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News of Mad Cow disease has recently shaken the U.S. beef industry — and Americans
— with the discovery of a dairy cow in Washington state which tested positive for
BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). This disease is the result of a broken or warped
protein, also known as a prion.
Much is still not understood about BSE, which is similar to Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease
in humans. According to the U.S.
National Center for Infectious Diseases:
Strong evidence indicates that BSE has been transmitted to humans primarily in the United
Kingdom, causing a variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Mad Cow Disease is found in the brain and spinal tissue of infected animals
and is transmitted to cattle by the ingestion of infected tissue put in
processed cattle feed as a protein supplement.
What about BSE / Mad Cow Disease and Cameron Ranch's grassfed beef?
Our livestock are never fed processed cattle feed. They are
fed only what grows on the ranch; that being grasses and legumes. We feed hay in the winter
months, grass or alfalfa, and offer free choice minerals. Further, we do not "fatten"
our livestock in feed lots prior to processing. Because our livestock are NOT
fed any animal products or grain, we therefore believe the risk of Mad Cow Disease in our
cattle is nil.
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