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The following article is old, but addresses the role of the USDA and their incompetence in getting requested info to the Japs.

Japan's mad cow questions go unanswered
By Steve Mitchell
United Press International
Published 5/15/2004 8:16 AM

WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has failed to supply the number of cows exhibiting signs of a brain disorder it has tested for mad cow disease to Japanese authorities, who requested the information more than four months ago, an official told United Press International.

The failure to provide the information comes amid the recent revelation USDA officials did not test an animal displaying brain disorder symptoms consistent with mad cow disease at a Texas plant in April.

The lack of this data also could hamper ongoing negations aimed at reopening Japan's borders to U.S. beef. Those negotiations are slated to gear up again next week in Tokyo. Japan has resisted reopening its borders since shutting them in December, after a cow infected with mad cow disease was detected in Washington state.

Animals with brain disorder or central nervous system symptoms are considered the most likely to be infected with mad cow disease -- the reason the USDA's official policy is to test all such animals.

That also is the reason Japanese authorities have requested the information on the CNS cows.

"Our technical people are asking for that (because) if you tested more of these animals, it's a more accurate survey" of whether the herds are infected, a Japanese official, who requested anonymity, told UPI.

Although the Japanese government requested this information in January, the official said the USDA has not yet provided any substantial statistics.

"We received a one-page document" showing the number of dead and downer cows -- those unable to stand -- that have been tested, the official said. But there is no information on the number of tested animals with CNS signs, he added.

The USDA has also failed to address other questions about how the agency is ensuring mad cow disease does not infect U.S. herds, the official said. This has created a sense of frustration among Japanese authorities.

"We ask many questions to them, but they answered quite few," the official said. When the USDA does provide information "it's only (a) partial answer -- we don't receive (a) full answer," he said. "The Japanese people are frustrated" by this, he added.

<blockquote data-quote="Mike" data-source="post: 45920" data-attributes="member: 15">The following article is old, but addresses the role of the USDA and their incompetence in getting requested info to the Japs. Japan&#039;s mad cow questions go unansweredBy Steve MitchellUnited Press InternationalPublished 5/15/2004 8:16 AMWASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has failed to supply the number of cows exhibiting signs of a brain disorder it has tested for mad cow disease to Japanese authorities, who requested the information more than four months ago, an official told United Press International.The failure to provide the information comes amid the recent revelation USDA officials did not test an animal displaying brain disorder symptoms consistent with mad cow disease at a Texas plant in April.The lack of this data also could hamper ongoing negations aimed at reopening Japan&#039;s borders to U.S. beef. Those negotiations are slated to gear up again next week in Tokyo. Japan has resisted reopening its borders since shutting them in December, after a cow infected with mad cow disease was detected in Washington state.Animals with brain disorder or central nervous system symptoms are considered the most likely to be infected with mad cow disease -- the reason the USDA&#039;s official policy is to test all such animals.That also is the reason Japanese authorities have requested the information on the CNS cows.&quot;Our technical people are asking for that (because) if you tested more of these animals, it&#039;s a more accurate survey&quot; of whether the herds are infected, a Japanese official, who requested anonymity, told UPI.Although the Japanese government requested this information in January, the official said the USDA has not yet provided any substantial statistics.&quot;We received a one-page document&quot; showing the number of dead and downer cows -- those unable to stand -- that have been tested, the official said. But there is no information on the number of tested animals with CNS signs, he added.The USDA has also failed to address other questions about how the agency is ensuring mad cow disease does not infect U.S. herds, the official said. This has created a sense of frustration among Japanese authorities.&quot;We ask many questions to them, but they answered quite few,&quot; the official said. When the USDA does provide information &quot;it&#039;s only (a) partial answer -- we don&#039;t receive (a) full answer,&quot; he said. &quot;The Japanese people are frustrated&quot; by this, he added.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mike, post: 45920, member: 15"] The following article is old, but addresses the role of the USDA and their incompetence in getting requested info to the Japs. Japan's mad cow questions go unanswered By Steve Mitchell United Press International Published 5/15/2004 8:16 AM WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has failed to supply the number of cows exhibiting signs of a brain disorder it has tested for mad cow disease to Japanese authorities, who requested the information more than four months ago, an official told United Press International. The failure to provide the information comes amid the recent revelation USDA officials did not test an animal displaying brain disorder symptoms consistent with mad cow disease at a Texas plant in April. The lack of this data also could hamper ongoing negations aimed at reopening Japan's borders to U.S. beef. Those negotiations are slated to gear up again next week in Tokyo. Japan has resisted reopening its borders since shutting them in December, after a cow infected with mad cow disease was detected in Washington state. Animals with brain disorder or central nervous system symptoms are considered the most likely to be infected with mad cow disease -- the reason the USDA's official policy is to test all such animals. That also is the reason Japanese authorities have requested the information on the CNS cows. "Our technical people are asking for that (because) if you tested more of these animals, it's a more accurate survey" of whether the herds are infected, a Japanese official, who requested anonymity, told UPI. Although the Japanese government requested this information in January, the official said the USDA has not yet provided any substantial statistics. "We received a one-page document" showing the number of dead and downer cows -- those unable to stand -- that have been tested, the official said. But there is no information on the number of tested animals with CNS signs, he added. The USDA has also failed to address other questions about how the agency is ensuring mad cow disease does not infect U.S. herds, the official said. This has created a sense of frustration among Japanese authorities. "We ask many questions to them, but they answered quite few," the official said. When the USDA does provide information "it's only (a) partial answer -- we don't receive (a) full answer," he said. "The Japanese people are frustrated" by this, he added. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What animal is usually the product of a ranch?