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Hi folks,

I have a collection of bones from my recent cowpool, and the one I just roasted appear to be spine. Is it okay to make broth from spine bones? Specifically, I fear mad cow =(

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4 Answers

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If I was going to bet on it, I'd say there is BSE in the US. Certainly not a high incidence, but non-zero. In all likelihood, the animal you procured was a relatively young animal (less likely to have BSE). It was, likely, a healthy animal (farmers who are willing to produce a quality product are more likely to have stringent health practices/statuses.) Know your source.

All in all, the risk is non-zero, but pretty low. It's probably more likely that your meat is contaminated with some pathogen that will kill you before it's infected with BSE that will result in a vCJD infection.

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According to the CDC, the only three cases of vCJD confirmed in the US were from people who had lived for substantial times abroad (the UK and Saudi Arabia). So if you get CJD it will probably be the loooooooong-onset type. – air_hadoken Oct 11 2011 at 18:08
What I said was simply a long winded: pretty much zero, but still non-zero. :) – Matt Oct 11 2011 at 21:52
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I typically always include spine bones in my bone broths. What are else are you going to use them for? :)

Are you in a country that has had BSE issues in the past?

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I'm in California, USA. I was just going to toss them if there was any risk =/ – MtnEvan Sep 27 2011 at 4:59
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If they were from pastured cows who were born to pastured cows there shouldn't be any problem. Mad cow disease happened to feedlot cattle only.

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I just had some were sold as neck bones. Not very good broth, but I figure it's my nose-to-tail obligation to consume them. I didn't think about mad cow, but no sign of symptoms yet. I'll get back to ya after this giant rabbit stops screaming at me and these leprechauns stop messing with my shoelaces.

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