Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a relatively new disease of cattle. It was first recognised and defined in the United Kingdom in November 1986. Over the next few years the epidemic grew considerably and affected all parts of the country but to different degrees. It reached its peak in 1992, when 36,680 cases were confirmed in Great Britain, and since then has shown a steady decline. Further information, including graphs, is available on the statistics pages.
BSE occurs in adult animals in both sexes, typically in animals aged five years and more. It is a neurological disease in which affected animals show signs that include; changes in mental state, abnormalities of posture and movement and of sensation. The clinical disease usually lasts for several weeks and it is invariably progressive and fatal.
Latest news
12 January 2009 - The free collection service for fallen cattle aged over 48 months ends today. Any carcase not notified by midnight on 11 January becomes the responsibility of cattle keepers. A leaflet (PDF) has been published which gives details of the new arrangements. Further information is available on the Animal Health website.
2 January 2009 - Information Bulletin: Compensation for Bovine TB, BSE, Brucellosis and Enzootic Bovine Leukosis.
1 January 2009 - The age at which cattle are tested for BSE surveillance purposes increases today from 24 months to 48 months. This only applies to cattle born in the UK or other EU15 Member States.
31 December 2008 – The Older Cattle Disposal Scheme (OCDS) closes after today. The Defra-funded collection and disposal service for fallen stock in Great Britain will no longer be available for 24- to 48-month-old cattle that die after today. A leaflet has been published which gives details of the arrangements for the disposal of fallen cattle from 1 January (for cattle aged 24-48 months) and from 12 January 2009 (for cattle aged over 48 months).
23 December 2008 - Information Bulletin: New TSE Regulations and changes to BSE Testing. Today Defra laid new legislation in Parliament to amend and update the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations.
17 November 2008 -
- A report on current and future surveillance for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (PDF 960 KB) has been published.
- The free collection and disposal service for adult cattle that have died or been killed on farm will end in January 2009 – Leaflets in English (PDF 165 KB) and Welsh (PDF 165 KB) have been produced which give full details.
If you suspect signs of any notifiable disease, you must immediately notify your local Divisional Veterinary Manager who can advise you of the procedures for notification, disposal and compensation.
Page last modified: 12 January, 2009