The federal government is changing the way it monitors the national hog herd for reportable swine diseases.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will now begin regularly collecting blood samples from mature animals at slaughter facilities for porcine brucellosis, trichinellosis and pseudorabies.
CFIA officials have previously conducted only periodic, large-scale surveys for the three federally reportable diseases.
“Additional sample collection points may be identified as the surveillance system is further developed and implemented,” said the CFIA news release.
It said the enhanced surveillance system will allow Canada to confidently demonstrate there are no problems with the three diseases.
Read Also
Petition launched over grazing lease controversy
Battle continues between the need for generation of tax revenue from irrigation and the preservation of native grasslands in southern Alberta rural municipality.
Surveillance for the diseases is critical to maintaining market access for hogs, semen and pork products, the agency added.
The initiative will also play a role in protecting human health because brucellosis and trichinellosis can be transmitted to people.
The Canadian Pork Council, the Canadian Swine Health Board and Canadian Pork International helped develop the surveillance system.
Gary Stordy with the CPC said the goal of the new testing is to maintain foreign markets.
Bulk testing didn’t allow the industry to confidently say Canadian hogs were disease free.
“It’s more of a process to further secure and make formal what we have,” he said.
The process will further enhance what’s in place.”
———
“access=subscriber section=news, livestock, none
