What are the regulations for livestock feed, and are animal products being fed to other animals?
The FDA (the federal agency responsible for regulating production of feed for birds including chickens and turkeys, livestock, and other animals) established a ban in 1997 on the use of most animal protein in feed for cattle and other ruminants. However, this ban does not include cattle blood fed to infant calves in milk replacer. In Britain, two people died of vCJD after receiving blood transfusions from an infected meat-eating donor. In the United States, essentially anyone who has been in Britain for more than six months is not allowed to donate blood on the chance that he or she may have vCJD. Yet FDA continues to allow calves to be fed blood from other cows who may be infected with BSE. The use of mammalian protein in the manufacture of feed for pigs and birds, including chickens and turkeys, continues to be allowed because it is thought those species are resistant to contracting a TSE.
The FDA, which is responsible for regulating production of feed for poultry, livestock, and other animals, established a ban in 1997 on the use of most animal protein in feed for cattle and other ruminants. This ban does not include cattle blood fed to infant calves in milk replacer. In Britain, a person recently died of vCJD after receiving a blood transfusion from someone later known to have vCJD. In the U.S., anyone who has been in Britain for more than 6 months is not allowed to donate blood on the chance that they may have vCJD. Yet FDA continues to allow calves to be fed blood from other cows that may have BSE. The use of mammalian protein in the manufacture of feed for pigs and poultry continues to be allowed because it is thought those species are resistant to contracting a TSE.
