February 26, 2004 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle by ELIZABETH HENDERSON

A 2002 study by the Government Accounting Office, however, revealed that feed producers have been lax in implementing the ban. Slaughterhouse wastes - fat, bones, blood, rendered meat and bone meal - continue to be mixed in cattle feed. In addition, many dairy farms wean calves on a formula that includes cattle blood protein.

By contrast, in Brazil, where there have been no cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or "mad cow disease," all cattle feed is tested regularly for animal protein. The Brazilians have developed the use of mass spectrometry, a quick and inexpensive test. In Europe, one animal in four, and in Japan, every animal to be slaughtered for human consumption, is tested for BSE, while the United States tested only 20,000 of the 35 million cattle that humans consumed in 2003.

A policy to improve the safety of the U.S. meat supply should test a higher percentage of all cattle to be slaughtered for human consumption for BSE; ban all animal protein in feed for vegetarian animals, such as cattle, hogs and sheep, and test all feed for the presence of animal protein; require country-of-origin labeling for meat products; implement an ID system for all livestock, following the system already required for organic livestock; ban the use of blood protein in milk replacer for calves; ban the feeding of processed poultry manure to cattle; make available to the public the results of testing of cattle for BSE, of cattle feed for animal protein, and of sheep for scrapie, the related disease; increase the number of USDA meat inspectors; and improve their training so they can recognize BSE symptoms.

An alternative to conventionally raised meat is meat from organic farms. Organic methods prohibit "animal cannibalism." Organic farmers treat their animals in the most natural manner possible. It is not natural for cattle to eat animal protein or fat or drink the blood of other cattle.

To find farmers who raise organic livestock, see the Web site of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (www.nofaic.org).

Henderson is co-owner, Peacework Organic Farm, Arcadia, Wayne County.

Mad cow talk

Michael Greger of the Organic Consumers Association will lecture on "Mad Cow USA: Stop the Madness" on Sunday at 3 p.m. at University of Rochester's Hoyt Auditorium; and 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Road. The lecture is free. Call (585) 234-8750 for more information.Guest