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CNN Sunday Morning

Mad Cow Scare: Canadian Officials Aren't Sure It's the Same Cow

Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the mad cow investigation in the U.S. is moving forward. Officials believe they've tracked the origins of the Washington state cow that triggered the mad cow scare.
The latest now from Florence Rossignol of CTV News.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLORENCE ROSSIGNOL, CTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The infected cow is likely to have come from Canada. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the cow was imported from Alberta to Idaho in 2001.

DR. RON DE HAVEN, USDA CHIEF VETERINARIAN: The affected animal was very likely to have entered the United States as part of a group of 74 dairy cattle.

ROSSIGNOL: Further testing will be done. Canadian records show the cow was older than initially thought.

DE HAVEN: To definitively verify that we are, indeed, talking about the same animal on both sides of the border, we will be initiating DNA testing.

ROSSIGNOL: The information is preliminary. But U.S. authorities seem confident they have traced the origin of the cow.

DE HAVEN: it certainly appears to be the most likely line of inquiry as we seek to definitively determine the birth herd. But we will leave no stone unturned.

ROSSIGNOL: But Canadian officials were taken by surprise.

DR. BRIAN EVANS, CHIEF CANADIAN VETERINARIAN: Well, we understand that the United States are continuing to pursue multiple lines of investigation. And based on our understanding of the information compiled to date, it would be premature to draw such conclusions at this time.

ROSSIGNOL: Two dozen nations have banned the import of U.S. beef so far. An estimated 90 percent of the U.S. export market.

(on camera): The u.s. government is so worried about economy consequences, it's sending a team of trade experts to Japan, the largest importer of u.s. beef, to hold talks on how to resume trade.

Florence Rossignol, CTV News, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Same Cow>


Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the mad cow investigation in the U.S. is moving forward. Officials believe they've tracked the origins of the Washington state cow that triggered the mad cow scare.
The latest now from Florence Rossignol of CTV News.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLORENCE ROSSIGNOL, CTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The infected cow is likely to have come from Canada. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the cow was imported from Alberta to Idaho in 2001.

DR. RON DE HAVEN, USDA CHIEF VETERINARIAN: The affected animal was very likely to have entered the United States as part of a group of 74 dairy cattle.

ROSSIGNOL: Further testing will be done. Canadian records show the cow was older than initially thought.

DE HAVEN: To definitively verify that we are, indeed, talking about the same animal on both sides of the border, we will be initiating DNA testing.

ROSSIGNOL: The information is preliminary. But U.S. authorities seem confident they have traced the origin of the cow.

DE HAVEN: it certainly appears to be the most likely line of inquiry as we seek to definitively determine the birth herd. But we will leave no stone unturned.

ROSSIGNOL: But Canadian officials were taken by surprise.

DR. BRIAN EVANS, CHIEF CANADIAN VETERINARIAN: Well, we understand that the United States are continuing to pursue multiple lines of investigation. And based on our understanding of the information compiled to date, it would be premature to draw such conclusions at this time.

ROSSIGNOL: Two dozen nations have banned the import of U.S. beef so far. An estimated 90 percent of the U.S. export market.

(on camera): The u.s. government is so worried about economy consequences, it's sending a team of trade experts to Japan, the largest importer of u.s. beef, to hold talks on how to resume trade.

Florence Rossignol, CTV News, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Same Cow>