The public may not know who owns the Alberta elk herd where chronic
wasting disease was found recently, says an elk industry analyst, but
other elk producers do.
“Already they’ve experienced an awful lot of pressure,” said Ian
Thorliefson, referring to the northern Alberta family whose elk will be
slaughtered within two weeks to test for CWD in the rest of the herd.
“A lot of the animals were born on the farm and they were their friends
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and they’re facing the loss of them now,” Thorliefson said.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed it will slaughter the
farm’s more than 70 elk within one to two weeks.
It’s the first case of CWD on an Alberta farm. Until this case, CWD was
only found in Saskatchewan. In all, the disease has been confirmed on
41 Canadian farms.
Saskatchewan Elk Producers Association president Bob Kirkpatrick said
he had a long discussion with his Alberta counterpart after he heard
CWD was found in Alberta.
With 7,782 farmed elk slaughtered in Saskatchewan in the fight against
CWD, Kirkpatrick said he is beginning to feel like a veteran soldier
able to give advice to the new recruits.
“I gave her what tips I could,” said Kirkpatrick of Cabri, Sask.
“We’re devastated by it. A case anywhere is trouble for everybody. It’s
going to affect us all.”
The market for Canadian elk antler plummeted after CWD was found in
Saskatchewan.
For the first time in more than a year elk antler prices have started
to creep up to $40 a pound.
It’s only by working together that the industry can survive and
rebuild, Kirkpatrick said.
“I let them know they’ve got the support of Saskatchewan producers and
it’s very important we start working together in all aspects, whether
it be the border opening, the CWD situation or velvet sales, everything.
“We just have to work hard to overcome it. I still think we’re going to
get through it.”
