The Cause of bse and measures against It Over the last decade, animals in countries advanced in livestock industry were plagued by epizootics at varying degrees. Britain was the first country to suffer great economic loss from Mad Cow Disease. or BSE. Then the d isease broke out in some European countries. The US even identified a sheep infected with BSE. Some Asian and Latin -American countries underwent an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)in recent years. It is believed that the epizootics mentioned above have a lot to do with modern feeding practices and technology. For example, cattle are herbivores in nature. People introduce modern biotechnologies into the production of artificial feed so as to reduce the cost. fatten the cows and increase their milk yield Cattle constantly fed on the artificial high protein feed are susceptible to mad cow disease which is caused by prion, and prion is infectious. The massive sprawl of the epidemics should be largely attributed to the fact that, in order to drive up productivity, human beings change the formula of feed in a willful and excessive way without observing the natural law Besides, people employ an intensive mode of farming to save the precious land and cut down the growing season of the stocks. The traditional system that allows livestock to graze on natural pastures is replaced by confinement breeding. Methods of electrification and computerization are used to control the temperature and humid ity of the environment where animals grow. The deprivation of natural cond itions and an open land, however, weakens the animals resistance against disease Any breach in the whole farming process, or any highly infectious disease like BSE, FMD or fowl plague, will do harm to tens of thousands of stocks, and exert an indirect impact on mankind To be sure, we shall not abandon advanced technologies for fear of the pande
The Cause of BSE and Measures Against It Over the last decade, animals in countries advanced in livestock industry were plagued by epizootics at varying degrees. Britain was the first country to suffer great economic loss from Mad Cow Disease, or BSE. Then, the disease broke out in some European countries. The US even identified a sheep infected with BSE. Some Asian and Latin-American countries underwent an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in recent years. It is believed that the epizootics mentioned above have a lot to do with modern feeding practices and technology. For example, cattle are herbivores in nature. People introduce modern biotechnologies into the production of artificial feed so as to reduce the cost, fatten the cows and increase their milk yield. Cattle constantly fed on the artificial high protein feed are susceptible to mad cow disease which is caused by prion, and prion is infectious. The massive sprawl of the epidemics should be largely attributed to the fact that, in order to drive up productivity, human beings change the formula of feed in a willful and excessive way without observing the natural law. Besides, people employ an intensive mode of farming to save the precious land and cut down the growing season of the stocks. The traditional system that allows livestock to graze on natural pastures is replaced by confinement breeding. Methods of electrification and computerization are used to control the temperature and humidity of the environment where animals grow. The deprivation of natural conditions and an open land, however, weakens the animals’ resistance against disease. Any breach in the whole farming process, or any highly infectious disease like BSE, FMD or fowl plague, will do harm to tens of thousands of stocks, and exert an indirect impact on mankind. To be sure, we shall not abandon advanced technologies for fear of the pandemic of
BSE and FMD, nor shall we fall back from modern husbandry to a primitive and extensive mode of farming. It is a certain path for us to develop modern agricultural technologies so that we may meet our demand in grain and meat. Nevertheless, there are lessons to learn. When apply ing our creativity to the cultivation and mod ification of species, or to the growth of plants and animals, we must abide by the natural law and ensure the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock industr
BSE and FMD, nor shall we fall back from modern husbandry to a primitive and extensive mode of farming. It is a certain path for us to develop modern agricultural technologies so that we may meet our demand in grain and meat. Nevertheless, there are lessons to learn. When applying our creativity to the cultivation and modification of species, or to the growth of plants and animals, we must abide by the natural law and ensure the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock industry
