Winnipeg, Manitoba - A herd of cattle from the western Canadian farm where one animal recently tested positive for mad cow disease was not infected, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said.

The CFIA tested the 25 cattle on the Alberta farm for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as BSE, or mad cow disease, and all animals tested negative.

The six-year-old cow that was confirmed on January 22 to have the disease was Canada's fourth native BSE finding since the first was discovered in May 2003. International borders slammed shut to Canadian beef and cattle in 2003 but trade eventually resumed with restrictions. The CFIA said the finding was consistent with a low level of disease and has not affected trade.

The agency is tracing all other animals of interest related to the diseased cow. No part of that cow entered the food chain, the CFIA said earlier this week.

Cattle can develop the brain-wasting disease from contaminated feed, and the CFIA is investigating feed at the farm and at the retail and manufacturing levels.

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