Canada may have met its BSE surveillance objectives for 2004, with well over 10,000 heads tested to date, but remaining vigilant with cattle that are coming off pastures now could help make life a whole lot easier for producers in terms of meeting next year’s objectives.
Marsha Cannon is a Beef Industry Consultant with SAFRR.
“The number of tests we are committed to as our contribution to the surveillance program for 2005 is much higher than this year’s — close to 7,000 for the province alone.”
Saskatchewan was lagging a bit behind in terms of its own expectations of 1,834 tests at the beginning of November, with only 1,400 animals tested, according to Past President of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Bob Bellamy:
“We are working with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) to create mechanisms that will ensure we meet our objectives. The RM offices in communities across Saskatchewan are now making brochures and literature available in their premises,” said Bellamy. “Whereas the bad news is that cattle producers will pay the price if we don’t meet our objectives, the good news is that the instrument that will ensure success is the producers themselves.”
Dr. Darcy Undseth is a BSE Specialist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA):
“This is about maintaining confidence in our beef supply in Canada and around the world. Surveillance — or looking for potential BSE in older animals — is a means to meet international health rules. Performing the tests gives our industry credibility when we claim that Canada is a minimum risk country in the eyes of our trading partners,” according to Dr. Undseth.
He adds: “We must test 30,000 animals if we want to demonstrate that we are as committed to BSE surveillance as our American neighbours who are testing an equivalent sample of their total herd, which is roughly eight to 10 times as large as ours. But that is a minimum level only. Exceeding it would show the depth of our commitment that much more.”
The BSE expert encourages cattle producers to be on the lookout for older cows and those thinner or slightly incapacitated, as they would make ideal candidates for tests. If a producer locates an animal that fits the profile, he or she should call CFIA or a veterinarian who would then come out and collect a sample. There is funding available to cover carcass handling and some unexpected testing costs.
While the analysis is carried out, the producer is required to keep an eye on the carcass for 48 hours until test results are available, or to dispose of it appropriately.
Cattle producers are urged to look at potentially higher risk animals — meaning those with more likelihood of ever being exposed to BSE. They are known as the four "Ds": downed, diseased, dying and dead animals over the age of 30 months.
In the event an animal tests positive, CFIA doesn't depopulate the entire herd because the disease is not transferred from animal to animal. Rather, animals of equivalent risk would be targeted, including the most recent born offspring and animals born within 12 months of the affected animal. CFIA depopulated a number of extra animals in 2003 as a precautionary measure because it was Canada's first case.
What would the real impact be on a herd? It depends on the quality of records that are kept. Producers should keep track of the age of animals, which ones have left or come into the herd in the last year. Records or invoices for incoming complete feed or protein supplements are required.
CFIA’s Dr. Undseth suggests a team approach to increase efficiencies: “Producers might want to contact a group of neighbours who would each find an animal and then call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to systematically test. That way one trip would yield several samples and a much-appreciated contribution to the industry’s collective effort.”
What are the risks to the cattle industry if a cow tests positive? Canada can actually detect six positive cases of BSE without suffering trade restrictions every 12 months and still maintain minimum risk levels. It is reasonable to expect that additional cases will be found, but there would also be recognition that Canada has acted responsibly and proactively to address BSE.
For information on how to report an animal for testing, producers are asked to call CFIA's information line at 1-866-400-4244 during business hours, or dial 1-877-SaskBSE.
Marsha Cannon is a Beef Industry Consultant with SAFRR.
“The number of tests we are committed to as our contribution to the surveillance program for 2005 is much higher than this year’s — close to 7,000 for the province alone.”
Saskatchewan was lagging a bit behind in terms of its own expectations of 1,834 tests at the beginning of November, with only 1,400 animals tested, according to Past President of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Bob Bellamy:
“We are working with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) to create mechanisms that will ensure we meet our objectives. The RM offices in communities across Saskatchewan are now making brochures and literature available in their premises,” said Bellamy. “Whereas the bad news is that cattle producers will pay the price if we don’t meet our objectives, the good news is that the instrument that will ensure success is the producers themselves.”
Dr. Darcy Undseth is a BSE Specialist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA):
“This is about maintaining confidence in our beef supply in Canada and around the world. Surveillance — or looking for potential BSE in older animals — is a means to meet international health rules. Performing the tests gives our industry credibility when we claim that Canada is a minimum risk country in the eyes of our trading partners,” according to Dr. Undseth.
He adds: “We must test 30,000 animals if we want to demonstrate that we are as committed to BSE surveillance as our American neighbours who are testing an equivalent sample of their total herd, which is roughly eight to 10 times as large as ours. But that is a minimum level only. Exceeding it would show the depth of our commitment that much more.”
The BSE expert encourages cattle producers to be on the lookout for older cows and those thinner or slightly incapacitated, as they would make ideal candidates for tests. If a producer locates an animal that fits the profile, he or she should call CFIA or a veterinarian who would then come out and collect a sample. There is funding available to cover carcass handling and some unexpected testing costs.
While the analysis is carried out, the producer is required to keep an eye on the carcass for 48 hours until test results are available, or to dispose of it appropriately.
Cattle producers are urged to look at potentially higher risk animals — meaning those with more likelihood of ever being exposed to BSE. They are known as the four "Ds": downed, diseased, dying and dead animals over the age of 30 months.
In the event an animal tests positive, CFIA doesn't depopulate the entire herd because the disease is not transferred from animal to animal. Rather, animals of equivalent risk would be targeted, including the most recent born offspring and animals born within 12 months of the affected animal. CFIA depopulated a number of extra animals in 2003 as a precautionary measure because it was Canada's first case.
What would the real impact be on a herd? It depends on the quality of records that are kept. Producers should keep track of the age of animals, which ones have left or come into the herd in the last year. Records or invoices for incoming complete feed or protein supplements are required.
CFIA’s Dr. Undseth suggests a team approach to increase efficiencies: “Producers might want to contact a group of neighbours who would each find an animal and then call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to systematically test. That way one trip would yield several samples and a much-appreciated contribution to the industry’s collective effort.”
What are the risks to the cattle industry if a cow tests positive? Canada can actually detect six positive cases of BSE without suffering trade restrictions every 12 months and still maintain minimum risk levels. It is reasonable to expect that additional cases will be found, but there would also be recognition that Canada has acted responsibly and proactively to address BSE.
For information on how to report an animal for testing, producers are asked to call CFIA's information line at 1-866-400-4244 during business hours, or dial 1-877-SaskBSE.
Comments