Shalom,
This daf - as well as others raise questions in relation to the problem of MAD COW DISEASE, do you have any info. related to examination of the shechted animal and if it would be shechted at all??
Thanks,
Michael
As I understand it, mad cow disease is not recognizable when the cow is alive, so the question of whether it is permitted to slaughter such a cow is a moot issue. As for a cow which was found to have mad cow disease after Shechitah, its meat would certainly be prohibited. Even if it does not classify as a Tereifah (since it is not one of the ones listed in the Talmud), it would be prohibited because of Sakanah, the danger to health that it can cause, which is a more serious concern that the Kashrus issue (see for example Mishnah, Chulin 58b; Shulchan Aruch OC 173:2).
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld
I am a medical researcher who has spent some time studying Mad Cow Disease. The disease is believed to be caused by prions in the animals brain and nervous tissues. The disease DOES manifest itself in animals by uncharacteristic gait, stumbling and other behavioral anomalies (hence the name Mad i.e. crazy). There are several theories a to how the disease propagates. The most accepted is through the rendering of other animals (sheep or cattle) into protein sources for cattle herds which are fed the products.
In the US most animals are not kept alive long enough for the disease to manifest itself. Last time I checked 70 million cows each year in the US find their way to McDonalds. There are herds that are kept according to US FDA GMP guidelines to prevent occurrence of this or related disease in materials used in the drug industry. There are tests to detect lesions in the brain at even early stages of disease before symptoms are prominent.
Rabbi Rob Shorr, Ph.D., D.I.C.
President and CEO
Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals
Does a shochet/posek examine the brain of the cow for lesions or other symptoms that may be detected in early stages??
Since the only Halachic ramification of mad cow disease, I believe, is the health issue, your question applies to non-Jewish slaughter as well as to Jewish Shechitah. So we might as well refer it to the US government.
My guess would be that the government takes whatever health precautions are necessary.
M. Kornfeld