MAD COW DISEASE RETURNS
First case in a decade confirmed at Scots farm
THE first case of mad cow disease in Scotland for a decade was confirmed on a farm yesterday.
tests on a dead cow near huntly, Aberdeenshire, showed it had been killed by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Bse) infection.
the farm was immediately put into lockdown, but government officials were quick to stress there was no immediate threat to humans.
the deadly brain condition and its human equivalent are commonly passed on through eating infected meat.
three other cows and a calf are also to be culled, but officials say there is no wider risk to the public as the meat did not enter the human food chain.
the feed given to the infected animals has been impounded for tests, although the Bse infection could have mutated naturally within the animals.
it is not yet clear whether or not the feed was the cause of the infection or if the same batch of feed is in circulation elsewhere.
Last night, farmers in the huntly area
raised fears the outbreak could result in beef prices plummeting, putting additional strain on their livelihood.
Gordon Stronach, who farms at Millburn, near Huntly, said: ‘It’s a big worry. It will knock the prices down again. The value of fat cattle will just plummet.’
Myra Malcolm, whose brother John Walker runs Mosstown Farm, near Rothiemay, said: ‘It’s a tragedy, but because the vets have got it so under control I’d like to think that it is a one-off and it’s not going to spread.’
Another farmer said: ‘It will probably put people off eating beef again – it doesn’t take much.’
This is the first reported case of the disease in three years in the UK and the first incident in Scotland since 2008.
The last British outbreak was in Wales in 2015, when the disease was discovered in a dead cow.
The latest case brings an end to the Scottish farming industry’s ‘disease-free’ status achieved 18 months ago.
Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said: ‘While it is too early to tell where the disease came from in this case, its detection is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.
‘We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to answer this question and, in the meantime, I would urge any farmer who has concerns to immediately seek veterinary advice.’
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘I have activated the Scottish Govby
‘Strict controls to protect consumers’
ernment’s response plan to protect our valuable farming industry, including a precautionary movement ban being placed on the farm.’
He added: ‘This is standard procedure until we have a clear understanding of the disease’s origin.’
It is understood the animal involved is a five-year-old Aberdeen Angus female born north of the Border.
Many local farmers last night expressed their worries that they had not been made aware of the farm’s exact location.
One, who asked not to be named, suggested that a hike in the price of animal feed might be to blame for the case.
He said: ‘We have cattle and the cost of our feed has doubled this year… Maybe that’s what’s causing it – folk looking at other alternatives to animal feed.’
BSE has been closely monitored since it was first formally identified in 1986. Between then and 2001 4.4 million cattle were slaughtered to try to eradicate the disease.
It typically occurs in four and fiveyear-old animals. Characteristically progressive and fatal, it is caused a protein called a prion. Experts think it is most often spread through feeding cattle rendered material from slaughtered animals such as sheep and other cattle.
In March 1996, scientists linked BSE to a new, variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) a fatal, brain disease in humans.
Since the death of Stephen Churchill, in 1995 the UK death toll from vCJD has risen to 178. President of NFU Scotland Andrew McCornick said: ‘It is not unexpected to see a new case.’
He added: ‘When Scotland applied for BSE negligible risk status it was with the knowledge there was every possibility of a sporadic case of BSE emerging, as has been the case in France and Ireland.’
According to the Scottish Government, under the surveillance system, all animals over four years of age that die on farms are routinely tested for signs of BSE.
Ian McWatt, director of operations at Food Standards Scotland, said: ‘There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.’
Quality Meat Scotland chairman Kate Rowell said: ‘The reality is that sporadic cases, such as the one confirmed this week, do occur and have also been reported in other countries.’
North East MSP Peter Chapman said: ‘This is a very concerning development. We need everyone to
work together to find out everything they can about this case.’
Lorna Paterson, north-east regional manager with the National Farmers Union Scotland, said it was ‘disappointing for our industry and the farmer involved’.
She added: ‘There’s no need for people to stop buying beef – this has no effect on the food chain.’
Scottish Labour’s rural economy spokesman Rhoda Grant said: ‘It’s vital the Scottish Government takes speedy and effective measures to reassure and protect the industry and the communities it supports.
‘Scottish beef is among some of the finest in the world and is worth hundreds of millions of pounds to our economy.’
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