AR-News: DNA tests confirm mad-cow Holstein came from Canada, U.S. officials say

[jim robertson]

DNA tests confirm mad-cow Holstein came from Canada, U.S. officials say

By Warren King
Seattle Times staff reporter



DNA testing in Canada and the United States confirms that a cow diagnosed 
with the first case of Mad Cow disease in the U.S. was born in Alberta, 
Canada, agriculture officials said today.
Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinarian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
said in a news briefing that the testing verifies "with a high degree of 
certainty" that the dairy cow from Mabton, near Yakima, was born in Alberta.

The finding will help move forward an investigation of the source of 
infection of the animal.

Scientists are focusing on the strong possibility that cattle feed contained 
agents of the disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), in animal 
parts used as a protein source before such practice was banned by both 
countries.

"It's important we recognize the DNA testing is but one step ... as we 
continue all avenues of the investigtaion," said Dr. Brian Evans, chief 
veterinarian of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who appeared jointly in 
the briefing with DeHaven.




Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company





“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.”
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man

“Religious tradition is one of abuse of animals...If we cling to the notion 
that we are somehow better than our fellow animals we will continually 
engage in behavior which is destructive to them and consequently to us as 
fellow inhabitants of the ecosystem called earth.”
- Robin Murray O’Hair,  American Atheist magazine, October, 1988

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