Mad cow, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was first detected in Canada in May, 2003.

The latest case involves a 13-year-old beef cow from Alberta, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said in a statement on its website.

The cow was detected at the farm level as part of Canada's BSE surveillance program which targets cattle most at risk.

The CFIA said the animal's carcase is under its control and no part of it entered the human food or animal feed systems.

The agancy expects to detect a small number of cases over the next 10 years as Canada progresses towards its goal of eliminating the

disease from the national cattle herd.

The US has had three confirmed mad-cow cases since December, 2003, including one in an animal born in Canada.

Canada is a major beef and cattle exporter to the US.