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BERLIN, GERMANY, January 31, 2001: In an attempt to eradicate mad cow disease, technically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the German government announced that it will be slaughtering 400,000 cattle. This drastic reaction is the result of falling exports to 34 other countries who have banned German meat. Also German citizens have reduced their consumption of beef by 50 percent after more than 20 cases of the disease in cows have been discovered since last November. No cases of humans infected with the disease have been detected in Germany. Elsewhere in Europe the beef industry is suffering because of the scare.