BSE Monthly Surveillance Program
Public and animal health are protected from BSE by a stringent feed ban imposed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997 and by the removal of all specified risk material which could harbor BSE. USDA also has a strong surveillance program in place to detect signs of BSE in cattle in the United States. The program samples approximately 25,000 animals each year and targets cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be found. The targeted population focuses on cattle exhibiting signs of central nervous disorders or any other signs that may be associated with BSE, including cattle that cannot walk, are low-weight, injured, or dead. These types of cattle are sampled at farms, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, public health laboratories, slaughter facilities, veterinary clinics, and livestock markets.
Current Monthly Test Results
APHIS reports ongoing surveillance test totals monthly.
| Collection Month | FY2025 | Number of Valid Samples | BSurvE Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 2024 | 1,486 | 17623 |
| November | 2024 | 2,037 | 44,928 |
| December | 2024 | 1,742 | 36,662 |
| January | 2025 | 2,550 | 70,889 |
| February | 2025 | 1,841 | 49,344 |
| March | 2025 | 3,062 | 65349 |
| April | 2025 | 2269 | 36,108 |
| Total as of May 1, 2025 | 14,987 | 320,903 | |
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2016, the BSE ongoing surveillance program will sample approximately 25,000 animals each year. Under the program, USDA will continue to collect samples from a variety of sites and from the cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be detected.
Fiscal Year 2007-2016 Test Results
For Fiscal Years 2007-2015, the BSE ongoing surveillance program had a target of testing approximately 40,000 animals per year.
OIE Surveillance Points: design prevalence of 1 case per 100,000 U.S. adult cattle and 95% confidence; 300,000 OIE points over 7 years, or 42,857 OIE points on average per year are required.
BSurvE Surveillance Points: design prevalence of 1 case per 1,000,000 U.S. adult cattle and 95% confidence; 3,000,000 points over 7 years, or 428,571 BSurvE points on average per year are required.
Samples Tested, OIE Points, and BSurvE Points by Fiscal Year
BSE Surveillance Program Cumulative Totals
- Valid Tests from September 1, 2006 to May 1, 2025: 599,215
- BSurvE Points from September 1, 2006 to May 1, 2025: 30,139,026
(see National BSE Surveillance Plan (789.28 KB) for information on BsurvE points)