Mad cow born two years before feed ban

Canada's food safety organization says the cow discovered on an Alberta farm with mad cow disease was born two years after Ottawa imposed a tougher ban on animal feed to guard against the disease.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the cow discovered with bovine spongiform encephalopathy earlier this month was born in March 2009.

The cause of the BSE case is still under investigation.

Paul Mayers, a CFIA vice-president, says investigators are working to determine the source of the feed used at the birth farm in Alberta and assess any potential risk factors.

Mayers says the case has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health and won't affect Canada's official beef trade status.

He says Canada expects its trading partners not to restrict market access to Canadian beef.

Since the discovery of the cow, South Korea has suspended imports of Canadian beef and Indonesia has suspended imports of bone meal.