Canada confirms mad cow disease in Manitoba cow

TORONTO (Reuters) - Final tests have confirmed mad cow disease in a mature cross-bred beef cow from the Prairie province of Manitoba and a "comprehensive investigation" into the case is being conducted, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said on Tuesday.

The affected cow was born "well before" the 1997 introduction of Canada's ban on cattle feed containing protein from cattle and other ruminants, the CFIA said. A calf born to the affected cow in 2004 is also being traced.

The agency said officials have confirmed the animal was purchased by the owner as part of "an assembled group of cattle" in 1992.

"This means that the animal was at least 15 years of age and would have been born well before the 1997 introduction of Canada's feed ban," the agency said in a statement. "As a priority, investigators are attempting to locate the birth farm, which will provide the basis needed to identify the animal's herdmates and feed to which it may have been exposed at a young age."

The CFIA had said earlier that no parts of the animal's carcass entered either the human or animal feed systems.

The CFIA noted that because of the animal's age, the investigation may be constrained by few surviving animals and sources of information.

Source Reuters