A new Alberta government BSE assistance program will cover another 200,000 cattle that were in Alberta feedlots as of May 20.
“We’re hearing from smaller producers that they didn’t have an opportunity to participate in previous programs. It appears there are still some fed cattle out there that we need to cover. We made a commitment to cover that May 20 inventory,” said Terry Willock, Alberta Agriculture spokesperson.
The province had estimated 650,000 cattle were on feed as of May 20. About 800,000 Alberta feedlot cattle have been covered under three previous government programs. Details of the new program will be announced this week and could bring the total covered in Alberta to 1.2 million, double what had been expected in the spring.
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Arno Doerksen, chair of Alberta Beef Producers, said the cattle likely to be included will be those in feedlots in May that had their rations readjusted or were turned out on grass to slow their growth.
The Alberta government has also announced it will implement a cull cow and bull program to help use a backlog of older animals.
“We’re working with industry on designing it. We’re hoping that it will be a national program. We’re hopeful the federal government will participate but if they don’t, we know Alberta will go it alone,” said Willock.
Doerksen is optimistic Ottawa and the rest of the provinces will join in a cull cow program.
