The cow at the centre of Canada’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy investigation has been positively identified as one born in March 1997 on a Saskatchewan farm, six months before Canada implemented its ruminant-to-ruminant feeding ban.
Through DNA analysis and cattle records, Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials confirmed the Black Angus cow was born on Mel and Betty Ann McCrae’s farm in Baldwinton, south of Lloydminster.
George Luterbach, chief veterinarian with the CFIA, said the DNA findings give final proof to CFIA’s investigation team that they had correctly tracked the origin of the cow from northern Alberta through a circuitous route back to Saskatchewan.
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“The good news is that we were bang on. It does not trigger further work. It really does verify that our investigation was on the mark,” said Luterbach.
“It’s through some serious grinding we were able to add some more information and further validating what we did was on the mark.”
Early in the investigation, CFIA officials tried to get a positive DNA match using samples. The DNA results were unable to conclusively confirm the cow’s origin.
Instead, all 2,700 cows on 11 farms under investigation had to be destroyed. None of the animals tested positive for BSE.
Samples of DNA were taken from each of the animals killed. Using that DNA and another sample taken from the BSE cow, investigators were able to identify the cow’s mother and father and a calf.
“We have a very complete picture now. We have identification of the positive cow’s mother, its father, its offspring, which all cross reference together.”
A calf from the BSE cow was found at a Barrhead feedlot. Its DNA and an ear tag matched its mother.
Investigators also found an animal that matched as the BSE cow’s mother in the Saskatchewan herd, and a DNA profile on file through registration of its father that matched.
“That was really good news for us. It revalidated our belief that BSE was not common or widespread in Canada.”
Ron Glaser, public affairs manager with Alberta Beef Producers, said it’s good news that CFIA has been able to verify the exact parentage of the infected animal.
“The fact they were able to do that is excellent. It closes that chapter and verifies what was basically believed to be the case.
“It’s positive news but I’m not sure that will necessarily move anything forward any sooner, but it is a tidy ending.”
