National animal lab delays mad cow study (WHO-TV Des Moines) AMES, Iowa A national animal lab in Ames is delaying a study on mad cow disease because of questions about its sewage-treatment practices. [News Source]

Scientists focus on screening for mad cow disease (The Scotsman) SCIENTISTS in Edinburgh have stepped up efforts to develop the first blood screening test aimed for the human form of mad cow disease. [News Source]

Thousands more could be carrying vCJD, say scientists. The brain disease variant CJD, triggered by eating BSE-infected meat, may have infected thousands more people than previously thought, scientists say. [News Source]

US confident on reopening Japanese market to its beef soon (AFP via Yahoo! News) The United States has voiced optimism that Japan would decide next month to resume imports of US beef, whose ban due to fears of mad cow disease has become a major irritant between the allies. [News Source]

Concerns at Ames lab delay mad cow study (The Des Moines Register) The National Animal Disease Laboratory in Ames has halted a study of how mad cow disease is transmitted because of questions about the lab’s... [News Source]

Some ranchers shy on first day since mad cow announcement (AG Weekly) TULIA, Texas -- West Texas rancher Kevin Crooks lost about $1 million in the year following the country's first case of mad cow 18 months ago. If he'd had cattle big enough to sell at the Tulia Livestock Auction on Monday, he wouldn't have brought a one. [News Source]