US to significantly scale down BSE test program
US - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Thursday announced Washington's plan to scale down its surveillance program on mad cow disease, in late August at the earliest, to one tenth of the current size. Under the revised program, the U.S. Department...

Creekstone Asks For Summary Judgment In BSE Testing Case
US - Creekstone Farms, which is suing USDA to be allowed to test all of its cattle for presence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, filed for summary judgment in Washington, D.C. Friday, and the company suggested that such universal testing might both...

USDA Secretary Comments On Alberta BSE Case
WASHINGTON - "Today, Canada announced a case of BSE in a 50 month old animal from Alberta. While the United States and Canada have a strong system in place to protect animal and human health, the diagnosis of BSE in an animal born roughly four...

Studies suggest blood test possible for mad cow
US - Tests in hamsters suggest it may be possible to develop a blood test for mad cow and related diseases in both humans and animals before they develop symptoms, researchers reported on Thursday. The study, published in the journal Science, also suggests...

Association calls for further BSE restrictions on Canada
US - The US cattle association is calling for further restrictions on beef from Canada, after regulators there confirmed a testing program had found the country’s eight case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Source: Food Production...

U.S. says no deal on beef trade with China
US - U.S. officials said Friday it was premature for China to announce an end to a mad cow disease-related ban on American beef as it began accepting restricted imports. China’s government said Friday it had resumed limited imports after a 2 1/2...

Appeals court agrees to hear challenge on Canadian cattle trade
US - A federal appeals court has agreed to hear another challenge from a ranchers' group that wants to ban Canadian cattle from crossing the border. R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America went back to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a Montana...

Revised BSE Measures For US Imports
CANADA - Canada is opening its border to a broader range of animals and animal products from the United States, which were suspended following the confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington State in 2003. Source: Cfia<...

Last two cases of BSE in U.S. 'atypical'
US - The last two cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the U.S. have different molecular characteristics than a 2003 case in Washington state and most of the cases diagnosed in Europe, according to a statement from USDA. Source: Agriculture...

If companies want to test for BSE, let them
IOWA - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef is David. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and corporate America is Goliath. Iowa cattle farmers should pray little David eventually slays the giant. But I have a feeling the slingshot is empty and free enterprise...

Korea Fears US May Take Beef Case to WTO
IOWA - The government is alert to the possibility that the United States will take the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO), should Korea continue to delay its import of U.S. beef. Source: Truth about Trade & Technology

USDA Complete Analysis Of BSE-Positive Cow
US - “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have completed their investigations regarding a...

USDA Release BSE Prevalence Estimate for U.S.
WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced USDA's estimate of the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States. Source: USDA

USDA To Release Analysis Of US BSE Testing Friday
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture will unveil the analysis it has done on nearly two year's worth of testing for mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, on Friday, the USDA said Thursday. Source: CattleNetwork

Producer battles to test all beef
US - A Kansas beef producer is in Washington this week trying to garner legislative support in its two-year battle against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will not allow the company to test all of its cattle for mad cow disease. Source:...

US ranchers seek to bar Japan, Canada beef imports
WASHINGTON - American ranchers' group R-CALF said on Wednesday it was considering legal action after its members voted to try to stop the U.S. government from importing cattle and beef products from animals over 30 months old from BSE-affected countries....

Mad cow madness: USDA stands in the way of broader testing
CHICAGO - If a hospital wanted to advertise that it upholds sanitary standards higher than any required by the government, no one would object. A used-car dealer who decided to offer only vehicles with the best crash-test scores would be free to do...

Despite new mad cow cases, U.S. wants to lift restrictions on Canada
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration wants to end remaining mad cow disease-related restrictions on Canadian cattle, despite two fresh cases there. Source: Fosters Online

USDA Defends Canadian Cattle Safety After Latest BSE Case
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Thursday vigorously defended the Canadian measures to keep its cattle and beef safe from mad-cow disease despite the country's latest case. Canada's fifth case of mad-cow disease,...

Origins of mad cow case still a mystery
US - Farm officials have chased nearly three dozen leads stemming from a recent case of mad cow disease in Alabama, but still haven't determined the origins of the infected cow, the state veterinarian said Friday. Source: The Montgomery Adverti...