by Ann Cleary

Since the article on BSE (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) by Dr. David Alguire appeared in the last issue of COGNITION, more disturbing facts have been reported about this disease of sheep which has jumped to cattle. The greatest fear, of course, is that it could jump to humans.

Alas, according to the International Manchester Guardian (Feb. 6, 1994), a British television program, Dispatches, revealed that a girl called Victoria, aged 16, had been diagnosed as having Mad Cow Disease. And The Lancet has reported two farmer deaths attributed to BSE. The senior scientific adviser said the deaths weren’t statistically significant in comparison with other countries, whatever that may mean.

In view of marketing havoc and other fears, it is difficult to understand why Canada did not ban the importation of U.K. cattle to this country until 1990 – when they put a surveillance on cattle bought since 1982 and alerted ranchers to BSE symptoms. The disease surfaced in Canada in a cow early in December, 1993. Canada has taken immediate action, slaughtering the whole herd in which the BSE cow was found and as well all the U.K. cattle imported since 1982 (64 on 24 ranches across Canada). It is hoped this prompt action will effectively defuse export problems. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in a release dated January 28, 1994, has agreed to provide additional compensation to owners of destroyed animals to make up some of the difference between federal compensation payments and the fair market value of the animals.

A Good Periodical Folds

We at COG are very sorry to learn that The Organic Farmer, The Digest of Sustainable Agriculture, published from Montpelier, Vermont, has printed its final issue (Winter/94). COGNITION has had several articles reprinted there and an excerpt from COG Ottawa’s Down to Earth Newsletter was in the last issue. In quoted articles, credit was always given to the originating source with full addresses; this gave free exposure to many other magazines. It is indeed sad that such a good periodical has been forced to cease after four years of publication. The staff have been unable to raise sufficient funds to keep this valuable resource alive. We must not let this happen to COGNITION. Be sure to renew your COG membership promptly; any donations to COGNITION will be welcome.

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