A recent European decision to ban Canadian beef embryos has left exporters and seedstock producers scrambling.
Rollie Bateman of Calgary said the decision could cost millions of dollars for clients here and in Europe.
“I have four huge projects for spring,” he said.
Now, he is unsure what to do with packages of frozen embryos ready for shipment to Great Britain and Germany.
“I have one mating that is very expensive and it does not qualify now so it’s back to the producer to see if we can market them elsewhere,” he said.
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At issue is a recent decision to ban the importation of embryos sired by IBR-positive bulls. The European rules for the importation of semen require all bulls in a semen collection centre have their blood test negative to Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis as well as other diseases. Embryos produced from vaccinated bulls were acceptable until the European Commission changed the rule Nov. 23, with no public comment and little warning.
Canada and the United States commonly vaccinate for this respiratory disease as part of an overall herd health program. When a bull is vaccinated it may appear to be positive, but scientists say there is no evidence the disease is spread via embryos.
Exporters like Bateman are concerned that people may seek semen from negative bulls rather than spending extra for embryos.
He deals with beef cattle and seeks unique bloodlines for overseas customers who do not want genetically related cattle. His European clients are angry as well because they are cut off from desirable breeding stock.
“It is really setting everybody back 20 years,” he said.
IBR-negative bulls are available but they may not be the quality his customers want. Some young animals could be quarantined and held until they are old enough to produce semen, but they are unproven breeders and may not carry the desirable traits.
Doug McDermand of Alta Embryo Group near Calgary said efforts are under way to reverse the EU decision. Meanwhile the situation remains uncertain.
“There are contracts in the works producing embryos for people, there are cows that are being collected and it is a real problem,” he said.
He worries the genetics in storage could lose value.
Washing embryos is the accepted way to remove infectious diseases like IBR, and he has not heard any reports of problems with embryos.
People may stop vaccinating their bulls for IBR and place them in a certified IBR-negative stud and bypass the embryo transfer business completely, selling semen instead.
“When you start to see these silly decisions made without any regard to science you start to wonder if there is something more to this, like a trade barrier,” he said.
Larry Delvar, a veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said a request has gone out to review research on whether the disease can be transmitted via semen and embryos.
He said he hopes research will show the that bull that produces the semen has no impact on the health of the embryo.
