An outbreak of anthrax in southeastern Manitoba remained confined to one farm in the Sprague area as of last week.
Holger Schoenbach had lost 26 cattle to the disease as of Aug. 1. The dead animals were burned and the ashes buried, a normal measure when anthrax occurs.
The outbreak meant long days for Schoenbach, who worked alongside staff from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to dispose of the carcasses.
The cattle producer estimates he lost at least $20,000 worth of hay because he had little time to harvest his fields while contending with the disease in his herd.
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He did, however, appreciate the efforts of the agency.
“I just want to thank them for everything they did. They were very helpful, very friendly.”
Provincial and federal veterinarians were again encouraging cattle producers to vaccinate against anthrax in areas where the disease has been known to exist. Spring is the ideal time, as part of the regular vaccination program that producers already use to guard against other diseases.
“Anthrax can flare up at any point in time,” said Allan Preston, director of Manitoba’s veterinary services branch.
“It seems to be hinged to hot, humid weather in some fashion. We’re not quite sure why that is.”
Anthrax bacteria migrate rapidly through the bloodstream, overwhelm the body and kill cattle, usually within 12 to 24 hours.
As the bodies decay, spores from the bacteria can be seeded on the ground. That’s why the dead animals should be burned and buried.
Schoenbach will receive $500 from the federal government for each animal killed by anthrax.
The money is to offset the costs of disposal and cleanup, but does not compensate for the value of the animals.
George Luterbach, of the inspection agency, was hopeful last week that the disease would not appear on other farms in the same vicinity.
“There are not a lot of other herds there, so it is quite isolated in that regard.”
Last year, 44 cattle died on 11 farms during an anthrax outbreak in southeastern Manitoba. Affected producers had lamented the lack of government compensation for their losses.
Manitoba agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk said last week that it is up to Ottawa to decide what level of compensation should be paid since the federal government has jurisdiction over the matter.
“The province can’t take over a federal responsibility.”
Once anthrax was confirmed at the Schoenbach farm, the herd of about 400 cattle was vaccinated and treated with antibiotics to bolster their immunity. The animals were also placed under a 30-day quarantine.
Preston said at least a dozen cattle herds in the nearby state of Minnesota have also been affected by the disease so far this year.
