Forum discusses "Mad Cow" disease

A forum in Des Moines last night attempted to answer the question: “will the madness come to Iowa?”. The discussion about “Mad Cow” disease featured Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, a top official from the National Animal Disease Lab in Ames, and State Veterinarian Dr. John Schiltz says the U-S meat supply is “absolutely safe” because adequate safeguards are in place.Dr. Shiltz says American farmers take Europe’s scare with “Mad Cow” and “Hoof and Mouth” diseases very seriously. Every U-S cow or steer that’s slaughtered is tested for “Mad Cow” disease, and it’s illegal to use feed here that has any component from Europe. Dr. Pat Finnerty (fin’-er-tee) of Des Moines University organized the forum. The event was part of the medical school’s “brain awareness week”. Mad Cow disease attacks the brain.