A research program monitoring feeder cattle for bluetongue hasn’t turned up any signs of the disease in Canada.
The three-year program involves annual testing of 5,000 American feeder cattle overwintered in Canadian feedlots. Two years of test data show no traces of bluetongue, a viral condition that causes early abortions in cows.
Canada has bluetongue free status and insists imported cattle are tested for the disease before they are allowed into the country.
Bluetongue affects sheep and cattle in the southern United States. It is transmitted by a parasitic mite that carries a virus. The mite can’t survive winter’s extreme cold.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
“Even though there is no mite that transmits the disease around during the Canadian winter, the disease might move otherwise. So far, in two of the three years, it shows it hasn’t been transmitted,” said research pathologist Stacy Tessaro.
Most of the cattle on test were in Alberta feedlots and a few were in Saskatchewan.
Tessaro, of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency based in Lethbridge, Alta., is working with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on the study. He said testing is ongoing to ensure there is no risk among imported animals.
The Europeans have been concerned imported American feeders could bring the disease to Canada and spread it to breeding cattle. They wanted assurances the disease wasn’t spread by using contaminated needles or other practices in feedlots during the winter months.
“This was to assure our other trade partners in the world, for any livestock products, that we are not running any risk of bringing bluetongue into Canada,” said Tessaro.
Cattlemen’s associations on both sides of the border say bluetongue restrictions are more of a trade barrier than an animal health problem. States are categorized as low, medium and high risk and it is argued by cattle producer groups that animals from low risk states should be allowed into Canada without testing during the winter.
