MAD COW DISEASE

Statement by USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford (DVM) Regarding Positive BSE Test Results

“We received a positive result on a Western blot confirmatory test conducted at the USDA laboratories in Ames , Iowa , on samples from an animal that had tested “inconclusive” on a rapid screening test performed on Friday, March 10. “The samples were taken from a non-ambulatory animal on a farm in Alabama . A local private veterinarian euthanized and sampled the animal and sent the samples for further testing, which was conducted at one of our contract diagnostic laboratories at the University of Georgia . The animal was buried on the farm and it did not enter the animal or human food chains. “We are now working with Alabama animal health officials to conduct an epidemiological investigation to gather any further information we can on the herd of origin of this animal. The animal had only resided on the most recent farm in Alabama for less than a year. “We will be working to locate animals from this cow’s birth cohort (animals born in the same herd within one year of the affected animal) and any offspring. We will also work with Food and Drug Administration officials to determine any feed history that may be relevant to the investigation. Experience worldwide has shown us that it is highly unusual to find BSE in more than one animal in a herd or in an affected animal’s offspring. Nevertheless, all animals of interest will be tested for BSE. “Under USDA testing protocols, surveillance samples are sent to contract laboratories for screening tests. If the sample is found to be inconclusive on the screening test, it is then shipped to our National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames , Iowa , for an additional rapid test and two confirmatory tests: the immunohistochemistry (IHC) test, which is conducted by APHIS scientists, and the Western blot test, which is conducted by scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. USDA considers an animal positive for BSE if either of the two confirmatory tests returns a positive result. “In this instance, the inconclusive result from the contract lab in Georgia was confirmed through a second rapid test at NVSL. Now, the Western blot test has returned a positive result, and that is sufficient for us to confirm this animal to be positive for BSE, which is why we are making this announcement today. The IHC results are still pending and we will release those results as soon as they are available, which we expect to be later this week. “I want to emphasize that human and animal health in the United States are protected by a system of interlocking safeguards, and that we remain very confident in the safety of U.S. beef. Again, this animal did not enter the human food or animal feed chains. “While epidemiological work to determine the animal’s precise age is just getting underway and is ongoing, the attending veterinarian has indicated that, based on dentition, it was an older animal, quite possibly upwards of 10 years of age. This would indicate that this animal would have been born prior to the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration’s 1997 feed ban. Older animals are more likely to have been exposed to contaminated feed circulating before the FDA’s 1997 ban on ruminant-to-ruminant feeding practices, which scientific research has indicated is the most likely route for BSE transmission. “By any measure, the incidence of BSE in this country is extremely low. Our enhanced surveillance program was designed as a one-time snapshot to provide information about the level of prevalence of BSE in the United States . We have conducted surveillance in the United States since 1990 and following the initial positive in December 2003, we developed an enhanced surveillance program. Since June 2004, all sectors of the cattle industry have cooperated in this program by submitting samples from more than 650,000 animals from the highest risk populations and more than 20,000 from clinically normal, older animals, as part our enhanced BSE surveillance program. To date, including the animal in today’s announcement, only two of these highest risk animals have tested positive for the disease as part of the enhanced surveillance program. “As we approach the conclusion of our enhanced surveillance program, let me offer a few thoughts regarding surveillance going forward. I can assure you that we will continue to base our maintenance surveillance testing on international guidelines. Though the nature and extent of maintenance surveillance has not yet been finalized, the incidence of BSE in this country remains extremely low and our interlocking safeguards are working to protect both human and animal health and we remain very confident in the safety of U.S. beef. “As we move forward with the epidemiological investigation that has been initiated today into this case of BSE, we will continue to be very transparent in sharing information with the public and with our trading partners around the world."

US confirms 3rd case of mad cow in 27 months

A beef cow from a herd in Alabama has tested positive for mad cow disease, U.S. officials said on Monday, confirming the third case of the disease in 27 months. The U.S. Agriculture Department said the 10-year-old animal, which had tested "inconclusive" for mad cow disease during the weekend, showed a positive result when subjected to a more advanced test. The latest discovery came at a time when U.S. officials were trying to convince Japan to reopen its market to U.S. beef after a shipment of veal violated meat export rules by containing spinal material. Japan suspended beef trade on January 20. South Korea said earlier on Monday it could cancel a planned opening of its market in April to U.S. beef if a new U.S. case was found. Seoul has banned U.S. beef since the first U.S. case in December 2003. Agriculture Department Chief Veterinarian John Clifford announced the positive test results during a telephone news conference. He said the new case was confirmed through the Western Blot test, which was added to USDA's battery of tests last year....

Finding of mad cow in U.S. hits Tyson shares

News that another case of mad cow disease has been found in the United States pressured shares of the country's largest beef processor on Monday. Following the afternoon report, shares of Tyson Foods (TSN) dropped 4.3% to close at $13.07. In a written statement, Tyson said "we remain confident in the safety of our beef products because of the kind of cattle we buy and the precautionary measures we take" and that it does not expect "today's finding to change consumer demand for beef." The company buys young beef animals, "usually less than 30 months old, which are not in the BSE risk group," it added. "We also make sure materials from beef cattle that can potentially carry BSE, such as the brain and spinal cord, are removed and do not enter the food supply." Clifford also said that the U.S. beef supply remains safe....

Meat Company Shares Sink on Mad Cow News

Shares of beef-dependent companies including Tyson Foods Inc. and McDonald's Corp. traded lower Monday after the Agriculture Department confirmed that a cow in Alabama has tested positive for mad cow disease. Shares of meat producer Smithfield Foods Inc. gave up 5 cents, to $28.07 on the NYSE. In the restaurant industry, hamburger giant McDonald's shares fell 33 cents to close at $34.32, while Wendy's International Inc.'s stock fell 54 cents to $62.08. YUM Brands Inc., owner of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, fell 33 cents to $48.45. Stephens Inc. analyst Farha Aslam, however, said in a client note on Tyson that "beef demand has proven very resilient" in the face of past mad cow headlines and doesn't believe Tyson's U.S. sales will suffer. Aslam said mad cow is currently "less worrisome than bird flu."....

CME Cattle Review: Mixed; Seen Down Tue On Positive BSE Test

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures prices settled mixed Monday on news the U.S. Department of Agriculture was testing a cow brain sample for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease. But, after the close, the USDA announced a positive test for the cow, which spent the past year on a farm in Alabama. As a result, lower prices for CME cattle futures are expected Tuesday morning. Most active April live cattle futures have already fallen 1,233 points from their Jan. 10 top to Friday's low, for a 13% decline. "Unless this animal's herd mates also test positive for the disease, I don't see any sustained impact," said Dan Vaught, analyst and economist with AG Edwards and Sons. "American consumers have become immunized to this type of story." But, although there is often a seasonal bounce in early spring cattle prices, as weather warms for grilling, Vaught and others warned of an expected summer increase in slaughter-ready live cattle supplies. "I'm already bearish because of the supply and demand fundamentals," said Tres Knippa, a live cattle pit broker with many cattle feedlot customers. "This positive result could exacerbate an expected early summer supply glut." The news comes at a difficult time for the nation's cattle producers. Poultry protein price competition has increased due to diminished U.S. chicken exports in the wake of worldwide bird flu fears....

Industry leaders: Mad cow finding shows U.S. system works

Cattle industry leaders say the discovery of a new case of mad cow disease in this country points to the success of the United State's testing and surveillance program. They also say that consumers -- both in this country and abroad -- can remain confident in the safety of U-S beef. A cow in Alabama tested positive for mad cow disease. Officials with the U-S Department of Agriculture say the animal did NOT enter the human food or animal feed chains. This is the third case of mad cow disease in the U-S since December 2003. Authorities are still investigating the origin of the animal involved in the latest case. Jim Magagna, of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, says that now, there isn't the sense of panic and fear that surrounded the disease early on. He says there is -- quote -- "pretty good evidence we don't have a widespread problem in this country."

Hong Kong halts Swift Beef imports

Hong Kong health authorities have slapped a suspension on all imports from a Colorado-based beef processor after discovering the firm had shipped meat products to the territory containing skeletal bones. Imports from the Swift Beef Company were suspended with "immediate effect," according to the airport office of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, citing a spot inspection of product from the company carried out Friday. "The decision was made following discovery of beef imports with bones from that plant during inspections," a department spokesman said in a statement. Hong Kong permits only boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months old, with the animal's brain, spinal cord and other parts with a high risk of mad cow disease removed. Hong Kong banned all beef U.S. beef imports Dec. 24, 2003, after mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was detected in a cow in Washington State. The ban was partially lifted Dec. 29 after a protocol was agreed that set out the packing requirements and handling requirements. "We will contact the relevant authorities for more information concerning the beef imports in question," the spokesman said. The U.S. meat processing plant that made the ineligible shipment to Hong Kong is certified by the U.S. Agriculture Department as eligible for overseas shipment, including Hong Kong and Japan....

Japan to seek more U.S. explanation on beef checks

Japan's vice farm minister said on Monday his ministry would seek further explanations from the United States about its beef inspection system after Hong Kong suspended U.S. beef imports. Japan wants to know why beef shipped to Hong Kong from a plant of U.S. beef company Swift & Co. contained banned cattle parts, Vice Agriculture Minister Mamoru Ishihara said. "It was very disappointing," Ishihara said when asked by reporters about the U.S. violation of its beef trade agreement with Hong Kong, which came nearly two months after Japan detected a similar violation in its inspection of a shipment of U.S. veal. Ishihara said that the latest violation may answer Japanese questions about whether the ineligible U.S. shipment to Japan was an isolated case or a systematical problem....