef sales to South Korea and other former buyers. Taiwan is expected to decide in early March whether to end its ban on U.S. beef purchases. -FQ