February 25, 2004 San Antonio Express-News (Texas)

An advisory committee has recommended testing cattle that die on farms before reaching slaughterhouses, the Associated Press reported this week. The panel also called for testing animals that show signs of central nervous system disorders.

Downer cattle - those that can't walk - have been banned from the food chain, but that also means they may not be tested for the disease, which was discovered in a cow killed at a Washington state slaughtering facility last year.

With the downer cow ban in place, officials are studying the best way to monitor for the disease, which can infect humans.

An international panel has recommended stiffer rules on the use of animal tissues in livestock feed, the AP noted. The United States banned the use of meat or bone meal in cattle feed in 1997.

As federal officials discuss monitoring measures with state leaders, they must not let the difficulty of imposing new rules on the nation's 96 million cattle deter them from taking meaningful steps quickly.

If the American cattle industry is to remain healthy, international markets and the American public must be satisfied that U.S. beef is safe.