BEEF will definitely be on the menu at the next dinner of the Leigh and District branch of the National Farmers' Union.

That is local farmer's leader Jonathan Tonge's promise in response to the latest furore over mad cow disease warnings.

Astley farmer and branch chairman Mr Tonge says he'll continue eating prime beef.

And Mr Tonge - who doesn't keep cattle - says consumers are in no danger from top quality produce.

He said:"British beef is safe, I'm a meat eater and I'm looking forward to a nice big fillet steak. Beef will definitely be on the menu at the next NFU dinner."

He explained how feeding offal to cattle - cited as being the cause of the outbreak of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), or mad cow disease - had been common practice since the second world war.

But he said relaxation of Government regulations concerning offal processing, meant bacteria wasn't killed off, and led to cattle infection.

"The parts affected are the brain, intestines and spinal chord. All these have been banned from sale for human consumption. And with slaughterhouse meat inspectors at £65 per hour and vets at £50 per hour doing the inspecting diseased cattle don't slip through," said Mr Tonge.

But he did think public confidence needed boosting by firm Government action and backed the NFU call for a cull of older cows.

"With beef animals grown for the job and slaughtered at 12-14 months there is no problem," he said, but felt meat from elderly dairy cattle should be banned.

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