Restrictions imposed after farm’s BSE case

AN investigation is under way after a case of BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, was confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire. Restrictions on movement have been imposed at the farm where the case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was identified and the animal’s offspring and cohorts have been traced and quarantined. According to the UK

Government’s official website, cohorts are cattle which were either born in the same herd as the BSE case; or reared with a BSE case at any time before both were up to a year old. The animal did not enter the human food chain and the owners are working with authorities on next steps and were praised for their quick response.

Three others farms with connections to the case also imposed restrictions but chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas described the risk to the public as “minimal”.

The Scottish Government said it was “identified as a result of routine surveillance and stringent control measures” which meant that animals over four years of age that die on farm are routinely tested for BSE.