Historically, mad cow has never been reported in cattle which are totally grass fed.  The outbreak in Britain and Europe which occurred 15 years ago has been linked to the practice of using animal by-products in feeding.  Providing cattle with their God designed diet of grass and forage results in the safest beef for families.

What Is Mad Cow Disease?

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), known in vernacular as Mad Cow Disease, is one of a group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).  These transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal diseases affect the central nervous system of many animals including man and cause neurological symptoms.  These diseases include BSE in cattle, Scrapie in sheep, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in elk and deer, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in humans among others.

What Causes Mad Cow Disease?

The causative agent for these diseases have not been proven exactly, however, numerous theories exist.  The leading and most accepted theory is that the diseases are caused by a prion (a protein particle).  Other theories involve a virus, Spiroplasma bacteria, organophosphates, magnesium, aluminum, and the autoimmune system.  

The greatest attention has been given to BSE when evidence in the 1990’s linked it to nvCJD (new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).  CJD has been recognized with worldwide distribution for at least 80 years and usually has an onset in 60-70 year olds.  New variant CJD (nvCJD) was only recognized in the last decade and has been the form linked to BSE.  It has been seen in young people and even children.

Though not proven how, BSE may be spread to humans.  Evidence indicates that nvCJD has occurred after consuming BSE-contaminated cattle products.  Evidence has also indicated that the transmission of BSE to humans is only possible with the consumption of brain, eyes, lymph nodes or spinal tissue.  

The outbreak of BSE in cattle, which occurred in Britain, is believed to have started from the feeding of Scrapie-contaminated sheep meat and bone meal to cattle.  This outbreak was then made worse by the practice of feeding rendered bovine meat and bone meal to young calves.