British Officials Offer To Destroy Millions Of Cows

Britain offered Monday to destroy 15,000 cows a week over six years to try to calm fears of mad cow disease. Other European nations said they would help pay for the killings, but refused to lift a ban on British beef exports.

Farm ministers from the 15 European Union nations met in emergency session to seek ways to calm consumer fears that have sent European beef and veal sales plunging.

The nations said the measures were not enough for them to meet London’s request for an immediate lifting of the worldwide ban on British beef exports imposed by the EU last week.