Alberta’s BSE testing program is about to focus its attention on younger cattle.
Changes to the Canada-Alberta BSE surveillance program will begin July 1 and target four- to seven-year-old animals, which are most at risk to get the disease. Testing rules in other provinces will not change.
The goal of the new pilot program is to keep up with the World Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) point-based surveillance standards, which assign a higher value for high-risk cattle.
Alberta assistant provincial veterinarian Gerald Hauer said Canada receives few OIE points for testing older or younger cattle.
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“If we’re testing a lot of old animals and not getting any points, why are we continuing to test these?” Hauer said.
Cattle older than 107 months, or 8.9 years, will no longer be eligible for testing unless they have neurological signs indicating BSE.
The change will reduce the number of animals that are tested but will also allow Canada to maintain its “controlled BSE risk” status.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency implemented the BSE testing program in Canada in 2004. Later that year, CFIA and Alberta created the enhanced surveillance program to reflect the higher number of cattle in that province. The program may expand across the country if it is successful.
About 55,000 animals are tested for BSE annually in Canada. The country has confirmed 12 cases of BSE since the testing program began. Most were found through the program.
Hauer said Canada would have difficulty maintaining its controlled risk status without the extensive BSE testing program.
Other changes include:
- Only licensed veterinarians certified by Alberta Agriculture can participate in the program.
- Veterinarians must verify the age of the animal. Dentition can be used for animals up to five years of age. Farm records are requested for animals between 60 and 107 months.
- Veterinarians must provide a comprehensive description of the herd and operation and not just the animal.
- In the case of a dead animal, a post-mortem must be conducted and the cause of death recorded.
- Producers must have owned the animal for 30 days to provide a clinical history.
Producers who submit an animal that meets the new requirements will receive a $225 reimbursement.
