Transgenomic, Inc. has entered into a research agreement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to develop new molecular methods for detecting banned materials in animal feeds
Transgenomic has announced that it has entered into a collaborative research
agreement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) and Transition
Technologies Inc., Transgenomic’s distributor in Canada.
The project is focused on the development of novel molecular PCR- based
assays for the detection of animal materials that have been banned from cattle
feed as an additional means to verify the effective enforcement of Canada’s feed
controls. Following development and performance evaluation, such testing methods
could be considered for implementation in feed inspection programs.
Banned ingredients in cattle feed include certain protein-based materials,
such as meat and bone meal originating from mammals other than pigs and horses.
An effective feed ban diagnostic tool requires the ability to detect certain
materials from prohibited species such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer and elk.
Current microscopic methods of analysis are time-consuming, labour-intensive,
and incapable of identifying the animal species origin of tissue components.
Related links: