Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, is a progressive neurological disorder affecting cattle. It is caused by misfolded proteins called prions, which lead to brain damage and characteristic sponge-like changes in brain tissue. Infected animals may show symptoms such as changes in behavior, lack of coordination, and difficulty walking. BSE is primarily transmitted through the consumption of contaminated feed containing infected animal parts. The disease gained significant attention in the 1980s and 1990s due to its potential to spread to humans, leading to a variant known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Strict regulations have since been implemented to control its spread.