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The USDA has exhumed and examined the body of the beef cow
that was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy
earlier this week, and confirmed an estimate by an Alabama
veterinarian that the animal was at least 10 years old.
Officials examined the animal's teeth to estimate its age,
USDA said. The agency plans to have other experts examine
the teeth as well. Additionally, one of the animal's offspring
has been located and is being held for observation at USDA's
Ames, Iowa laboratory.
The search continues for other offspring and former herd
mates of the animal, which had lived on the Alabama farm
upon which it was discovered for only a year.
The age of the animal is important because some trading
partners, notably South Korea, could cut off beef trade
if a case of BSE is discovered in an animal born after the
United States' ban on cattle protein in cattle feed took
effect in 1997.
South Korea announced that it would send experts to investigate
the age of the animal firsthand, which will further delay
the reopening of the market to U.S. beef until at least
early May, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The ministry
is sending meat inspectors to the United States in the near
future to inspect 33 meat processing plants. That inspection
is expected to take at least two weeks.
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