QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
USDA'S BSE TESTING PROGRAM
USDA Answers Your Questions producers. This is especially true in
States that do not have disposal facilities,
such as rendering or salvage slaughter
PRODUCER: What is USDA’s Bovine Services Laboratories (NVSL). facilities.
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) NVSL will test each sample using
Testing Program? immunohistochemistry (IHC), which
is recognized internationally as the PRODUCER: What can I do to help?
USDA: It is a one-time effort that will
gold standard for BSE testing, and/or USDA: If you have a dead, down, or
provide a snapshot of our cattle
Western blot when applicable. disoriented cow, call the toll-free BSE
population to help determine whether
BSE is present in the United States. hotline right away at 1–866–536–7593.
PRODUCER: What happens if one of The costs involved with sampling the
The goal is to test as many cattle from
my cows tests positive? animal, such as disposal costs, will
the targeted high-risk population as
possible in 12 to 18 months. Samples USDA: The cattle owner will be be covered by USDA.
will be taken from slaughter facilities, compensated for any cattle taken as a
rendering plants, livestock auctions, result of the traceback/traceforward PRODUCER: Why should I care about
veterinary clinics, public health investigations. Any quarantine of the BSE Testing Program?
laboratories, and farms and ranches. affected animals would be temporary,
USDA: Doing the right thing isn’t always
and losses due to the investigation
easy, but it’s still the right thing. If BSE
PRODUCER: What are targeted high- will be reimbursed.
is found and dealt with on someone
risk cattle? else’s operation, you would benefit from
PRODUCER: What are the goals of the the increased reputation of America’s
USDA: Experience in Europe has shown
BSE Testing Program? vigilance against this disease. And, even
that testing high-risk cattle is the method
most likely to identify BSE if it is present. USDA: The goals are to obtain enough though the scientists who are running
Generally, these are adult animals that samples from the targeted population the testing program hope they don’t find
have some type of clinical abnormality to help us determine whether BSE is another case of BSE, being able to reassure
that could be consistent with BSE. This present in the United States and, if so, our customers and our trading partners
includes cattle that are dead, down, or at what level. This information will help is very important.
disoriented. us determine if additional animal or
public-health control measures need to PRODUCER: Where can I learn more
PRODUCER: How will the testing be implemented. This information will about the BSE Testing Program?
be done? also help reassure our trading partners
USDA: More information is available
about the animal health status of the
USDA: USDA personnel will collect online at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/
U.S. cattle population.
brain samples and send them to an lpa/issues/bse/bse.html
existing network of State and Federal
PRODUCER: Why does USDA need
laboratories approved to conduct
my help?
rapid testing for BSE. If a sample tests United States
inconclusive there, confirmatory USDA: While most of the samples will Department of
Agriculture
testing will be done by the Animal come from off-farm sources, for the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
and Plant Health Inspection Service program to be statistically sound, some USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
(APHIS) at the National Veterinary samples will have to come directly from Issued September 2004 • Program Aid No.1788