CALGARY – Tighter animal health requirements proposed by the United States Department of Agriculture are seen as a backward step by the Canadian livestock industry.
The proposals were released in April and are part of a plan by the Americans to establish trading regions for live animals throughout the world. Among other things, this regionalization would tighten up existing health requirements.
Canada’s clean health status would change under this regionalization process because it is next door to the U.S. where a variety of animal health problems like tuberculosis and brucellosis occur. The regulations imply Canadian animals are at risk because they are close to the U.S. More testing of Canadian animals would be required.
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Canada regards its animal health status to be among the highest in the world. Livestock groups under the umbrella of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association have compiled a written response arguing against proposed quarantines and increased testing requirements.
“The proposed legislation that the U.S. has come up with has not been particularly well thought out,” said CCA vice-president Ben Thorlakson. He also chairs the cross-border animal health committee with Iowa rancher Connie Greig of the American-based National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
If approved, the regulations would affect many areas of the multi-billion dollar dairy, beef and hog export industry.
For example, Alberta and Montana cattle producers have been working on a pilot project to bring Montana feeder cattle destined for slaughter into Canada without testing for brucellosis, tuberculosis or anaplasmosis. New regulations could stall that project.
“It’s completely contrary to the spirit of what we’ve been working on,” said Thorlakson.
Herb McLane, manager of Canada Beef Breeds Council, said the document raises concerns for the purebred industry.
It leaves no provisions for show cattle crossing the border in either direction. Exhibit animals traveling to the Western National Livestock Show in Denver or the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, for example, would have to go through the same test and quarantine regime as slaughter cattle entering the country.
As well, the proposals include demands that animals wait at border crossings for 72 hours for tests of brucellosis, tuberculosis and other health concerns.
The Canadians are asking where animals would be held since there are no quarantine stations or pens at the border.
They also questioned the need to test for diseases that don’t occur in Canada.
The proposal demands tuberculosis testing on live animals with two tests 60-90 days apart. The second test would be conducted at the border accompanied by individual inspection. Under current regulations, cattle shipped from Canada to the U.S. must come from a tuberculosis-free herd or be tested negative for the disease. Further inspections of livestock occur when the animals arrive at their final destination.
Canada eradicated brucellosis but animals going to the U.S. are still certified and tested within 30 days of export. No test is required on animals younger than six months. Steers or officially calfhood vaccinated heifers less than 18 months old must be tested.
In the proposal, the risk factor has been raised for a strain of brucellosis called B. suis biovar 4 which is known to occur only in arctic Caribou and never in cattle.
Another example the CCA thinks is unwarranted is a requirement that slaughter ruminants would have to be unloaded at the border and receive individual health inspections.
