Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Madness seen in a cow's eyes

Sunday, June 7, 2015

A researcher in Iowa is looking into cow's eyes as a way to detect disease earlier, Phys.org reports.
Research from Iowa State University (ISU) shows that retinal scans can identify bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – more commonly known as "mad cow disease" – in animals up to 11 months before they show other symptoms. According to Phys.org, BSE is an untreatable neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded brain proteins known as prions.

Heather Greenlee, an associate professor of biomedical sciences at ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine, has been researching the connection between prion diseases and the retina. In an ISU interview, Greenlee described the retina as "the part of the brain closest to the outside world, and we know the retina is changed in animals that have prion diseases."

BSE-positive cattle in the food system since 2003 have cost the Canadian beef industry billions of dollars in lost trade. BF

Current Issue

September 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Applications Open for AALP Class 22

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) has opened applications for Class 22, giving aspiring leaders an opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and expand their understanding of the agriculture and food sector. The program,establishedin 1984, has playedan important... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2026 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top