The number of BSE cases so far this year reached 100 this week with the discovery of another two infected animals. By this time last year 167 cases of the disease had been recorded, in what was the worst year on record.
The two new cases were found in Co Longford and Co Meath. The Longford animal was 10 years old and the Meath animal aged seven.
Department of Agriculture scientists believe the numbers will continue to drop as the older cows, which were fed on infected meat and bonemeal prior to the end of 1997, work their way through the system.
"The underlying trend remains positive, and the increasing age profile of animals confirmed with the disease indicates that the enhanced controls introduced in 1996 and early 1997 are proving effective," a statement from the Department said last night.
It also said that since July 2001 over 1.5 million animals have been tested for the disease: 662,000 in 2001, 688,000 in 2002 and over 242,000 so far this year.
Meanwhile, Canada, which recorded its first native case of BSE 10 days ago, was reported to be losing an estimated $11 million a day under a ban on its beef exports by the US and six other nations.
Last year, Canada sold $1.3 billion (€1.1 billion) worth of beef and beef products to the US. Canada is also a large exporter of live cattle, exporting 500,000 head from Alberta alone to the US in 2002.
A report in the British New Scientist magazine this week says scientists believe that BSE has probably infected some US cattle despite claims that its herds are clean.
It asserts this on the basis that a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was found in Canada, which has an open trade border with the US and shares many US farming practices and veterinary standards.
"If Canadian cattle are infected, it is likely that the disease is also present in the US," the report said.