Canada says mad cow born 2 years after government toughened regulations

Canada's food safety organization says a cow discovered on an Alberta farm with mad cow disease was born two years after the government imposed a tougher ban on animal feed to guard against the disease.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday the cow discovered earlier this month with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was born in March 2009. The cause is still under investigation.

Paul Mayers, a CFIA vice-president, says investigators are working to determine the source of the feed used at the birth farm in Alberta and assess any potential risk factors.

Mayers says the case has been reported to the World Organization for Animal Health and won't affect Canada's official beef trade status.

He says Canada expects its trading partners not to restrict market access to Canadian beef.