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Argentina, an FMD-Free
Country
Argentina, cattle country by excellence, lost many of its meat
buying markets after an FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) outbreak
took place in 2001 in the northern province of Salta, which
shares its borders with Paraguay, a country where the disease
has not yet been controlled.
In January 2005, after a strong vaccination campaign throughout
the country, which included three rounds of vaccines to all the
national livestock, Argentina gained back the official status of
"FMD Free Country With Vaccination" from the Office
International des Epizooties (OIE), for the region located North
of the 42nd South Parallel. The region located south of the
mentioned parallel, Patagonia, has never lost its “Free
FMD Country Without Vaccination”.
Now that Argentina has reestablished its sanitary situation,
future government funding will be focused on maintaining this
well-deserved status.
A BSE-Free
Country, as well
Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE) is the scientific term for a disease which
affects the brains of cattle. Soon after BSE was first
discovered in the United Kingdom, it became more commonly known
as "mad cow disease", most likely because of the
emotional response it generated with the public. Unlike most
livestock diseases, BSE is not caused by a bacterial or viral
infection, but rather is the result of infectious priors. These
are unique proteins that may bond with a cow's brain cells,
altering their composition and ultimately leading to the
animal's death. Mad cow disease is believed to be transferred to
cattle when they eat these infectious proteins, yet science has
shown the disease can only affect those cows that are
genetically susceptible. The disease is deadly not only for
cattle but for human beings.
BSE has never been found in Argentina. Furthermore, It most
likely will never be, because of the feeding system its used
here. Grain, hay, open field pastures, among other natural foods
are what is used to fatten livestock. That way, we do not only
avoid that kind of risks, we produce meat that is soft and
tender.
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