Five months have passed since the first case of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) was confirmed in Japan. The use of meat and bone meal, which is suspected to have transmitted the disease, has been banned, and testing for all cows has been introduced. But Japanese livestock farmers, well aware that a new case of mad cow disease would result in the ostracism of all involved, fear further detection of the disease and are refraining from shipping their cows to market.
Furthermore, some meat-processing plants have stopped accepting dairy cows for processing. So far, all cases of mad cow disease have involved dairy cows. Processing plants do not want to go to the trouble of having to disinfect their equipment. As a result, reports say, more than 40,000 cows nationwide remain with their owners.
Domestic beef is supplied through two channels: beef cows, which are raised and fattened especially for the dinner table, and dairy cows, which produce the milk that is used for dairy products. Dairy farmers sell dairy cows that no longer fulfill an efficient milk-producing role and buy calves to replace them. If they are unable to replace superannuated cows, their business becomes troubled.