fdisk, first off BSE has never I repeat never been found in the USA. The ranch you spoke of in texas was sold some feed supplement that contained bone meal made from cows. It is important to understand that this is a compliance issue not a safety issue. The FDA prohibits the feeding of animal derived protein supplements. Further more the bone meal in question was produced from U.S. cattle, where there has never been a case of BSE.
Second the BSE agent has only been found in central nervous system tissue, including brain, spinal cord and retinal tissue. The BSE infectious agent has never been found in muscle meat or milk, which is the principle way beef is consumed in this country.
Third, after 10 years of study by the USDA, of suspicious animals, They have never found BSE or anything similar in U.S. cattle.
Fourth I don't remember the exact number but I think it is less than 10 people worldwide that have died from this.
Fifth I am sick and tired of the media and snakeoil salesmen making a mountain out of a molehill. These people that are propagating these lies are trying to bring down the beef industry because they don't like the cattle being treated like cattle.
Maybe you should read some facts before you spread lies about something you know little about.
Yes I raise cattle and I am mad as hell about this issue. If you want some facts go to
http://www.bseinfo.org/resource/index.htm