Europe To Help Pay For Slaughter Of Cattle

The European Union approved a plan early today to destroy millions of British cows in an effort to stamp out “mad cow disease” and restore public trust in beef.

“The entire document has now been agreed,” said Ivan Yates, Ireland’s farm minister, after almost 40 hours of talks here.

EU farm ministers agreed Britain and the EU will split 30-70 the huge cost of compensating farmers for livestock lost in the mass slaughter. The deal is expected to cost the EU about $400 million a year.

Under the plan, Britain will destroy some 15,000 older cattle every week over six years, a total of 4.7 million animals. Many of those to be killed are milking cows, used for lowgrade meat after they stop producing milk.

Older cattle are considered most at risk for carrying the disease, a brain-wasting disorder formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Britain has until the end of April to prepare a report on a selective cull of younger animals that may have been exposed to the brain-wasting ailment.

Meanwhile, the global ban on British beef products continues. Britain also failed to get a specific date from the other 14 EU nations on when that ban would be lifted.

The agreement demands Britain destroy all cattle over 30 months old and incinerate the carcasses rather than sell them for meat.

“These carcasses shall be destroyed and disposed of in a safe manner,” said a draft of the EU plan.