USDA ANNOUNCES NEW ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM: March 2004
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new, intensive, national surveillance program to define whether BSE is present in the National Herd and, if so, at what level.
Over the next 12–18 months, samples will be collected from as many "high-risk" cattle over 30 months of age as possible that:
- Cannot rise or cannot walk
- Show neurological signs
- Are condemned, euthanized or died following signs that may be associated with BSE
- Die from unknown causes.
A random sample of apparently healthy cattle over thirty months of age will also be taken at slaughter facilities. All ante-mortem condemn animals at slaughter except non- neurologic veal calves will be sampled for BSE.
BSE Testing on Ante-mortem Condemns:
LIVESTOCK PRODUCER ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR BSE SURVEILLANCE:
Producers can assist in the surveillance effort by:- Ensuring all cattle, including dead animals, are identified before leaving the premises
- Keeping accurate animal identification and movement records
- Keeping accurate feed records
- Reporting cattle with neurological signs to your veterinarian
- Disposing of carcasses appropriately, such as with a licensed renderer.
To report high-risk cattle call the toll free number:
The toll-free number for the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance program is
1-866-536-7593
USDA will help defray costs incurred for transportation, disposal, storage and testing.
Surveillance before BSE detection in the U.S.
For the last 14 years, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has had an active surveillance program to ensure detection and swift response in the event that an introduction of BSE were to occur.
In fiscal year 2002, USDA established a goal to test 12,500 cattle for BSE. It surpassed its goal and tested 19,990 cattle. A targeted surveillance approach was used. It was designed to test the highest risk animals, including:
- downer animals (animals that are non-ambulatory at slaughter),
- animals that die on the farm,
- older animals and
- animals exhibiting signs of neurological distress.
This is significantly higher than the standards set by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the standard-setting organization for animal health for 162 member nations. Under the international standard, a BSE-free country would be required to test only 433 head of cattle per year. In 2003, the USDA tested over 41 times that amount.
Historically the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspected all cattle presented for slaughter in the United States for signs of central nervous system impairment. All animals exhibiting neurological signs during these inspections were condemned, and were not permitted for use in human food. The brains from these animals, prior to March 2004, were submitted to USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for analysis. All BSE testing prior to March 2004, was conducted at NVSL. The average turnaround time for these samples was 8 days from receipt of the samples at the laboratory.
Historic USDA BSE Surveillance
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Contact us for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A-107
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-1447
Fax: (916) 653-2215
or send an email to: ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov