Changes to the paperwork required to import fresh horse semen and embryos from the United States are expected to make the process easier for Canadian horse breeders.
Canadian Quarter Horse Association president Marnie Somers said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency implemented strict rules after an equine venereal disease was discovered in American horses in December.
While the rules haven’t changed, the CFIA no longer demands original copies of the documentation.
“Now CFIA is willing to accept faxed documents, which will speed things up immensely,” Somers said.
Read Also
Alberta eases water access for riparian restoration
Alberta government removes requirement for temporary diversion licence to water plants up to 100 cubic metres per day for smaller riparian restoration projects
“That was the major change to make shipments easier.”
Contagious equine metritis is a transmissible venereal disease in horses. It’s highly contagious but is also easily treatable. Canada does not have any cases of the disease.
Firm figures aren’t available, but Somers estimates 800 Canadian Quarter horse mares were impregnated with semen shipped from the U.S. in 2007.
She said the paperwork requirements implemented after the disease was discovered discouraged breeders from using American semen.
Semen quality begins to deteriorate after two days, which Somers said is less time than the paperwork took to complete.
She said equine breed associations approached CFIA about changing the paperwork.
“They’ve realized the time it was taking to get all the documentation in place was rendering the semen shipments not as viable.”
