Six cases of BSE were discovered in July, according to monthly figures released by the Department of Agriculture and Food, writes Sean MacConnell. This is one more than in July last year and brings the number of cases discovered since the beginning of the year to 64.
While this is 20 more cases than in the same period last year, a positive aspect of the report was that all the animals were seven years and older. This would appear to indicate that the strict rules on preventing contamination of cattle feed which were put in place five years ago are now beginning to have an impact.