|
I. Information
relevant to producers and consumers. |
| |
What
is Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)?
|
| |
|
Bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly referred to
as "mad cow disease," belongs to the family
of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
(TSE). The causative agent of BSE has not been fully characterized,
but three possibilities have been proposed: an unconventional
virus, a prion (a self-replicating protein), or a virino
(incomplete virus) comprising naked nucleic acid protected
by host proteins. The theory accepted by most scientists
is that BSE is caused by a prion. The agent does not invoke
a detectable immune response or inflammatory reaction
in its host and is extremely resistant to sterilization
processes. The brain of affected animals appears “sponge-like”
when observed microscopically in these various forms of
TSE.
|
| |
What
is a Prion? |
| |
|
A
prion is an altered protein. It is not DNA or a virus,
which were previously the only known mechanisms for a
protein to have the ability to replicate, or reproduce.
Prions do not replicate, however, they attach to other
proteins and cause them to change into the same form as
the prion. In normal situations this is not a problem
and naturally occurs in the body. With normal prions the
cell breaks down the prions and reuses their parts. The
cell does not have the ability to break down the abnormal
prions associated with TSE diseases and therefore a buildup
occurs.
|
| |
Do
TSEs occur naturally? |
| |
|
Yes,
disorders of this nature have been known for centuries.
The following is a list of known related disorders:
Scrapie in
sheep (diagnosed in 1732 with a breed susceptibility
in Suffolks)
Chronic Wasting Disease in Elk/deer
Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy (diagnosed in 1940’s)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob in humans (CJD, diagnosed in 1920,
appears to have a genetic and/or sporadic component
(1 case per 1,000,000 population per year))
Kuru in humans in New Guinea (diagnosed in 1900, ancestral
cannibalism)
|
| |
How
do cattle get BSE? |
| |
|
The
only known way for cattle to contract BSE is through consuming
feeds that contain specific byproducts from affected ruminants
(brain, spinal cord, eyes and distal small intestine.)
|
| |
What
are “downer cows”? |
| |
|
“Downer
cows” are cattle that cannot walk or rise from a lying
position, due to any number of reasons.
|
| |
Are
all "downer cows" infected with BSE? |
| |
|
No,
over the past year approximately 15,000 downer cows were
tested for BSE in 2002-2003 and the one case in Washington
was the only positive report. Additionally, 57,352 (as
of September 30, 2003) cattle have been tested from slaughter
plants by USDA. Our diagnostic labs in Kentucky have routinely
tested cattle exhibiting neurological symptoms for many
years and no cases of BSE have been found.
|
| |
I
had a cow that had symptoms like BSE. Did she likely have
BSE or are there other disorders with similar symptoms?
|
| |
|
It
is highly unlikely that your animal had BSE. There are
a multitude of neurological disorders or other diseases
that cause weakness, trembling or other symptoms that
mimic BSE. Cattle with something as simple and common
as pinkeye can demonstrate similar symptoms. Common diseases
affecting the brain of cattle may include: listeria (circling
disease), polioencephalomalacia (thiamine/B1 vitamin deficiency),
rabies, grass tetany, milk fever, and ketosis.
|
| |
Can
you test live animals for BSE? |
| |
|
No,
currently the only reliable test is on brain tissue which
requires the animal’s death for collection.
|
| |
Can
BSE be passed to offspring from infected parents?
|
| |
|
It
is not likely that cattle can transmit BSE to offspring;
however, the research is not conclusive. Research in Great
Britain indicated an increase of approximately 9% occurrence
of BSE in calves from infected dams. There is no evidence
that this resulted from direct transmission rather than
from inherited susceptibility/resistance. Research in
other species indicates that susceptibility/resistance
is inheritable. For example, some lines of sheep are resistant
to Scrapie which is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
in sheep.
|
| |
What
can I do to insure that my cattle don’t get it?
|
| |
|
The
practice of feeding animal by-products that may contain
prions has been banned in the US and Canada since 1997.
Compliance with this law is mandatory.
|
| |
What
age cattle normally have BSE? |
| |
|
Cattle
don’t “normally” have BSE but when it is diagnosed it
is typically seen in cattle between 3 and 6 years of age;
primarily dairy cattle. One case of BSE has been confirmed
in a 24 month old animal in Japan.
|
| |
Why
do the cattle associated with the confirmed cow have to
be destroyed? |
| |
|
There
is no scientific reason to destroy them if they do not
demonstrate symptoms of BSE since they cannot transmit
it to other animals. However, because the only method
of testing is to harvest brain tissue you will probably
see some, if not all, of these animals sacrificed for
testing. The additional herds now under quarantine are
not a result of more cases but rather the expanding search
for the cattle that entered the US with the confirmed
animal.
|
| |
Can
humans develop BSE? |
| |
|
There
has been an observed association with a new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease (vCJD) in the United Kingdom since BSE was first
diagnosed. Case diagnoses appeared after BSE diagnosis,
then case numbers increased for several years, peaking
in 2000, but the case numbers are now decreasing annually.
vCJD affects younger people (28 years old versus >
60years for CJD) and has a longer clinical duration (14
months versus 5 months for CJD).
Between 1996 and 2002 most vCJD cases (129) have been
diagnosed in the United Kingdom, six cases in France,
and one case each has been diagnosed in Canada, Ireland,
Italy, and USA (WHO website). The one known case in the
US is a young woman that spent the first 13 years of her
life in England.
United Kingdom
CJD stats
http://www.doh.gov.uk/cjd/cjd_stat.html
|
| |
If
a person were to eat beef from cattle with BSE what are
the health risks? |
| |
|
There
has been no direct association between meat from BSE cattle
and human health risk. The only known transmittance of
BSE from cattle to humans is when humans consume tissue
from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
of an infected animal.
|
| |
Are
there any common human food products that have cattle
central nervous system tissue in them? |
| |
|
No,
not if products are produced under current guidelines
and regulations. The upgraded USDA processing guidelines
should virtually eliminate the possibility of these parts
of the carcass finding their way into processed foods
by accident. Consumers should be aware that almost any
part of a carcass, even brains and ox tails, considered
a byproduct by many, might well be considered a delicacy
by some segment of the population and therefore be available
for purchase in some meat cases. This situation is becoming
more prevalent as the US becomes more diverse in major
ethnic population markets.
|
| |
What
happens to the infected products when rendered? |
| |
|
The
Washington State case was rendered into candle wax and
soap. Rendering could mean the product could possibly
go for uses such as pet foods, poultry or swine feed supplements
and fertilizers to name a few.
|
| |
Is
there danger to my pet from eating rendered nervous tissue?
|
| |
|
Rendered
products have been major components of companion animal
feeds for many years and no associated problems have ever
been found with canine pets. However, there is a similar
disorder found in felines and it appears that it can be
caused by consumption of feed contaminated with the BSE
agent.
|
| |
Explain
the newly announced USDA rules changes.
|
| |
|
On
December 30,2003 Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman
announced changes in procedure in the meat processing
industry. First and foremost, non-ambulatory disabled
“downer” animals are now banned from human food or contact
with human food processing. AMR, or advanced meat recovery
technology, is no longer acceptable as a means of processing
cattle over the age of 30 months for human food. Air injection
stunning is now banned. Cattle can no longer be tagged
“inspected and passed” if they are suspected of having
BSE. They must be held until they are tested negative
for BSE.
|
| |
Is
our beef safe? |
| |
|
Yes,
we have one of the safest and comparatively cheapest food
supplies in the world. Every animal that is harvested
for commercial sale is inspected both pre and post harvest
by a trained USDA inspector. This is why we know about
the one case in Washington State – a federal inspector
identified the need to test this one animal.
|
II. Impact on
beef marketing and management
|
| |
How
will the new USDA rules affect prices? |
| |
|
Downer
cows have not been accepted by stockyards in recent history.
Beef producers are not expected to experience a reduction
in prices due to the changes. If there is any reduction
in prices it would logically be in the slaughter cow sector
of the market as the uses for the resulting product would
have some limitations and there would be a somewhat lower
yield of product due to the processing limitations. Downer
animals will now be a loss to whoever owns them as has
been the case for most beef producers for some time now,
these animals will be rendered.
|
| |
What
are the short run market impacts? |
| |
|
Prices
for slaughter cattle and wholesale beef have declined
– largely due to uncertainty and expectations of increased
domestic supplies. Prices declined from record-high levels,
so now slaughter cattle are selling near the prices of
a year ago and $10 per cwt. over the price level of mid
2002.
The U.S.
exports about 9% of its beef production. Because countries
have temporarily closed their doors to U.S. beef, the
supply of beef on the domestic market will be increased
as the beef intended for export is diverted to the U.S.
market. Economic research suggests this will have about
a 14% to 18% negative impact on slaughter cattle prices,
which would drop them to the mid $70s/cwt.
Feeder cattle
prices follow expected slaughter cattle prices. Futures
prices for the summer months dropped by $5 per hundredweight
as of Jan. 5. The predicted feeder cattle impact would
be a $10 per cwt. negative impact on prices for 700
to 800 pound feeders, with a greater impact on lighter
calves. Feeder cattle markets are still uncertain, but
seem to be settling at levels about $5 to $10 per cwt.
lower than mid December.
|
| |
What
is happening to beef demand? |
| |
|
U.S.
research and the Canadian experience suggest that there
will not be a great negative consumer response. Initial
retail market surveys seem to support this analysis, although
some categories of consumer are changing their eating
habits. One consumer survey suggested that as many as
one-third of consumers were changing their beef consumption,
however, if this includes groups already at the low beef
consumption level, the total impact will be small.
Per capita
beef consumption is likely to increase this year. If
retail prices follow the wholesale trends, many consumers
will respond to the “bargains” and increase their purchases.
|
| |
What
are the longer term prospects? |
| |
|
Since
the trade embargoes caused the greatest negative price
impact, reopening doors to U.S. exports is the most important
factor in a price recovery. Other lasting impacts will
be the uncertainty of consumer demand and production.
In the next few months, the supply of beef will be very
uncertain. Feedlots may hold back on production. However,
if they expect price recovery, they will hold cattle longer
and the cattle will go to market at heavier weights.
From the
long term view of cow-calf operations, the BSE case
may be a positive factor since it is likely to halt
any expansion of the cow herd. The result will be a
longer period of comparatively tight supplies.
|
| |
What
is being done in response to the recent incidence of BSE
in the US? |
| |
|
Many
activities were already on-going that will have an impact
on our response to BSE. The primary change is that the
time-line for implementation of these activities will
likely be moved up in response to BSE. The primary focus
is around development and implementation of an animal
identification and tracking program. Specific activities
within this focus include source verified to farm of origin
CPH 45 feeder cattle sales; electronic identification
and tracking of feeder cattle through the feed-yard and
to the packing plant as well as building and maintaining
a data base of health and carcass quality for Kentucky
feeder cattle.
|
| |
How
might a national ID system work? |
| |
|
The
system outlined in the U.S. Animal Identification Plan
(USAIP) would require producers to identify livestock
with an electronic ID tag the first time they move in
commerce. This movement would trigger the calculation
of a premise ID number for the person or entity marketing
the animal or animals. This premise ID would then become
the sole identity of that entity in a database for traceability.
Sale barns and marketers of livestock would be required
to record the dates and locations that livestock move
in commerce. The state veterinarian has the responsibility
of defining a premise and providing access to the system
to calculate the numbers. Animals that move in contained
groups that stay intact from original owner to harvest
can be identified with a lot number (probably hogs and
poultry but could include retained ownership and contract
cattle).
|
| |
What
is the proposed timeline for implementation of a national
ID system? |
| |
|
The
USAIP sets out a timeline that was formulated prior to
the BSE case. It states that states should have a program
for administering the allocation of premise ID’s by July
2004. The timelines are somewhat species specific from
that point forward. In cattle that move in interstate
commerce, identification would begin in July of 2005 with
intrastate movements being tagged by July 2006. It is
a widely held belief that these target dates will likely
move closer in light of the BSE case in Washington State.
In Kentucky we have the ability to put producers into
a voluntary system that will begin to compile historic
information on livestock ahead of a federally mandated
program. This is the major focus of the Kentucky Beef
Network.
|
| |
What
is EID? |
| |
|
Electronic
Identification is a system of incorporating a radio frequency
chip (RFID) into the ear tags of livestock. This chip,
when read by a scanner, gives out a 15 digit number. The
chip does not store any information other than the number
and only sends the number when contacted by a reader.
There are two tag technologies on the market right now,
full and half duplex. Each has its own uses and capabilities.
Scanners come in many forms from handheld wands to walk
thru loop units. The best comparison to EID technology
is the bar-code technology used in retail stores. The
bar-code does not store any information but serves as
an identity for that product in the computer system that
operates the inventory management and pricing systems
in the store.
|
| |
What
is premise ID? |
| |
|
In
the USAIP the cornerstone of an animal ID program is a
premise ID number that would be assigned to each person
or location (entity) marketing livestock. The number would
be a random number with no particular coding or means
of using it for traceability by itself. The number would
be assigned to the entity after collection of basic contact
and location information upon the first entry to the market
place. Producers will be able to preregister for premise
IDs through their state veterinarian. The state veterinarian
has the authority to define a premise for that state and
has the responsibility to either administer a system for
assigning these numbers or contracting with someone to
provide that service.
|
| |
What
can I do now to prepare for national ID?
|
| |
|
Be
prepared to tag your livestock on the farm before they
go to market. If you choose not to do so you will most
certainly be charged a fee for applying tags. Most importantly,
producers need to begin to keep records if they do not
already. The KY BQA manual along with the IRM records
books are good sources for suggested records forms (cattle
movement, birth dates, basic production and health information
will be important). Above and beyond the issue of having
records for traceability, it is commonly thought that
the ability of a database system to share source verification
information will create an environment for value added
marketing for those practicing good management.
|
| |
Will
the way we market cattle change as a result of a national
ID program? |
| |
|
It
is commonly held that livestock will need to be tagged
with an EID before being sold or tagged at the markets.
The responsibility for tagging or paying for the service
of tagging resides with the person marketing the cattle.
There is no reason to think that the manner in which we
market livestock will change or even slow down as long
as producers will complete some basic tasks to pull the
responsibility of tagging out of the markets. You will
see RFID scanners in place in the markets and on many
farms to record the numbers as livestock move. The possibility
exists that because of individual identification, markets
may well be in a position to provide producers with individual
data on the livestock as the data is collected for traceability.
There will be some cost associated with collection and
handling of the data collected. Current estimates are
that an EID system will probably add $2-3/head to the
marketing cost on cattle if producer will tag them on
farm and as much as $5-6/head if they have to be tagged
in the markets.
|
| |
Who
owns the data in this database? |
| |
|
The
KBN database is producer owned and privately operated
for a reason – the data can be protected and access to
it limited. You own the data that is entered on your animals
and have the authority to open or limit access to that
data at your discretion with the exception of an incident
of a request for traceability from the USDA resulting
from a case of animal disease. This traceability function
would apply once a mandated national system is in place.
Until that time you can use the system to accumulate data
for your benefit and verification.
|
| |
Can
I be proactive and voluntarily begin an ID program now
to accumulate data to protect my operation?
|
| |
|
Yes,
when premise ID’s become available in the near future,
apply to the State Veterinarian’s office for and receive
a premise ID number. Next, contact the Kentucky Beef Network
and purchase electronic tags for insertion into your cattle.
The charge for voluntarily identifying livestock and their
entry into the KBN database is $3/head including the tag.
The KBN and others working with them can collect information
for cattle moving in purebred or special feeder sales.
Cattle moving off the farm in load lots can also be tracked.
Value Added Target Marketing, a cooperative effort between
UK Extension and the KBN, will assist in obtaining data
on your cattle from the feed-yard and packer. Beginning
to gather this information now, in advance of a national
program, may reap significant benefits to Kentucky producers.
|
