Feed Ban Violation Causes BSE Case

September 1, 2006 - An investigation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a 50-month-old Alberta diary cow, born well after the ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban was implemented, has revealed that the animal probably contracted the disease due to an adulterated batch of feed.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) charged that "a particular incident was documented that may have permitted the contamination of a single batch of cattle feed with adulterated material. This particular batch of feed is the most probable source of the infection." The CFIA believes the entire batch of feed was sent to a single farm.

The CFIA has tracked down 170 animals that were exposed to the same feed. Most have died or been slaughtered. Of the 38 survivors, most have already been destroyed, but a handful has been kept in quarantine for further genetic investigations. Eight of the animals could not be traced due to inadequate paperwork.

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