Abstract This paper examines how Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a neuro degenerative disease in a class of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE's). It looks at how BSE is caused by prions, which are related to several other TSE's and how it has been a major concern with the economy and human and animal health worldwide together with political policies. It also explores how testing, diagnosis and prevention of BSE and other TSE's are still under investigation.
From the Paper "vCJD also affects humans, but differs from CJD. Symptoms include depression, mood swings, anxiety, withdrawal, hallucinations, delusions, parasthesia ("pins and needles"), headaches, cold extremities, lack of coordination, loss of memory, loss of concentration, inability to talk or move, and results in death after 7-24 months, averaging 14 months.(7) It affects people ages 8-14.(7) 156 confirmed or probable cases have been reported worldwide as of April 2004. 146 of these cases were reported in Great Britain, 6 in France, and one in each Italy, Ireland, United States, and Canada. (7)Treatment for this disease includes chlorpromazine and quainacrine, but only experimentally."
This paper discusses mad cow disease, a virulent cattle disease, which led to the destruction of 180,000 livestock in the United Kingdom and other European countries and plunged other major cattle-producing nations into a global panic.
Abstract This paper explains that mad cow disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, a fatal brain disorder in cattle caused by a still-unknown agent. The author points out that U.K. reports also listed other animals as having been infected by TSEs, including domestic cats, mice, hamsters, goats, mink, monkeys, pigs, and some exotic species of the cat family. The paper reports that there is also suspicion that mad cow can be spread through human blood; therefore, the American Red Cross bans blood donations from people who have lived abroad, especially from those who spent as few as three months in the UK between 1980 and 1996.
From the Paper "The disease spread to cattle in other countries through infected animal feed UK exported to them within that decade. These countries in Europe alone included Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland (Lohn), which were reported to have at least one infected cow each. The UK also supplied animal feed to South Africa and non-European countries at that time, extending the reach Mad Cow beyond Europe and making it a global health scare."
Abstract The paper discusses how, although the media in the Netherlands inflated the real threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to human beings, the Netherlands still failed to respond appropriately to the sense within the public that its government had not protected it properly from dangerous foods. The paper thus highlights the need for the government to take the threat of BSE seriously, not as an immediate danger to the European public, but as a way of sustaining the public's confidence in the regulation of food safety.
From the Paper "The risk of human contraction mad cow disease is perceived to be high in places where its early form can be detected in livestock. Known in this context as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), consumption of meat thereby contaminated is believed to be a way of contract the fatal neurologically degenerative human disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD). Thus, when reports surfaced of contamination found in meats allegedly originating on Dutch farms, the outcome was a dramatic response from various governments within Europe, amongst EU agencies and sectors of various national publics, all of which responded to the threat with an immediate forbearance from meat. The question must be posited, however, with regard to its dramatic spread in the public discussion forum, as to whether the response has thus far been appropriate or properly measured from within the Dutch government."
A proposal to study the effects of supplemental lighting on the reproductive functions of dairy cattle through changes induced in melatonin production.
Abstract Melatonin is a substance that is used in the husbandry of a variety of producing animals in agriculture. The substance is available for such applications as both injections and implants for the purpose of boosting melatonin levels in production animals. Alternatively, some research has indicated that melatonin production in agricultural animals can be increased through the use of supplemental light. This paper proposes a study to determine the effect of supplemental lighting on melatonin production in dairy cattle and to determine the effects of increased levels of melatonin production in dairy cattle on the productive output of such cattle. The paper also includes a literature review of the subject.
From the Paper "In the contemporary period, diary farmers face increasing economic pressures through the interaction of demands for reduced market prices and increased costs of production inputs. Government subsidies no longer can be relied upon to provide stability in dairy farming. Thus, dairy farmers must seek ways to improve the productivity of their operations where possible. A failure to identify and implement effective strategies to improve productivity will lead to further declines in agriculture generally and for the quality of rural life more specifically."
Abstract Mad Cow Disease is a brain disease of cattle, which was first identified in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s. Although not as widespread as some other livestock diseases, such as hoof-and mouth-disease, the Mad Cow Disease has attracted a lot of publicity because of its apparent apparent ability to transmit to humans, the fact that there is no known cure for the disease and the horrifying nature of the brain decay it causes. This paper explains the cause of the disease, how it affects the organisms, how it is transmitted from one organism to another, and the ways in which it could be transmitted to humans. The paper also discusses the human equivalents of the disease.
Paper Outline:
Cause of the Disease
How the Disease Affects the Organism
How is the Disease Transmitted from one Organism to Another
The Ways in Which it Could be Transmitted from Cows to Humans
Human Equivalents of the Disease
Works Cited
From the Paper "This theory about the spread of disease is based on the observation that incidences of the disease have mostly been found in the UK where feeding of meat and bone meal to cattle was most common. Although other European countries also fed meat and bone meals to cattle as a protein supplement, the British laws about high temperature sterilization of the protein meal were relatively lax in order to keep meat prices competitive."
Abstract The paper discusses the efficiency of the German governmental agencies and beef industry in estimating the risk of mad cow disease negatively affecting German consumers of beef during the years 2001 to 2004. The paper further discusses how the German governmental agencies and industry managers performed risk management strategies and policies through the selection and implementation of appropriate measures after the outbreak of mad cow disease in Germany in 2000 and until 2004. In addition, the paper looks at how the risk communication was conducted in relation to the true possibility that humans can contract Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD), a variant of BSE.
Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Perceived Risk Analysis
Rational Problem-Solving
Food Safety Regulation Reform
Research Risk and Assessment
Food Industry Supports Government
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The work of Grannis, Green and Bruch (2004) entitled: "Animal Health: The Potential Role for Livestock Disease Insurance" state that "animal disease can cause significant production losses and a reduction in livestock receipts." Grannis, Green and Bruch state that an opportunity development exists in assisting the management of livestock disease risks and one example is Germany. "Evidence from Germany demonstrates that both alternative value and consequential loss policies for livestock producers can be developed and can work in parallel with government indemnity programs. In Germany, indemnity payments are made based on predetermined and published payment schedules. These schedules are capped by maximum values that do not represent the value of superior commercial animals. Policies are available to insure the difference between the value indemnified according to the published government schedule and the value of the animal under regular, nondisease market conditions".
