Mad Cow Disease

101 Things to do With Cow Parts

Cows are usually thought of as a source of food or a fabulous clothing accessory. Some of the most supple leathers in the world come from cows and are used by the likes of Gucci, Prada, and Coach. Such food products that generally come from cows are hamburger, steak, and milk. What most consumers do not know is that all parts of the cow are utilized for other products from the ears to the hoofs. Unfortunately, there are many diseases that can be passed on through the many products that contain cow parts. One of these diseases is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as BSE. With the possibility of BSE in thousands of everyday products, it could be detrimental to consumers.



In order to fully comprehend the impacts of mass parts of cows being used and their threat to society, the background of bovine spongiform encephalopathy must be explained and understood. BSE , as explained by the Center for Disease Control (CDC 2002), is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that results from infection by an unconventional agent (CDC). This agent is an abnormal protein in a cow called a prion (Klinkenborg). This usually kills the animal. However, it can take years to incubate in the cow.



The most infectious parts of the cow, when infected with BSE, are the brain and spinal cord. Some of the less infectious parts but still pose a potential risk are the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, spleen, tonsils, placenta, lymph nodes, ileum, which is part of the colon, dura matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (Klinkenborg).