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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

January 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Ag community wanted for cover crop survey

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Researchers from Manitoba and Ontario are looking for members of ag communities from Alberta to Ontario to participate in a questionnaire about cover crops. The confidential survey is open to any farm type and size whether the operation has ever grown cover crops. “We don’t just want... Read this article online

Ontario Prairies Cover Crop Survey Launch

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

As cover crop use continues to expand across Ontario and the Prairie provinces, a new survey has been launched to better understand how these practices arechanging onfarms. The survey aims to collect valuable information about how cover crops are being used, what benefits they provide, and... Read this article online

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