New study highlights human risk from deadly mad-cow disease (People’s Daily) A new study adds to concern that the deadly human form of mad-cow disease may have infected far more people than previously thought. [News Source]

‘Beef tour’ promotes U.S. beef for Asian markets. Beef importers, retailers and distributors from Japan and Taiwan made the first stop on a "Beef Tour" through Missouri, in anticipation of what state officials hope will be a reopening of the Japanese market to U.S. beef. [News Source]

Japan to hold public meetings over US beef. Japan's Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday it would hold public meetings for two weeks from June 1 about U.S. beef, a procedure it views as necessary before making a formal agreement with Washington to resume imports. [News Source]

Counting cattle: electronic tracking of cows faces challenges. John Hassell contends most of the radio-frequency chips making their way onto cattle ears are a terrible fit. [News Source]

US beef imports to begin in June. South Korea will resume importing beef from the United States in June, 30 months after it slapped a ban on beef products following a confirmed case of mad cow disease in the U.S. in December 2003. [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]