BVE, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, is also known as Mad Cow.
“The USDA’s taken so-called “downer” cows — cows that cannot walk on their own because of illness or injury — out of the human food chain.
“There’s no question about it, there’s going to be added expense,” said Hardecke, who in 2005 will become president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. “But if it’s going to save our industry, it’s worth it.”
Japan rushed a livestock screening and database system into place after the country’s first mad cow case in 2001. Authorities there plan to give consumers “farm-to-fork” traceability of beef by the end of 2004. Cows’ 10-digit identification numbers, tagged to their ears, will appear on labels of beef in stores, letting consumers look up data on the animals on the Internet.”
As the USDA moves to set up a national animal identification program and create new handling guidelines, farmers across the nation brace to secure their industry. The anticipated costs of compliance threaten the livelihood of some small and part time ranchers. Despite nationwide concerns, the industry markets seem to be stable.