Answers to your questions

How do I prevent BSE from entering my cattle herd?
To the best of our knowledge, the only significant way BSE
("Mad Cow Disease") is transmitted to cattle is by feeding
certain cow‑derived products back to cows. For this reason
back in 1997 the FDA implemented a "ruminant protein feeding ban" which basically prevents ruminant proteins from being fed to ruminants. The ban was later amended to ban feeding of all mammalian proteins to ruminants.

While it might seem like a lot of trouble, the feeding ban (and the associated record‑keeping requirements) actually comprise the most important "fire wall" which would prevent a widespread outbreak of BSE (as occurred in the UK) or at very least dramatically limit its spread (as happened in Canada).

Dairy producers who make sure that they, their feed mills, and their nutritionists are complying with the feed ban are much less likely to have BSE detected on their dairy and therefore less likely that their herd will have to be depopulated in a quarantine & slaughter clean‑up action by USDA. Producers or feed distributors complying with the federal law are also less likely to be involved in a criminal investigation by the FDA.

What are prohibited feedstuffs?
The feed ban prohibits the feeding of most mammalian tissues to ruminant animals including beef or dairy cows, sheep, goats, buffalo, elk or deer.  These banned feedstuffs include:

• Meat meal,
• cooked or steamed bone meal,
• meat or bone tankage,
• mechanically separated bone marrow,
• uninspected or uncooked human food meat products.

What animal products can be fed to cattle?
A partial list of feed commodities which can be used in dairy rations:
* Blood products (blood meal)
* Milk products (calf milk replacer)
* Poultry products (feather meal)
* Fish products (fish meal)
* Tallow, animal fat, and grease are also exempt from the feed ban.

How does a dairy producer comply with the feed ban?
1. Do not feed products labeled with the caution statement "Do not feed to cattle or other ruminants."
2. Maintain copies of invoices and labels for each feed delivery which contains animal protein for one year (even the exempted feeds like blood meal or fish meal).
3. Do not feed pet food to ruminants, as it may contain prohibited material/mammalian protein.

Dairy producers would not have record‑keeping obligations if they did not use any of the exempted animal protein feeds.

Are you in compliance?
The ruminant protein feeding ban regulates a variety of entities including feed mills, renders and feeders of ruminants including beef and dairy farmers.  Meet with your farm nutritionist and veterinarian to determine exactly what's in the ration and if further inquiries need to be made with feed providers (feed mills, commodity brokers, feed stores etc.)

More specific information is available at the FDA website listed below.

FDA BSE Feed Regulations
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/bsetoc.html

Producers with questions about their obligations under the feed ban are encouraged to contact their veterinarian, their extension service or state regulatory agency.

Information Specific to California Dairy Producers:

The California commercial feed inspection program at
916-445-0444.

Information on California state regulations and the Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE)Program
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/safe/

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