Disposal of Downer Animals

[cowman]

It seems to me, for all the rhetoric. that there is a whole lot about this disease that we just don't much about. I mean how do two vegetarians get this disease while some of those old English lads were regular old gut eaters and ate the most appalling stuff? I suspect it has a lot to do with genetics?
It's just like some people can smoke like a chimney, booze it up with the best, and work in a chemical soup and still be as healthy as a bull. While others live a puritan life and still come up dead from cancer! It has to be in your genetic makeup?

[ianben]

Cowman
I think you are spot on with genetics.

I saw a report which said 50% of UK pop were thought to have a total natural imunity to CJD and only a very small percentage would be very suseptable.

Did not make headlines though like a single BSE cow in Canada or US.

It is the lack of information and the unknown time scales which make this such a problem.

Testing is fine in theory but no one really knows yet when or how the infection is passed on. Facts will take many years and probabilities not good enough unless you are sure you are not at risk.

There are some real scary senarios on which I will not pontificate.

[cowman]

Maybe we should forget about testing the cows and test the humans! If you are susceptable to Mad Cow you can't eat beef, If you are okay you can eat the whole thing!
Just my luck I'd come up susceptable and have to eat that old cardboard chicken the rest of my life! Great...I can't smoke or drink now I'd have to eat that crap! This being healthy is not much fun!