Sask. pledges support to Alberta elk producers

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Published: April 18, 2002

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.”

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