An unexpected rule has effectively halted the export of Canadian beef cattle embryos to the European Union.
As of Nov. 26, the EU decided to accept only embryos created from semen of IBR-negative bulls. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis is a respiratory disease that causes abortions in cattle.
Canadians vaccinate their cattle for IBR so when tested, bulls would actually appear positive. Dairy bulls tend to be more isolated so they are not in contact with the disease, nor do they receive vaccinations.
To fit the new European rules, bull calves would need to be isolated and not vaccinated. Right now, only about five percent of the genetic pool is available.
Read Also
Why selenium is still an important factor in horse health
Selenium is an essential equine trace mineral that supports antioxidant defense, muscle integrity, immune function, metabolism and thyroid activity.
For an embryo and livestock exporter like Brian Bouchard, this could spell a major downturn in his business and leaves him feeling uncertain.
“It’s difficult to meet European specs,” he said.
Veterinarian Roger Davis said this is a major blow to the embryo transfer business. Canadian and American cattle producers were prohibited from exporting live purebred cattle due to the BSE embargo, so selling embryos was a viable option for them.
“It was a risk-free method of moving germplasm around the world,” he said.
He heard inklings of the ban last June, but was assured by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that his concerns were groundless. Ordinarily these policy changes require prior notice and a comment period.
They were originally told the change would not come into effect until the end of this year but found out through their American counterparts that the ban went in immediately.
“The industry found out before the CFIA,” said Davis, who has an embryo transplant business at a clinic north of Calgary. He has been doing this work full time for 15 years and feels 35 percent of his business is at risk.
“A lot of semen and embryos are in storage with no market,” he said.
The industry plans to start a campaign among European clients to turn this rule around. The embryo trade to Europe started in earnest about 10 years ago and took off five years ago.
“We’ll be lobbying European clients who have been good customers,” he said.
Davis is frustrated with government and the CFIA who did not see this coming.
“It makes it difficult to do business because they didn’t have enough intelligence to give us some warning. It’s becoming more common to be caught by surprise,” he said.
