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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

November 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Upcoming winter Ontario farm shows

Thursday, November 12, 2026

As Ontario producers continue the 2026 harvest, lessons from the season that was, and preparation for 2027 begins with the winter farm show circuit. Here are some of the shows farmers can attend in the next few months. The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference East takes place Nov.... Read this article online

Hensall Co-op Awards $17,500 to Seven Ontario Students

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Seven post-secondary students are receiving financial support from Hensall Co-op as they pursue education connected to agriculture and the future of rural communities. The Ontario farmer-owned co-operative has announced the 2026 recipients of its Bright Futures Scholarships, with each... Read this article online

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